Well, I thought I would get another review in before the end of the month and this one is a redo of a very old post on this blog, which is the crime thriller classic, Dirty Harry. So, this will be expanded quite a bit since its an old post but I will try and not overdo the sections too much (for a change, well try at least!).
So, with that said, let's take another look at this classic and see how it fairs 55 years on from its release...
Also the usual warning is coming...
PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
STORY
So, the plot begins with a serial killer nicknamed Scorpio (Andy Robinson) who kills a girl in a swimming pool by sniping her from a rooftop. The investigating police officer, Inspector Harry Callahan (Eastwood) finds a ransom note which he takes to the mayor (John Venon), which reveals that Scorpio demands $100,000 and if it isn't delivered he will kill one person a day until they pay him. The mayor then decides to put Callahan in charge of investigating the case although he is reluctant to at first due to Callahan's rebelious nature.
Later at a local diner, Callahan spots a bank robbery take place across the street
and he kills two of the robbers and injures the last one, and he stands
over him saying the immortal line "I know what you're thinking? Did he
fire six shots or only five?" to which he asks the robber "do I feel
lucky? Well do ya, punk?" the robber relents from picking up his
shotgun, but says to Callahan he's got to know, and Callahan pulls the
trigger which clicks to reveal the chamber is empty, and he smiles as he
walks off.
Callahan is later assigned a rookie partner, Chico Gonzalez (Reni
Santoni) whom Callahan is wary of at first as he feels assigning someone
so inexperienced will most likely get them killed. Scorpio commits
another murder as he has killed a young black boy, leaving the police to
deduce that he might kill a catholic priest next (as he stated in his
ransome note). This soon leads to Callahan and Chico steaking out a
rooftop at night to try and capture Scorpio, with whom they soon engage
in a gunfight, but Scorpio escapes and kills a police officer disguise
as a priest in the process. Scorpio next up kidnaps, assaults and buries a
girl alive, and he warns the police that he wishes to double his
ransome to $200,000 or else he will kill the girl. The mayor finally
relents and insist that Callahan deliver the money to Scorpio to end the
killings, to which Callahan reluctantly agrees to but he thinks that
Scorpio will kill the girl regardless.
Later that night Scorpio has Callahan run between various payphones
throughout the city to ensure that he isn't being followed. Callahan
eventually faces Scorpio, who beats him up and sadistically tells him
that he has changed his mind and he will kill the girl, prompting
Callahan to stab Scorpio in the leg, who limps away and escapes again
after a quick gunfight with Chico, who is injured as a result. Chico
soon after decides to resign his duties as his wife is concerned for his
life, leaving Callahan to carry on investigating alone.
Callahan however is soon given a new partner, who informs him that Scorpio has been seen in Kezar stadium, where Callahan later goes at night and finds Scorpio, shooting him in the leg, he tortures Scorpio by stepping on his wounded leg, who eventually relents and reveals where the girl is, but they are too late to save her. Callahan is then soon outraged to learn from the DA that as Callahan unlawfully searched his home without a warrant and seized his rifle, that they cannot charge Scorpio.
After
this Callahan is ordered to stop following Scorpio, after the serial
killer pays a thug to give him a severe beating, which he blames
Callahan for publicly. Scorpio's next move involves kidnapping a group
of school children on a bus and he phones the mayor asking for a new
ransome and a plane so he can leave the country. The mayor requests
Callahan deliver the ransome again, but Callahan refuses and sets off to
hunt down Scorpio and stop him once and for all.
THOUGHTS
Dirty Harry is without a doubt a real classic thriller, and it started a new trend in gritty cop films, in which we see Callahan is a real anti-hero, who to resort any measure to stop criminals. The film itself was a long time in development and at one time it was actually originally cast for John Wayne who turned it down as he felt the script glorified violence. Frank Sinatra was also cast in the role but he sustained an injury and was unable to do it, which left the role open for casting with Clint Eastwood not being the top choice, as Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster were both considered, who both turned down the part. Eastwood was eventually cast in the part but insisted that the film was set in San Franciso and he was drawn to the part due to Callahan's concern for the victims of violent crime, and the film reflect the politics of the law at that time which saw the victims rights being trampled on.
PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section may contain spoilers!)
Getting onto the performances, the cast are all on very good form.
Starting with Clint Eastwood, who is perfect in his role as "Dirty Harry" or Inspector Callahan, the tough, hard headed cop who will take any measure necessary to ensure justice is served. Callahan despite his tough and gritty nature still remains a decent cop however and he very much shows his concern for the victims as well as for his partner Chico. Callahan also shows alot of contempt for the system especially when Scorpio is let go as there is insufficent evidence to press charges against him, which sees the criminals given more rights than the victims.
