Dirty Harry ***** (1971, Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino, John Vernon, Reni Santoni, John Larch, John Mitchum) – Classic Movie Review 1262

‘I know what you’re thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? You’ve got to ask yourself one question: do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?’ – Inspector Harry Callahan.

Director Don Siegel’s 1971 police thriller is arguably Clint Eastwood’s most famous movie, and certainly one of his best films. This tough, law-and-order action thriller shows the star on top form as maverick San Francisco cop Harry Callahan who won’t stop till he brings a crazed killer (Andy Robinson) to justice by fair means or preferably foul.

The sniper, calling himself Scorpio (based on the unsolved late-60s real-life Zodiac Killer) is holding the city to $100,000 ransom or he’ll carry on his campaign of carnage, and the smug-looking Mayor (John Vernon) is ready to pay but Clint’s Dirty Harry won’t play. Eastwood is on unstoppable form and Robinson gives a show-stopping turn, with John Vernon, Harry Guardino (as Harry’s exasperated boss Bressler) and Reni Santoni (as Harry’s callow new partner Inspector Chico Gonzalez) giving excellent character turns in support.

With his thrilling direction, Siegel shows himself a master of action, orchestrating a breakneck pace, crisp editing, atmospheric locations and a scarily ambiguous message.

[Spoiler alert] All those years ago, back in 1971, the cynical climax sequences with first Callahan torturing and then later eventually despatching the criminal (‘Go ahead, punk, make my day’) seemed highly controversial and violent. But now it’s the stuff of every cop movie. ‘Where does it say you have the right to kick down doors, torture suspects, deny medical attention and legal counsel? Why surely you’ve heard of the Fourth Amendment?’

There are four sequels of steadily decreasing quality: Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool.

The part of Harry Callahan was intended for Frank Sinatra, who hurt his hand and couldn’t do it. John Wayne and Paul Newman then both declined it. Scorpio was to be played by Audie Murphy, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1971. With Siegel falling ill during the shoot, Eastwood directed two of the crucial scenes: the attempted rescue of a would-be suicide and the scene in Mount Davidson Park.

Look out for Eastwood walking past a cinema showing his 1971 movie Play Misty for Me and past a wall with graffiti including his son’s name Kyle. It took a fistful of dollars, over $18million in the US alone. Clint’s gun is a Smith and Wesson model 29, 61/2-inch barrel .44 Magnum.

The real-life Zodiac Killer story is told in Zodiac (2007), which references Dirty Harry.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1262

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