| Dirty Harry | |
|---|---|
Dirty Harry theatrical poster |
|
| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Produced by | Don Siegel |
| Written by | Story: Harry Julian Fink R. Donald Siegel ( October 26, 1912 - April 20, 1991) was an influential American Film director and producer Harry Julian Fink, television and film writer wrote for Have Gun – Will Travel and was one of the writers who created Dirty Harry. M. Fink Screenplay: Harry Julian Fink R. Harry Julian Fink, television and film writer wrote for Have Gun – Will Travel and was one of the writers who created Dirty Harry. M. Fink Dean Riesner Uncredited: John Milius Terrence Malick |
| Starring | Clint Eastwood Harry Guardino Reni Santoni John Vernon Andy Robinson |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Cinematography | Bruce Surtees |
| Editing by | Carl Pingitore |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | |
| Running time | 102 min. Dean Riesner ( November 3, 1918 - August 18, 2002) was a prolific American film and television writer John Frederick Milius (born April 11, 1944) is an American Screenwriter, director, and producer of Motion pictures Terrence "Terry" Malick (born November 30, 1943, Ottawa, Illinois) is an Academy Award nominated American Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. Harry Guardino ( December 23, 1925 – July 17, 1995) was an American Actor whose career spanned from the early 1950s Reni Santoni (born April 21, 1939) is an American film television and voice actor John Vernon ( February 24, 1932 - February 1, 2005) was a Canadian Actor. Andrew Jordt Robinson (born February 14 1942 is an American Film, stage, and Television actor Lalo Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine pianist and Composer. Bruce Surtees ( 27 July 1937, Los Angeles, California USA is an Academy Award and Emmy Award nominated American Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies The year 1971 in film involved some significant events Events February 8 - Bob Dylan 's hour long documentary |
| Country | |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | Magnum Force (1973) |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Dirty Harry is a 1971 crime film directed by Don Siegel, the first of the Dirty Harry series. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States For the Heltah Skeltah album see Magnum Force (album. Magnum Force was the first of the sequels to the The year 1971 in film involved some significant events Events February 8 - Bob Dylan 's hour long documentary A crime film, in the most general sense is a Film that involves various aspects Crime and the Criminal justice system Donald Siegel ( October 26, 1912 - April 20, 1991) was an influential American Film director and producer Dirty Harry is the name of a series of films and novels starring fictional San Francisco Police Department detective 'Dirty' Harry Callahan, portrayed by Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first cast as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco California. Harold Francis "Dirty Harry" Callahan is a fictional San Francisco Police Department inspector in the films Dirty Harry (1971
Contents |
A serial killer who nicknames himself "Scorpio" (Andy Robinson) murders a young woman in a San Francisco rooftop swimming pool using a high-powered sniper rifle. A serial killer is a person who Murders usually three or more people with a "cooling off" period between each murder and whose motivation for killing is largely based Andrew Jordt Robinson (born February 14 1942 is an American Film, stage, and Television actor The spent casing is found on a rooftop across the way by Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood). Harold Francis "Dirty Harry" Callahan is a fictional San Francisco Police Department inspector in the films Dirty Harry (1971 Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. The Scorpio Killer left a message which is discovered by Callahan and later read aloud by the mayor:
| “ | To the city of San Francisco, I will enjoy killing one person every day until you pay me $100,000. In the film In the film not much is revealed about the character other than that he works as the caretaker at Kezar Stadium and is a Serial killer responsible If you agree say so tomorrow morning in Personal Column San Francisco Chronicle and I will set up meeting. If I do not hear from you, it will be my next pleasure to kill a Catholic priest or a nigger.
