Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first appearance as San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. The film drew upon the real-life case of the Zodiac Killer as the Callahan character seeks out a similar vicious psychopath. Warner Bros.
'Dirty Harry' Takes On the Zodiac Killer, More or Less. Image via Warner Bros. A woman is shot dead while swimming in a rooftop pool in San Francisco. The killer, referred to as 'Scorpio' (Andy Robinson), leaves behind a letter demanding $100,000, or else he will kill more people.
"Dirty" Harry Callahan and Frank Bullitt are as iconic as movie crimefighters get, and they're both inspired by the same man, Dave Toschi. Few cinematic crime fighters are more revered than Inspector Harry Callahan, from Clint Eastwood's 1971 film, Dirty Harry.
Frank Sinatra was originally offered the role of "Dirty" Harry Callahan but turned it down due to a broken wrist and the size of the gun. Many other actors, including John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, also rejected the role for various reasons.
Dirty Harry: Magnum Force - Airplane Hijacking Scene (1080p)
What actor turned down the role of Dirty Harry?
John Wayne turned it down because he didn't want Sinatra's seconds or to take the job after Sinatra was offered it first. Then, in turn, Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster were offered the role. They turned it down.
Critics of Dirty Harry argue that his willingness to break the rules, engage in police brutality, and act as judge, jury, and executioner undermines the very principles of justice he claims to uphold. By taking the law into his own hands, he disregards the due process rights of suspects, setting a dangerous precedent.
The opening scene in Dirty Harry shows us Scorpio (Andy Robinson) aiming his rifle at a young woman (Diana Davidson) swimming in the pool on top of a high rise in San Francisco. We watch as she dives into the water and then suddenly gasps as Scorpio takes aim and fires.
While some details of the Bo Callahan character seemingly fit with Manziel, the movie was actually prescient regarding another quarterback. Because the real life version of Bo Callahan is a prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft: Michigan State's Connor Cook.
She tells him that she got nervous every time Chico left, and asks Harry if his wife felt the same. Harry says no. He tells her that his wife died in a drunk-driving accident some years ago. Harry tells Chico's wife that he understands why Chico is leaving the police force.
Harry is called dirty because he hates everyone, one person explains. Another says he got the name because he always gets the dirty end of the stick, only dirty isn't the word he uses. Whatever, Harry pursues criminals with a demonic passion.
At the end of the bank robbery Harry delivers his famous line which includes "Did I fire 5 times or 6"? Some viewers have suggested that Harry fired only 4 times, but in actuality you only see Harry fire 4 times - if you listen carefully you hear 6 shots.
In 1971, San Francisco is under the terrorizing eye of a psychopathic sniper called the "Scorpio Killer" (Andrew Robinson), and claims in one of his written letters to the San Francisco Police Department that he will keep killing until his demands are made.
44 Magnum. This Model 29 revolver was used in both Dirty Harry (1971) and Magnum Force (1973) by actor Clint Eastwood, who portrayed legendary San Francisco detective "Dirty Harry" Callahan. It was later presented to writer John Milius.
Director Don Siegel filmed the final scenes of the 1971 movie Dirty Harry in the vicinity of Larkspur Landing and at the adjacent East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
Warners' choice was not Eastwood, nor was it “The Duke”, but Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. As odd as it may seem to picture Dirty Harry scatting a loud “Doo-be-doo-be-dooooooo!”, Sinatra was indeed very interested and went as far as contract negotiations with Warner Bros.
Clint Eastwood delivers one of his finest performances as the titular "Dirty" Harry Callahan. He's got just the right amount of cocky cynacism and inset sense of self-justice and importance to make the character realistic and likable, despite his flaws.
Magnum Force is a 1973 American neo-noir action thriller film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan after the 1971 film Dirty Harry. Ted Post, who had previously worked with Eastwood on Rawhide and Hang 'Em High, directed the film.
In 1972, Finland hit Dirty Harry with a ban for violence and mental health reasons. The distributor for the film would challenge the ban and bring the case to the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court. The ban was overturned after some minor changes, but it ended up being banned once more.
The 'Dirty Harry' problem (characterized from a movie detective who used unconstitutional means to attain lofty justice goals) exists where a clearly 'good' end can be achieved only by using 'dirty' (unconstitutional) means.
One of the most controversial cop figures in movie history is Clint Eastwood's iconic Harry Callahan in "Dirty Harry." There are many reasons they call him Dirty Harry, one being he does any "dirty job" that comes his way. It's a moniker that suits a character who doesn't mind getting messy with his morals.
The ending of the original saw Harry gun down Andrew Robinson's serial killer Scorpio after the latter kidnapped a school bus full of children. After shooting the killer, the final shot saw Harry toss his badge away in disgust.
Though the rating for this movie is rated R, I would say that by today's standards it'd be rated PG-13. It does contain blood, violence, and brief nudity.
