Dirty Harry

Well everyone, this month is going to be another good one because I will be reviewing another great series of films that was simply iconic for one of the greatest actors of all time, Clint Eastwood, the Dirty Harry franchise. After mentioning this maybe a few times in my reviews, now is a good time to review the franchise. Let’s dive right in with the very first film, “Dirty Harry,” released in 1971.

Is this film fascist, or is the film about a fascist cop? TV Guide answers, “Either way, this is suspenseful, energetic stuff, directed with urgency and style by Cahiers du Cinema favorite Don Siegel; embellished with some of Lalo Schifrin's coolest electro-jazz confections; and driven by the inimitable Clint as Detective "Dirty" Harry Callahan, last line of defence against the assorted hippie liberal types who, in the early 70s, threatened the very fabric of Western civilization.”

Individualist San Francisco officer “Dirty” Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is given a task by the city mayor (John Vernon) to track down a serial killer known as Scorpio (Andy Robinson). This murderer wants $100,000, or he will keep killing people. The mayor and everyone else is going to pay him, but Harry disagrees, seeing it would just be the first time he asks. Harry stiffens when partnered with rookie Chico, played by Reni Santoni, against his demands (Chico dissatisfies Harry in three ways, by being new on the job, Mexican-American, and, maybe the worst of it, college-educated), but he starts to accept the rookie partner. Scorpio says he’s buried a teenage girl somewhere in the city and will let her die unless everyone pays him $200,000. TV Guide said, “Eastwood gets the job of delivering the money (backed up by Chico), but eventually pursues his own, extralegal route to nail Scorpio.”

“Dirty Harry” was popular, controversial and influential. TV Guide noted, “With uncredited screenplay contributions by John Milius, the film represented, via its title character, the apotheosis of the maverick cop figure that Siegel had portrayed in films from HELL IS FOR HEROES through MADIGAN. Harry Callahan is both more openly scornful of the law--his nailing of Scorpio is basically a critique of the concept of "criminal rights"--and, thanks to Eastwood's perfectly calibrated performance, more compelling an individual, than Siegel's earlier neo-vigilantes.” The film excelled Eastwood to his second time rising to stardom, left its mark on endless cop flicks that came after, and was the start of one of the most celebrated director/star relationships in film history – one inspirational callback by Eastwood-as-director in the team-up dedication of his 1992 magnum opus, “Unforgiven,” “To Sergio and Don.”

This film is also famous for one of the best film quotes in history, which is: “I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” It’s often misquoted, but who cares, it comes relatively close.

As I have stated before in other reviews, this film just has to be seen to be believed. It is one of the best movies ever made and you will absolutely love it. I give you my word, it is that good. I would say that this is another one of my favorites since I love how Harry is a rebel, no-holds-barred officer that will stop at nothing and do whatever he wants to get the job done. See it if you haven’t, it’s one of the best Eastwood movies ever.

Check in next week when I go further in the franchise in “Dirty Harry Month.”