Shatter (film)

Shatter

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1974
Founder	Michael Carreras, Monte Hellman
Products	Action film

Shatter (known as Call Him Mr. Shatter in the U.S.) is a 1974 action film co-directed by Michael Carreras and Monte Hellman. The cast features Stuart Whitman, Ti Lung, Lily Li, Anton Diffring, and Peter Cushing. This film represents the second and final collaborative production between England's Hammer Film Productions and Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studio.

Plot

The story follows Shatter, an American assassin who kills Ansabi M'Goya, the ruler of the African nation Badawi, and steals a confidential dossier. He travels to Hong Kong to claim his payment but soon finds himself targeted. After surviving two assassination attempts and receiving police warnings to leave, Shatter confronts Leber, a German banker, for his money; Leber denies any connection. While evading danger, Shatter encounters Mei Mee and her companion Tai Pah, a martial arts expert who agrees to protect him in exchange for half of the reward.

Chief Inspector Rattwood reveals that Ansabi’s murder was orchestrated by a criminal syndicate engaged in arms-for-opium trafficking. Ansabi had switched suppliers to China, jeopardizing the syndicate’s profits. The stolen dossier contains a list of covert opium labs around the world.

Shatter bargains with Leber for $1 million in exchange for the list, but Leber’s henchmen ambush him, killing Mei Mee and reclaiming the money. Tai Pah rescues Shatter, who then pursues vengeance in Macao. At Leber's casino, it is disclosed that Ansabi’s brother Dabula will assume power through a staged trial aimed at implicating the British government and silencing Shatter by mutilating his vocal cords. Tai Pah intervenes, and together they overcome Leber’s forces before Shatter kills both Leber and Dabula.

Ultimately, Shatter accepts £10,000 from Hong Kong officials on the condition that he remains within Hong Kong.

Production

In May 1972, following the Cannes Film Festival, Michael Carreras arranged a co-production agreement with Canadian producer George Brown. Don Houghton provided Brown with a screenplay for an action movie titled Shoot. Although filming was scheduled for August 1972 in Canada, production ceased when Brown declared bankruptcy, putting the project on hold. Leveraging Houghton’s family ties to Run Run Shaw of Shaw Brothers, the script was reworked into Shatter during discussions initially set up for The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires.

Principal photography for Shatter took place from 17 December 1973 to 15 January 1974 on location in Hong Kong, including scenes at Kai Tak Airport. Director Monte Hellman was removed less than two weeks into filming, leaving Carreras to finish the project. Carreras later expressed dissatisfaction with the film’s action sequences, dialogue, and its depiction of Hong Kong. Among the cast was Peter Cushing, whose role marked his final appearance in a Hammer production; he completed his scenes within four days. Assistant director duties were handled by Godfrey Ho, credited as 'Geoffrey Ho'.

The original score composed by Shaw Brothers was replaced after music director Philip Martell deemed it "absolutely appalling".

Release

Shatter made its first appearance in December 1974 but was not initially distributed in the United Kingdom. Its US premiere occurred in March 1975 under the title Call Him Mr. Shatter, released by Avco Embassy Pictures. The film eventually reached UK audiences in September 1977 through EMI. In Hong Kong, it was screened beginning 1 July 1980.

A proposed television adaptation featuring Stuart Whitman was ultimately cancelled. Additionally, the movie was made available on VHS in the United States under the alternative name They Call Me Mr. Shatter.

Reception

The review from Variety was unfavorable, describing the film as "dull and sloppy," although it praised Ti Lung’s martial arts sequences for being "choreographed with unusual skill," despite these scenes feeling "stale." Producer Michael Carreras later admitted the project was "unfortunately, a bad picture," attributing this to multiple issues and a flawed original concept. Attempts to improve the film were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, it retains commercial appeal due to its authentic location footage capturing early 1970s Hong Kong.