85 replies to this topic

[Satorious]

Personally I loved the first two Dirty Harry movies. By the third it was all getting a bit tired and dull, they had nothing new to say (plus Lalo wasn't doing the score this time). I found the forth merely a routine "mystery" film, totally tailored at the last minute to be a Dirty Harry vehicle for Eastwood. I don't really understand why it is getting as much love as it is, although I admit the change was quite brave. If you take out the Dirty Harry character though - it's actually rather dull. The less said about the last one, the better (although I did love the "idea" of that car chase). I always think of Tightrope too with Dirty Harry. Perhaps it's just because Clint is playing another cop. I probably prefer this to some of the later "Harry" sequels.

For me, they get progressively worse as time goes on, the first being a five star classic, the second a solid four star movie - etc. If only Don Siegel would have directed the second movie, it had an awful lot of potential and was quite original for it's time.

[Brian Flagg]

Was it original enough to make a whole series out of?Sure you got a couple famous lines out of the them but the movies couldn't hold up to the challenge. I do though think Eastwood saves the movies with his acting in my opion only the first and fourth deserve much credit.You have to admit though if he was pointing a 44 magnum at you, you'd have to ask yourself one question...

From what I've read, Eastwood intended for Dirty Harry to exist as a trilogy (DH, MF, TE) but was lured back because of public demand about characters moviegoers wanted to see on the big screen again.

Another interesting thing is that 48 Hours (Nolte and Murphy movie) was originally supposed to be a Dirty Harry film! Check out the link I already posted.

Oh, and DO get those great DIRTY HARRY soundtracks, they're magnificent; particularly the first one.

[stamper]

1st : Masterpiece

2nd : Suffers from overlong scenes, and bad construction and rythm. I think it should start with the pool massacre, and many scenes should be rearranged, with long shots of Harry walking doing nothing trimmed. It feels like they issued the rough cut at times. Dirty Harry losing is Magnum at the climax is a mistake. But some great, fetichistic homosexuals shots of the cops walking around toward their kills.

3rd : it's probably the weakest. Some interesting characters like the "Horace" bad guy who Harry sympathise with, and the ending is neat (police chief coming up to the scene after Harry killed everyone, saying they agree to the terrorists conditions) but overall, it's on auto pilot.

4th : directed by Clint. It's only weakness is that too much time is spent on the woman, with continuous flash-backs on the rape. If some fan edit should be done, it would make this one of the greatest of the series, up there with the first. Classic elevator scene, sugar in coffee scene, heart attack scene, classic appearance of Harry all silhouetted in black ready to blow off the evil american low life chums, classic ending where Harry let the girl get away free. This ending created controversy, with many claiming it didn't fit. Just like the first movie ending

5th : this is a joke. Every time Clint fires his gun, you can see on his face him thinking "here's 5 000 more bucks I just earned to do Bird". With time, the movie have gotten better thought, there's one scene that always standed as classic Harry, that is the "mailman" scene (in prison, where Dirty Harry leaves saying to the bulky guy : "see that guy over there ? He says smoking kills, and to smoke as much as you do, you must be an ", that one always been an audience hoot !

6th : Yes, Clint should probably come back, and do to Harry what Unforgiven did to his cow-boys characters. That would be a major event, and that would be one dark movie...

Here's how all our faces would be, if Warner annouced Clint directing and acting in a 6th, final movie of the saga

[Brian Flagg]

4th : directed by Clint. It's only weakness is that too much time is spent on the woman, with continuous flash-backs on the rape. If some fan edit should be done, it would make this one of the greatest of the series, up there with the first. Classic elevator scene, sugar in coffee scene, heart attack scene, classic appearance of Harry all silhouetted in black ready to blow off the evil american low life chums, classic ending where Harry let the girl get away free. This ending created controversy, with many claiming it didn't fit. Just like the first movie ending

I'll admit to being absolutely traumatized by a scene in SUDDEN IMPACT, but it wasn't the rape scene (go figure), but rather a short part where the Mick character is with some blonde bimbo and she is clearly terrified of this savage monster while enduring his...*ahem* affections. Absolutely traumatic! (I was 12 when the film was released).
There was some really dark, twisted stuff in that film, and Sondra Locke didn't help, either.