Scorpio |
” |
The department cautiously decides to assign Callahan to the case (he has recently been in trouble for pre-emptively shooting a rapist in the city's Fillmore district) while providing extra helicopter surveillance around the churches and the city's black community. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa
In a later scene, Callahan goes to a cafe for lunch. As he waits for his food, he notices a car, motor running, parked in front of a nearby bank. Callahan correctly surmises that a bank robbery is taking place and instructs the owner of the cafe to relay a message to the police department that a "211" (armed robbery) is in progress. While he waits for reinforcements to arrive, the bank robbers emerge from the bank, forcing Callahan to take matters into his own hands. He shouts a warning at the robbers, one of whom responds by firing a shotgun at Callahan. Callahan returns fire with his . 44 Magnum revolver and sends the offending robber sprawling to the ground. The other robber manages to get into the getaway car, after which the driver aims the car right at Callahan. Callahan fires his handgun at the car whereby causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which subsequently crashes and comes to a halt. Callahan then turns his attention back to the robber he shot earlier. As Callahan approaches him, the robber (Albert Popwell), who is still lying on the ground, tentatively reaches for his weapon that is mere inches from his hand. Albert Popwell, ( 15 July, 1926 - 9 April, 1999) was an African-American Actor Callahan comprehends what the robber is considering and, with his handgun pointed directly at the wounded man, utters his famous line:
| “ | 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 kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? | ” |
The robber evidently does not feel lucky and allows Callahan to take possession of the shotgun. As Callahan starts to walk away, the robber blurts out: "I gots to know. " Callahan obliges the perpetrator's curiosity by aiming his handgun at the man's head and pulling the trigger. The sound of a harmless click reveals that Callahan's gun had no remaining bullets.
Much to his annoyance the next day, Callahan is assigned a rookie partner named Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni). Reni Santoni (born April 21, 1939) is an American film television and voice actor Callahan claims that his partners always suffer injuries or worse while working with him and that he needs someone experienced.
Callahan's nickname, "Dirty Harry," is a reference to his reputation for taking on the "dirtiest" cases and resolving them even if it involves the violation of criminals' rights. It is commented on twice, once by Harry himself:
| “ | Now you know why they call me 'Dirty' Harry; every dirty job that comes along. . . | ” |
And once by Chico:
| “ | Now I know why they call him 'Dirty' Harry. He gets the shit end of the stick every time. | ” |
A police aircraft foils Scorpio's second attempt at murder, but he escapes and manages to kill a young boy in another rooftop shooting the next day. A police aircraft is an airplane or Helicopter used in Police operations As the boy was African American as claimed in the ransom letter, the police believe Scorpio is likely to then choose a Catholic priest as his next victim. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa They then conduct a sting, providing Scorpio a target of opportunity, one near the St. Peter and Paul Church in an attempt to catch Scorpio targeting a priest. Saints Peter and Paul Church is a Roman Catholic Church in San Francisco 's North Beach neighborhood A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Callahan and Chico wait for Scorpio on the adjacent rooftop and initiate a shootout with Scorpio when he appears; however, Scorpio escapes and kills a police officer.
Infuriated that his plans have been foiled, Scorpio kidnaps a teenage girl, rapes her and then incarcerates her in a hole. He contacts the city and demands a ransom twice that of the previous one. He claims that it must be paid quickly as his prisoner only has enough air to last until 3:00 a. m. the following morning. The Mayor of San Francisco (John Vernon) decides to pay, and Callahan is asked to deliver the money to a location at the docks. The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the government of San Francisco, California. John Vernon ( February 24, 1932 - February 1, 2005) was a Canadian Actor. When Harry reaches the drop point, Scorpio contacts him through a public payphone. A payphone or pay phone is a public Telephone, with payment made by inserting money (usually coins or a Debit card (a special Telephone card He sends Callahan on a journey between various payphones in the city, bouncing him around town in order to separate the inspector from any back-up that he may have. However, Scorpio does not realize that Callahan is wearing a wire, allowing Chico to know where his partner is going. A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug, is usually a combination of a Miniature Radio transmitter with a Microphone.
The chase ends when Callahan reaches an enormous cross at Mount Davidson, one of the city's parks. Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco, California, with an Elevation of 925 feet (282 meters It is located near the geographical Scorpio instructs Callahan to drop his gun and the money, then to face the cross and stand up against it. Scorpio then proceeds to beat Callahan with his rifle. The killer reveals that he does not intend to free the girl after all and that he intends to kill Callahan too. Chico, thanks to the wireless microphone, arrives at the scene and fires at Scorpio, saving Harry. Chico is shot in the resulting gunfight and is unable to continue as Callahan's partner. While Scorpio is distracted, Callahan stabs him in the leg with a concealed knife. Scorpio screams hysterically and escapes without the money.