Eastwood has plenty of memorable scenes in the film, starting with the scene where he speaks to the mayor who warns him about causing no trouble like he did the year before in the Fillmore District and the mayor says "I don't want any trouble like you did in the Filimore District. Is that clear? That's my policy". So, Callahan replies "Well when a naked man runs after a women with the intent to commit rape, I shoot the bastard, that's my policy!" to which the mayor masks why he thinks that's and Callahan replies "well when I see a naked man with a butcher knife chase after a women with a hard-on, I hardly think he's out collecting for the red cross!".
Then there is the famous scene where Callahan goes up to the robber at the start and says his famous line "I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or did he fire five? Well, to tell you the truth, I've forgotten in all this excitement. However since this a .44 magnum and it could blow your head clean off, you gotta ask yourself the question: "Do I feel lucky?". Well do ya, punk?".
Then there is the sene where Harry and his new partner, Chico are out on duty at night and Harry spies a young woman who get's undressed, and he is beaten up by some nearby thugs. Later on, Harry talks a man out of jumping off a roof by saying "Can you give me your name and address?" and the would-be jumper asks "Why?" and Harry says "Its just a mess when they jump, you never know who's who?" and the jumper graons and says "I think Im gonna puke!" and Harry grabs and punches him and brings him down in a crane. So, after they are down Harry turns to Chico and says "Now you know why they call me Dirty Harry. Every dirty job that comes along!".
Then there is the scene where he tells Chico's wife that he had a wife himself once but she died and he understands why Chico wants to quit. So, in the scene, Harry says "I want you to tell Chico, that I understand him quitting, I think he's right. This is no life for you". Chico's wife then asks "Why do you stay in it then?" and Harry says "I don't know. I really don't".
Later in the mayor's office, after Scorpio publicly blames his arranged beating on Callahan when he is shown bandaged up on TV. So, the police chief asks Harry "Have you been following this man?" and Harry says "Yeah, I've been follwing him on my own time but anyone can see I didn't do that to him!" and the chief asks how and Harry replies "Because he looks too damn good that's how!".
Then there is the scene where Harry angrily confronts the mayor and the chief about paying Scorpio another ransom after kidnaps a school bus. So, the chief asks Harry "Callahan, will you take the money to him?" and Harry angrily says "When will you people stop messing around with this guy? He's gotta be stopped now!". The Mayor then angrily says "He's a got a busload of kids and I can't take that chance! I promised him he would not be molested and gave him my word and that's a direct order, Callahan!!". Harry however fed up finally says "Well, just get yourself another delivery boy" and walks out.
And last of all is the scene where Harry finally catches up with Scorpio and shoots him in the shoulder and taunts him by saying "I now what you're thinking? Did he fire six shots or five?". So, Harry then asks the famous question "Do I feel lucky?" and he furiously asks "Well, do ya, PUNK??!!". Scorpio unlike the bank robber at the start of the film, does go for the gun and Harry finally shoots Scorpio dead once and for all before throwing his detective badge in the river.
Andy Robinson is also really good as the killer, Scorpio, and he plays him quite creepily and he does cut an intimidating and sinister villain.
Robinson's memorable scenes include when he bounces Callahan all around the city as Scorpio has kidnapped a gilr. So, Harry finally is brought to Scorpio, who eventually confronts him and beats him up, and he says "Don't you pass out, no don't you pass out, you rotten stinking oinker!" and he confesses "I've changed my mind, I'm going to let her die! I just wanted you to know that before I kill you!" but Chico soon turns up to save Harry.
Another good scene is where Scorpio pays a thug to beat him up and as the thug beats him severely, the thugs asks "Are you sure you want the rest of it?" and Scorpio, who looks bloody and battered (and a bit like Quasi Modo!) says with contempt "Every last penny, you black son of a bitch!". So, the man then kicks him and then drags him outside and he says "This one's on the house!" and he kicks him again.
Then there is possibly
Robinson's most chilling moment is where he kidnaps the kids on the
school trip and he starts off nicely by getting them to sing "Row row
row your boat". However, as one of the kids asks where they are going, he soon turns nasty when one of the kids says they
want to go home, and he hits the boys and says "What's the matter with
you?! Sing! I'm gonna kill all your mothers!" and he signs manically "Row row row your boat gently down the stream! Merrily, merrily merrily, life is but a dream!!" before we see Harry turn up ahead ontop of a bridge.