[pat006]

Even better, in Sudden Impact, he used a 44 auto. Too bad he didn't carry it in the 5th, which is the worse

I have a photo of roger moore sporting that same 44 auto.!
don't know from what film is that!

[Righty007]

I have a photo of roger moore sporting that same 44 auto.!
don't know from what film is that!

Live and Let Die?

[Blofeld's Cat]

I keep forgetting that THE DEAD POOL is actually a "Dirty Harry" movie.

The main problem with Clint was that he kept on wanting to use his girlfriend/wife/main squeeze as his co-stars.

[d0uble0_7]

Wow. It's been so long since I've seen any Dirty Harry films. This thread has brought back some fond memories.

[Bryce (003)]

You know, I had an idea for an "Unforgiven" sort of final Harry movie.

Violent crimes in a small coastal town. A young SF cop trying to figure it out who has a reputation of being trigger happy. About an hour in, following the trail, some local tells him "You know, there is one guy out here. Retired SF cop. He might be worth talking to. Spends most of his time golfing or fishing." - Yup, it's Harry.

Followed by the great third act. Harry taking the .44 out of a leather gun rug. He takes down the bad guys one last time but is mortaly wounded. Harry dies and there's a full proper police funeral in SF. At the end the end though, a man approaches the young cop who's earned his rank as Inspector and gives him a package.

The .44 with a note that reads "Feel lucky?"

Just an idea, but it *could* work.

Yeah, I think we all want to see Harry one last time.

Side note: I once used the mouthwash line on a fat SOB who was screaming at an airport. Some corporate slob who had, as most do, booked himself in economy and then tried to upgrade, but there were no first class seats available. I was checking in at the gate next to him and in his fever of demanding he must have a 1st class seat, knocked over my briefcase while he was screaming at the poor girl behind the counter.

I called him on it with a simple "Hey! Do you mind?"

He was on some kind of anger roll and screamed in my face "What do you want!?"

"Just an observation....Your deordorant ain't cutting it."

Yeah, that was my Harry moment. He ended up being escorted from the terminal by security. It was priceless. The girl at the counter and two more of the airline staff all but lost it when I delivered the line.

[RedKelly]

I love in sudden impact when dirty harry is telling the old guy from godfather 2 about the dead girl and he has a heart attack but all harry had were blank papers.

Edited by RedKelly, 12 November 2007 - 10:38 PM.

[pat006]

I have a photo of roger moore sporting that same 44 auto.!
don't know from what film is that!

Live and Let Die?

nope! this photo seems to be taken circa 1979 and roger is sporting a seiko
in live and let die roger uses a smith & wesson model 29 the same revolver that dirty harry has, I mean the automatic pistlo that harry uses in sudden impact
I'll scan the photo and post it if I can

[HH007]

The original Dirty Harry was great. At first I wasn't that impressed with it, but I actually like it more and more with subsequent viewings. Definitely a classic. I love that scene where Scorpio hires that guy to beat the living out of him. Haven't watched any of the sequels yet, though.

[Bryce (003)]

Interesting side bit about the first. "Dirty Harry" was originally developed for the Chairman of the Board - Mr. Frank Sinatra. It was almost set to go in '68, but Frank had other films going on - the second Tony Rome movie "Lady in Cement" and "The Detective". It lingered and stalled at Warner Brothers until 1970 when they signed good old Don onboard.

Now, the account as I heard of it (maybe read it somewhere), is that Frank was up for it, but, one afternoon on the Warner lot, he mis-stepped a curb and went down catching himself with his right hand and fractured his wrist. The story goes that, with his injury, he couldn't handle the weight and the kick (even with blanks) of .44 S&W M29. Hence, he backed out and did some shows in Vegas. Don thought of Clint, WB went for it. The rest is what it was. History and the cementing of actor with what became an iconic role.

Sort of like some Scottish truck driver I *think* we've all heard of.

[mrsbonds_ppk]

I love Dirty Harry and Magnum Force was also very good no doubt they still hold up. And don't forget the music by Lalo Schifrin.

[Barry the Saint]

All the Dirty Harry's are really entertaining and Clint is fantastic in them all - im due to watch one soon actually,ive got the bug for it..