Scorpio limps to an emergency clinic and is treated for his leg wound. Later, the doctor who treated Scorpio is questioned by Callahan and his new partner Frank DeGeorgio. The doctor tells them that he has seen Scorpio working and living in the nearby Kezar Stadium. } Kezar Stadium is a Stadium located in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco California. Running out of time, Callahan breaks into the stadium and searches Scorpio's room without a warrant. A search warrant is a Court order issued by a Judge or Magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to conduct a Search Callahan hears Scorpio fleeing and chases him onto the stadium's field. Frank turns on the stadium lights, which helps Callahan find Scorpio, whom he proceeds to shoot him in the leg from distance, though Scorpio is surrendering. Scorpio is unwilling to reveal the location of the girl to Callahan, claiming he has the right of hiring a lawyer. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person In response, an infuriated Callahan tortures Scorpio by standing on his wounded leg. Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental is intentionally Scorpio finally tells Callahan where he has been keeping the girl. Unfortunately, she is already dead, and likely always had been. To make matters worse, Scorpio is released without charge because Callahan broke into his home illegally and tortured him to obtain a confession. As Scorpio's rifle was seized at the time, he cannot be charged with any of the other murders.
After his release, Callahan follows Scorpio on his own time in order to prevent him from killing again. Scorpio pays a thug to punch him in the face and then tells the press that the police are harassing him, personally naming Callahan as the one responsible for his facial injuries to the press. The police chief orders Callahan to desist from following Scorpio, but Callahan protests that he's not the one responsible for the beating. However, he follows his orders, knowing he cannot stop Scorpio if he is suspended or fired. Later that night, Scorpio attacks a liquor store owner, takes the store owner's pistol and leaves.
The next day, Scorpio is able to kidnap a busload of children using the pistol. He demands another ransom and a business jet to take him out of the country. Business jet, private jet or colloquially bizjet is a term describing a Jet aircraft, usually of smaller size designed for transporting groups of The mayor again insists on paying, but Callahan, enraged by the ongoing soft response of his superiors, pursues Scorpio without authorization. Scorpio is frightened enough by Callahan's appearance on the top of a bridge. When the bus passes him, Callahan jumps onto the bus. A panicked Scorpio starts shooting and drives the bus in a erratic way in an attempt to shake Callahan off. Scorpio stops the bus after crashing through some gates while swerving to avoid a truck.
Callahan eventually manages to rescue the terrified children and pursues Scorpio into a nearby cement factory, where a gunfight ensues. Scorpio flees the factory and captures a boy who happens to be fishing at a nearby slough. For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Callahan shoots Scorpio in the shoulder, propelling him backwards, whereupon the killer drops his gun and the boy escapes. Callahan then recites a variation his now-famous "Do you feel lucky, punk?" line, only this time Callahan's gun has a bullet remaining in the chamber.
| “ | I know what you're thinking, punk. You are thinking, 'Did he fire six shots or only five?' Well, to tell you the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement. . . but being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?! | ” |
Scorpio, in contrast to the bank robber in the earlier scene, tries his luck and grabs his gun, but before he has a chance to fire his weapon, Callahan shoots him. Scorpio is pushed by the magnum blast and falls into the water, dead once and for all.
As the police arrive, Callahan takes out his inspector's badge. After looking at it, he hurls it into the water and walks away, presumably indicating his loss of faith in the law.