John Vernon is also really good in his role as the San Francisco mayor,
who warns Callahan not to harm Scorpio in his attempts to deliver the
ransome.
So, I will mention two of his scene, with the first being a meeting with Callahan and the mayor warns Harry "Callahan...I don't want anymore trouble like you did in the Filimore district, you understand? That's my policy". So, Harry then says "Well, when an adult male is chasing a woman with the intent to rape, I shoot the bastard, that's my policy!". So, Mayor then asks "How'd you establish that?" and then Harry replies "When a naked man with a butcher knife and a hardon runs after a woman, I don't think he's collecting for the red cross!" and the mayor says "he's got a point!".
Last of all is Reni Santoni is pretty good in his role as Chico, Callahan's rookie partner who get's some good lines, and after Callahan get's berated by the police chief, Chico says "So that's why they keep calling him Dirty Harry. He keeps getting the shit end of the stick!".
DIRECTOR
Moving onto the direction, Eastwood's long time collaborator, Don
Siegel does a terrific job here and he keeps the pacing tight and the
suspense high, and he stages some impressive action sequences, with the
best one being the climactic chase sequence at the end as Callahan goes
after Scorpio, as Callahan chases Scorpio on the school bus and
eventually to a rock quarry. Siegel also makes good use of many locations in San Francisco such as the city hall, Dolores park and Kezar stadium where Harry tortures Scorpio. Eastwood himself directed one scene of the film also, which is the scene where Harry tries to talk down the jumper.
SOUNDTRACK
As for the soundtrack, I have to mention the film's notable score, which is by Argentine-American composer, Lalo Schifrin, which has a very distinctive and funky feel, with its great use of percussion, piano and guitar, which incorporates some really good dramatic passages, not to mention some funky ones. Schifrin would go on to score three more of the Dirty Harry films except for the Enforcer in 1976, which was scored by Jerry Fielding.
FLAWS
As for the flaws, well yeah Dirty Harry does have some minor ones worth a mention.
For starters, you could argue the plot is pretty thin and standard stuff with a serial killer on the loose in town and it takes one man to take him down. Its nothing particualrly new in itself although the angle of police brutality from Callahan does add an interesting spin on things to make it stand over what could have been a generic thriller.
Another issue is to do with the law letting Scorpio go free after Callahan dishes out a brutal confession from Scorpio, despite the fact that Scorpio clearly murdered the girl he had kidnapped. They also have evidence of the simple fact that Scorpio also brutally assaulted Callahan himself prior to this and he had the scars to prove it! So, the idea of letting Scorpio walk only to let him kill again is pretty ridiculous, even the district attorney is naive to the notion of Scorpio killing again, yet Callahan has to remind him that he will for sure do it again.
I also thought the idea of bouncing Callahan all around town was a bit strange from the stand point of just how was Scorpio keeping tabs on Callahan in the dark at night. I guess he was using binoculars to try and keep an eye on him in between drops but given Callahan has to also go on the subway, it was impossible for him to keep tabs on him at all times (although Scorpio does admit he couldn't keep tabs all the way I guess).
It has to be said that despite Scorpio's brutal beating, he didn't look too bad after he got out of hospital, as he simply had a few scars and a bandage over his nose. Not only that but but earlier on, Scorpio checked into the emergency hospital for his knife wound but later Callahan shoots him in the leg with his magnum but given the power of his gun, its surprising the damage done wasn't even worse!
Lastly, I cannot finish without mentioning the blood in the film, which looks ridiculous and completely unrealistic as it has a rather bizarre colour to it and doesn't resemble the natural colour of blood itself. This is most obvious in the scene with the bank robber and his bloody arm, which looks just like he's had some bright red paint spattered all over it! So, yeah the effects for the blood are far from perfect here and definitely one of the drawbacks of the film.
So, that's it for the flaws.
SUM UP
So, to sum up, Dirty Harry remains a great classic crime thriller with Eastwood playing one of the most memorable figures in modern pop culture in Harry Callahan and he is perfect at playing the anit-hero. The supporting cast are also good with Andy Robinson being very good also as the creepy villain, Scorpio and John Vernon as the ineffective city mayor. The score of Lalo Schifrin is also very memorable with its use of atmospheric strings and guitar and Siegel's direction is pretty solid overall. So, despite any minor flaws, the film is still a classic and well worth watching as well as a great intro to one of cinema's most memorable characters.
So, I will rate Dirty Harry
9 out of 10
So, that's it for now and I will be back with another post next month.
Until then its bye for now punks!
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