[stamper]

Not only Sinatra was supposed to play Dirty Harry in the 60's, the man even portrayed John McClane's character on screen years before Bruce Willis !

Roderick Thorpe 1966 novel The Detective was made into a 1968 movie of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra as Detective "Joe Leland", and his 1979 sequel to The Detective, Nothing Lasts Forever, was turned into the 1988 film Die Hard. Though Die Hard featured several similarities to the novel, it was not made as a sequel to the film version of The Detective. Joe Leland was renamed John McClane for posterity.

Sinatra IS the Godfather of modern action cinema

[Bryce (003)]

You are correct sir!

You're spot on in your facts and I share your opinion stamper. Cheers!

Now, back to another Harry quote:

Mayor: Oh and Callahan, I don't want any trouble like last year in the Fremont district. That's my policy.

Harry: Yeah, well when I see girl being chased by a naked man with intent to rape, I shoot the bastard. That's my policy.

Mayor: How did you establish "intent"?

Harry: Well, I figure any guy with a hard-on and butcher's knife isn't collecting for the Red Cross.

[stamper]

De Georgio: Harry hates everybody. Limeys, Micks, Hebes, Fat Dagos, Niggers, Honkies, Chinks, you name it.
Gonzales: How does he feel about Mexicans?
De Georgio: Ask him.
Harry Callahan: Especially Spics.



The Mayor: Well let's have it.
Harry Callahan: Have what?
The Mayor: A report! What have you been doing?
Harry Callahan: Well, for the past three quarters of an hour I've been sitting on my in your outer office waiting on you!

Lest we forget in The Enforcer

(Harry is asked to give up his badge)
Harry Callahan: Here's a seven-point suppository, Captain.
Capt McKay: What did you say?
Harry Callahan: I said stick it in your .


(Harry just broke a hostage situation with his 44 magnum, after crashing into the store with the car the hoods asked to get away)

Capt McKay: $14,379.
Harry Callahan: How can that be?
Capt McKay: You want an itemized account? You took out two front doors, one front window, 12 feet of counter. Plus damages to the stock, plus one city vehicle totaled. Not to mention three hostages in the hospital, all of whom will probably sue the city.
Harry Callahan: For what?
Capt McKay: Excessive use of force. For your information, Callahan, the minority community has just about had it with this kind of police work.
Harry Callahan: By the "minority community", I suppose you're talking about the hoods.

[Harrys playing pool when Bressler and KcKay approach him about the case]

Lt. Al Bressler: No. We play as a team.
Harry Callahan: As I remember, the last time we played as a team I got the cue stuck in my .

[Red Barchetta]

Dirty Harry is a classic by itself. Magnum Force is also quite good. By the third movie they were running out of gas- Sudden Impact runs on empty most of the film.


Best quote: (Harry explaining why he shot a guy)

Well, when an adult male is chasing a female with intent to commit rape, I shoot the bastard. That's my policy.

[stamper]

See the Frank Sinatra Dirty Harry poster here !

http://www.the-dirti...com/sinatra.htm

[Bryce (003)]

Right on stamper! Great lines.

Red - you got the line spot on. I couldn't recall it exactly in my above post.

This thread has resulted in Magnum Force playing on the computers other window.

Sunny: So, whats a girl have to do to go to bed with you?

Harry: (stunned) Try knocking on the door.

also -

Harry, still munching his burger enters the security area of SFO.

Airport Manager: I'm sorry this is a security area.

Harry: (shows badge) What's the problem?

Airport Manager: It's a hijacking. We've got a plane out there with 120 passengers and they're demanding an overseas pilot and fuel.

Harry: Have you notified the FBI?

Airport Manager: Yes, but it'll be another 45 minutes before they get here.

Harry: May I make a suggestion?

Harry exits terminal wearing a pilot's uniform.

Co-pilot: (as jet taxis down runway) Excuse me Captain, but...Can you fly?

Harry: Nope. Never had one lesson.

Harry proceeds to beat the crap out of the hijacker in the cockpit, takes his pistol and guns down second thug.

If I wasn't a spy, I'd probably have ended up a cop like Harry.