According to Mark Whitman's book, "The Films of Clint Eastwood", the original draft for the script was titled "Dead Right" by Julian and Rita Fink. John Mitchum ( September 6, 1919 - November 29, 2001) was an American Actor in films and later TV from the 1940s Ruth Kobart ( April 24 1924 – December 14 2002) was an American character actress whose six-decade career encompassed Lois Foraker is a television film and stage actress She was in the original Broadway cast of Godspell in 1976 Josef Sommer (born 26 June 1934) is a German -born American Film actor. William (or Bill) Patterson may refer to William Patterson (engineer (1795-1869 19th century engineer and boatbuilder James Nolan (born 27 January 1977 in Tullamore, Co Offaly) is an Irish runner and two time Olympian who specialized in the Craig Kelly may refer to one of the following people Craig Kelly (actor (born 1970 British actor star of Queer as Folk and Casualty Albert Popwell, ( 15 July, 1926 - 9 April, 1999) was an African-American Actor It was set in New York City, not San Francisco, and ended with a police sniper taking out Scorpio instead of Callahan. The City of New York The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Another earlier version of the story was set in Seattle, Washington. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
Although Callahan is arguably Clint Eastwood's signature role, he was not a top contender for the part. Indeed, the role was originally written for Frank Sinatra, but the singer had broken his wrist ten years earlier (possibly during the filming of The Manchurian Candidate), found the large handgun too unwieldy, and declined the role. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor For the novel by Richard Condon, see The Manchurian Candidate. It's also been suggested that the death of Sinatra's father prompted him to seek lighter material. Still, the Nov. 9th 1970 issue of Box Office magazine was one trade-paper that touted the pre-production Dirty Harry starring Frank Sinatra. [1]
John Wayne was considered for the role at one point but was not offered the part due to his age. John Wayne ( May 26, 1907 &ndash June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning American Wayne later portrayed a Dirty Harry-like detective in McQ, a 1974 film directed by John Sturges and set in Seattle. McQ is a 1974 crime drama starring John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, and Colleen Dewhurst. John Eliot Sturges ( 3 January 1911 &ndash 18 August 1992) was an American film director Marlon Brando was also rumored to be attached to the project. Marlon Brando Jr (April 3 1924 – July 1 2004 was an Academy Award -winning American Actor, whose body of work spanned over half a century Eastwood was only offered the role of Harry Callahan after Steve McQueen and Paul Newman also declined the role for varying reasons. Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen (March 24 1930 – November 7 1980 was an American movie Actor, nicknamed "The King of Cool" Paul Leonard Newman (January 26 1925 &ndash September 26 2008 was an Academy Award One of Eastwood's stipulations for accepting the role was the change of locale to San Francisco, which is his hometown. Eastwood has claimed that he took the role of Harry Callahan because of the character's obsessive concern with the victims of violent crime. Eastwood felt that the issue of victims' rights was being neglected in the political atmosphere of the time.
Scorpio, the film's antagonist, was based on the real-life Zodiac Killer, who was on the loose in San Francisco at the time. An antagonist (from Greek ανταγωνιστής - antagonistes, "opponent competitor rival" is a character or The Zodiac Killer is a Serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The Zodiac Killer has never been caught. In a later novelisation of the film, Scorpio was referred to as "Charles Davis," an escaped Canadian mental patient. Audie Murphy was first approached to play the Scorpio Killer, but he died in a plane crash before his decision on the offer could be made. Also see Audie Murphy legacy. Audie Leon Murphy (June 20 1926 – May 28 The part eventually went to a relatively unknown actor, Andy Robinson. Andrew Jordt Robinson (born February 14 1942 is an American Film, stage, and Television actor Siegel told Robinson that he cast him in the role of the Scorpio killer because he wanted someone "with a face like a choirboy. " Robinson's portrayal was so chilling that after the film was released he reportedly received several death threats and was forced to get an unlisted telephone number. In real life, Robinson is a pacifist who despises guns. In the early days of principal photography, Robinson would flinch violently every time he fired. Director Don Siegel was forced to shut down production for a time and sent Robinson to a school to learn to fire a gun convincingly. [2] Nonetheless, he still blinks when he shoots. The character Dirty Harry is allegedly based on real life San Francisco police inspector Dave Toschi, one of the investigators of the Zodiac murders. Dave Toschi (born 1931 is a former Inspector in the San Francisco Police Department.
Clint Eastwood's iconic portrayal of the blunt, cynical, unorthodox detective who is seemingly in perpetual trouble with his incompetent bosses, set the style for a number of his later roles and, indeed, a whole genre of cop films. The film resonated with an American public that had become weary and frustrated with the increasing violent urban crime that was characteristic of the time. The box-office success of Dirty Harry led to the production of four sequels. A sequel is a work in Literature, Film, or other media that portrays events following those of a previous work
At the time of the film's release, the film caused controversy, sparking debate over issues ranging from police brutality to victims' rights and the nature of law enforcement. A section of the Philippine police force ordered a print of the movie for use as a training film. [1][2] The motif of a cop who cares more for justice than rules was one subsequently imitated by a number of other films. The movie can also be counted as the seminal influence on the Italian tough-cop movies, Poliziotteschi, which dominated the 70s and that were critically praised in Europe and the U. Poliziotteschi is a sub-genre of crime and Action film that emerged in Italy in the late 1960s and became popular in the 1970s S. as well.
In 1972, soon after the release of the film in the state of Victoria in Australia, in an apparent copycat crime, two men kidnapped a teacher and six pupils at gunpoint, and forced them into a red delivery van, demanding a A$1 million ransom, which the Victorian state government agreed to pay. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Copycat crimes are criminal acts that are modeled on previous crimes that have been reported in the media The Faraday School kidnapping occurred on 6 October 1972 at a one-teacher school in the village of Faraday in Victoria, Australia. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to The children escaped with their teacher, the ransom was not paid and the kidnappers were jailed. Coincidentally, one of the kidnappers was named Eastwood. He escaped from prison and again tried kidnapping school children for ransom.
"Dirty" Harry Callahan also helped popularize the Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is a powerful six-shot double-action Revolver chambered for the. The film initiated a modest increase in sales of the powerful handgun, which continues to be popular some thirty-five years after the film's release. Throughout the film Eastwood's Model 29 is lionized as an all-powerful instrument capable of sending assailants flying wildly through the air, while in reality the round is far less dramatic than depicted. The . 44 Magnum round is not considered to be a practical caliber for urban police use due to excessive recoil (making target re-acquisition difficult) and over-penetration issues, which greatly increases the likelihood the bullet going through targets and injuring bystanders.
The gun used by Clint Eastwood in the filming of the movie was reportedly not a . 44 Magnum. According to a story related by a member of the studio's prop department, Smith & Wesson did not have a Model 29 in stock at the time one was requested for filming. Instead, they used a Smith & Wesson Model 57 in . 41 Magnum. The Model 29 and Model 57 are identical except for minute differences in bore size, chamber dimensions, and exterior markings, none of which are visible in the film.
Another version of the Dirty Harry gun story: In the scene where we see Inspector Callahan drawing his oversized revolver for the first time, the gun used was a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in . 44 Magnum with an 8 3/8" barrel, but subsequent shooting (both with the cameras and the gun) was conducted using a Smith and Wesson Model 25 in .45 Long Colt with a 6" barrel. The choice of . 45LC over . 44 Magnum was to use the standard "Four-In-One" blank cartridges, which were widely used in filming cowboy movies, and thus readily available (unlike blanks for a . 44 Magnum, which the prop department would have had to fabricate from scratch. ) As in the story above, the Model 25 and Model 29 are so similar that it would be impossible to distinguish them at a glance.
The . 44 Magnum has since been eclipsed as "the most powerful handgun in the world. " Factory-produced examples include the .454 Casull, the .475 Wildey Magnum, the .50 Action Express, and the .500 S&W Magnum. Some gunsmiths also offer custom-built or limited-production handguns chambered for proprietary calibers or high-velocity rifle cartridges. Perhaps the most powerful handguns ever made are single-shot pistols chambered for the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) and 600 Nitro Express calibers.
The gun Scorpio steals from the liquor store owner is a Walther P38. The Walther P38 is a 9 mm pistol that was developed by Walther as the Service pistol of the Wehrmacht at the beginning of World War
The . 44 Magnum ranked second in a 2008 20th Century Fox poll of the most popular film weapons, which surveyed approximately two thousand films fans. [3]
Warner Home Video owns rights to the Dirty Harry series. Dirty Harry (1971) has been remastered for DVD three times: In 1998, 2001 and 2008 (for release June 3). Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering It has been repurposed for several DVD box sets. Dirty Harry makes its high-definition debut with the 2008 Blu-ray disc. The commentator on the 2008 DVD is Clint Eastwood biographer Richard Schickel. Richard Warren Schickel (born February 10, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an Author, Journalist, and documentary [3]
Other locations: