Initial release date: December 22, 1971
Studios: Warner Brothers/Malpaso
Tagline: Dirty Harry and the homicidal maniac. Harry’s the one with the badge.
You don’t assign him to murder cases, you just turn him loose.
Plot: Cop Harry Callahan attempts to track down a psychopathic rooftop killer before a kidnapped girl dies. When he is found, Harry abuses the murderer’s civil rights, putting him back on the streets. Once he’s released he hijacks a school bus and Harry must go after him again. The only way to stop this vicious killer is in cold blood.
Cast
Clint Eastwood - Harry
Harry Guardino - Bressler
Reni Santoni - Chico
John Vernon - The Mayor
Andrew Robinson - Killer
John Larch - Chief
John Mitchum - DeGeorgio
Woodrow Parfey - Mr. Jaffe
Josef Sommer - Rathko
Writer(s): Harry Julian Fink (Ice Station Zebra)
Rita M. Fink
Dean Riesner (The Enforcer; Play Misty for Me)
Director: Don Siegel (The Beguiled; Escape from Alcatraz)
Rated R (102 min)
The 1971 Clint Eastwood action-thriller ‘Dirty Harry’ is definitely a must see flick! This thriller delivers a lot of tense, gritty action and die-hard Eastwood fans will surely enjoy it.
This iconic film was the first of its kind - ‘Dirty Harry’ practically started the cop/serial killer sub-genre. Some of the ‘Scorpio’ chase sequences can be really, really tense.
One of the most tense moments in the entire film is the ransom drop sequence where ‘Scorpio’ kidnaps a girl and has Dirty Harry go to various places or she dies. This classic is definitely one of the most compelling action movies I have ever seen. And the character of ‘Scorpio’ (whose real name is never revealed) is, without a doubt, one of the biggest lunatics ever seen on film.
So, if you love Clint Eastwood films and lots of action, make sure to check out the incredibly tense action-thriller ‘Dirty Harry’ on HBO Max. You can also catch the other ‘Dirty Harry’ movies on the streaming service as well.
FYI - This year the movie ‘Dirty Harry’ turned 50!!!!
Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘Dirty Harry’:
Serial killer Scorpio was loosely based on the Zodiac Killer, who used to taunt police and media with notes about his crimes, in one of which he threatened to hijack a school bus full of children. The role of Harry Callahan was loosely based on real-life detective David Toschi, who was the chief investigator on the Zodiac case.
Andrew Robinson created a backstory for Scorpio which involved him being drafted into the Vietnam War, and seeing unbreakable horrors. When he returned home to the US, he found himself a figure of hate, and his war experiences, combined with the people’s treatment of soldiers, caused him to go insane.
The Scorpio Killer’s real name is never revealed throughout the entire movie, and in the ending credits, he is simply listed as “Killer.”
Was among the US Library of Congress’ selections for preservation in the National Film Registry archives in 2012.
Burt Lancaster turned down the lead role because he strongly disagreed with the story’s violence and with what he perceived to be its “right-wing” morals.
Eastwood performed all of his own stunts, including the stunt where he jumps onto the roof of the hijacked school bus from a bridge.
‘Dirty Harry’ was a critical and commercial success and set the style for a whole genre of police films.
The film caused controversy when it was released, sparking debate over issues ranging from police brutality to victim’s rights and the nature of law enforcement.
Since its release, the film’s critical reputation has grown in nature. ‘Dirty Harry’ was selected in 2008 by Empire magazine as one of The 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time. TV Guide and Vanity Fair also included the film on their lists of the 50 best movies.
The film was the fourth highest grossing film of 1971, earning an approximate total of $36 million in its US theatrical release.
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