[manfromjapan]

I love the original film, it's perfectly directed by Don Siegel and influenced every cop movie after it on the same way Dr. No influenced every spy film after. It's uncompromising, has a political edge and is just a great thriller with quotable dialogue, and Clint at his collest and most laconic. Andy Robinson as the killer is scarily realistic.

Magnum Force was a decent sequel, it had ideas, it tried to flesh out Harry a bit more. But it needed Siegel. The Enforcer had cardboard villains, was just a succession of setpieces, and Harry having a female partner was the only real interesting part. Sudden Impact is so violent it's unbelievable. So lurid. It has an interesting story, and Harry is now a walking myth it seems. But the film leaves a bad taste in the mouth with it's bloodlust. The Dead Pool is hardly a Harry film at all, sanitised and lacking the dark edges that made the character unique.

I don't think Clint really cared about the last three sequels at all. By my understanding he made them because Warners agreed to finance the financially risky films The Outlaw Josey Wales, Honkytonk Man and Bird respectively.

My favourite guilty pleasure of Clint's is The Gauntlet. Love it!

Edited by manfromjapan, 13 November 2007 - 11:58 PM.

[Red Barchetta]

I also loved the "my, that's a big one!" line from Scorpio (Andy Robinson) when he has Harry pull out his .44 at the park.

According to Clint- Andy ad-libbed the line, and they left it in.

[stamper]

It's true that Clint made the sequels because Warners agreed to finance the financially risky films The Outlaw Josey Wales, Honkytonk Man and Bird respectively. A bit.

Here's the story of the sequel, the telegram way :

Magnum Force : made because the first took too much "fascist" accusations flak.

Enforcer : payment for Josey Wales.

Sudden Impact : made after the Honky Tonk Man box office flop. I do believe Eastwood have some interest in this one, as he directed it.

Dead Pool : Clint just doesn't care, as long as Bird is issued in theaters, and he gets to shag the leading lady.

[manfromjapan]

I don't think Magnum Force was made to answer accusations about fascism (I don't think Clint really cared). I think it was made because Dirty Harry was a hit. He may have even done Magnum Force, actually, because he had been allowed to make Breezy, but I am not sure if that was a Warners film. Answering such accusations may have convinced Clint to do it though. I think I read somewhere he couldn't find anyone to direct Sudden Impact, which was why he directed it. The same goes for The Eiger Sanction and Firefox. It's interesting he let Richard Tuggle and Michael Cimino direct films they had wrote. I think many of the more commercial films he directed were simply down to economics - could he find someone else to do it. Even The Outlaw Josey Wales was to have been directed by Philip Kaufman before they fell out.

Also The Rookie (kind of a Dirty Harry film) was put into production because Clint had been allowed to make White Hunter, Black Heart.

[Odd Job]

I'm a big fan of the 'Dirty Harry' movies. Admittedly the sequels aren't as good as the original (which is an out and out classic) but they are still great value (except for 'The Dead Pool' which is probably only good value). The only bad side to the 'Harry' films that I can see is all the poor imitators that they inspired (IMHO).

[Pete]

Dirty Harry is among my top 10 favourite films. A classic film, often imitated but never bettered. I enjoy Magnum Force and The Enforcer, by which time Clint was a bit like Roger Moore as Bond, a touch too old.

I think most of the best lines have been quoted, but a couple of great scenes are getting the "jumper" down in DH & kicking the "heart attack" victim in TE.

Edited by Pete, 14 November 2007 - 12:05 PM.

[pat006]

I have a photo of roger moore sporting that same 44 auto.!
don't know from what film is that!

Live and Let Die?

nope! this photo seems to be taken circa 1979 and roger is sporting a seiko
in live and let die roger uses a smith & wesson model 29 the same revolver that dirty harry has, I mean the automatic pistlo that harry uses in sudden impact
I'll scan the photo and post it if I can

here it is!
is it from moonraker?

Attached Files

•  roger.jpg   66.66KB   20 downloads

[Napoleon Solo]

I love Dirty Harry and Magnum Force was also very good no doubt they still hold up. And don't forget the music by Lalo Schifrin.

Here's a reminder:

[Righty007]

Watch this: