Dirty HarryIf the law can't protect good people from evil, what's it good for? Dirty Harry is an action film about San Francisco Police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood), a tough and violent cop who values justice over bureaucracy, and the rights of victims over the rights of killers, like self-styled "Scorpio" killer (Andy Robinson). Callahan and his new partner, Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni), chase down the sadistic killer, and Harry is driven to see this monster put away for good. He begrudgingly follows his bosses' orders when he has to, but sweeps them aside when they get in the way of his brand of justice.
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The plot of Dirty Harry was heavily influenced by the infamous "Zodiac" killings that took place in and around San Francisco from the late Sixties and into the Seventies. Scorpio begins his killing spree by sniping a woman swimming in a rooftop pool with a rifle. He leaves a cryptic message behind, and a couple of clues to bait the cops into playing his sick game. This prologue is depicted with a dialogue-free opening credits sequence which builds to a near panoramic shot of San Francisco--a city at the beginning of a long night of terror under the scope of Scorpio's gun. Harry observes that the police shouldn't play along with this maniac's game from the start, but is alternately ignored or rebuked by the ineffectual mayor (John Vernon), who is too craven to risk being liable or endure bad press, and is enabled by the Chief of Police (John Larch). Dirty Harry is superficially a procedural thriller, a game of cat and mouse where Harry chases Scorpio and the violence escalates. That Dirty Harry was released in 1971 also speaks to its underlying themes; it's no coincidence that Harry's inspector number is "71", as his brand of justice represents a sign of the times. There was a growing fear of increasingly violent crime, as the promise of "flower power" withered away, leaving only weeds behind. This anxiety was stirred by the hideous and incomprehensibly evil events like the Manson Family murders, as well as the Zodiac killings. This dark side of hippie culture is represented in Scorpio; his name is synonymous with new age astrology, and has unkempt, long hair, and ironically wears a peace sign as a belt buckle. He is psychologically unbalanced, violent, and unhinged--symptoms of a mind warped by drug abuse. On the other hand, Harry looks like a straight-laced police officer, dressed in a smart vest, and embodies old-fashioned values, like when he holds open the door for Chico's wife. His concept of justice is more "Old Testament", born with the conviction that if you make it clear that evil will not be tolerated, it will not find root. Scorpio is depicted as a coward, who picks off his unsuspecting victims from afar with impunity, while the moral avenger, Harry, deals with his enemies face to face, only staying to the shadows to study his opponent.
The "rights of criminals" were established to deter the abuse of authority by police; but in the face of vicious killers like Scorpio, it instead gives the unfortunate impression of indifference or impotence. Enter Dirty Harry, a movie which answers that desire to see a hero in the vein of a Wild West gunslinger to "clean up the scum in town"--no small coincidence that it stars Clint Eastwood. When Harry is asked by Lt. Al Bressler (Harry Guardino) if he wants to be the "bag man" for the ransom after Scorpio takes a young girl hostage, it is because subconsciously, the Lieutenant suspects that Harry will live up to his name--"Dirty Harry"--and will do what is necessary. Harry's nickname highlights Callahan is a bit of a renegade, and he isn't afraid to break the rules when it means that good will triumph over evil. Harry maybe gruff and sardonic--even irreverent--when it comes to authority, but it's evident that he respects the well-being of the citizens of San Francisco. For example, when Harry is having his lunch and he catches sight of a bank robbery, he marches out into the street, where an explosive firefight ensues. Harry moves through the fray like a primal force of violence and justice, like the most natural thing in the world--he doesn't even stop chewing on his hot dog as he fires rounds from his iconic .44 Magnum pistol into the perps and their cars. When he's mistaken for a peeping tom while he and Chico are tailing a possible suspect, he is summarily assaulted by concerned citizens--taking the law into their own hands--but he is merciful and lets them go without even a lecture or remark. Harry sympathizes with their interests in defending what is good and decent, while thugs like the robbers or psychopaths like Scorpio are unworthy of that honor.
It has been argued that the portrayal of criminals as a cancer to be excised and men like Callahan as heroic arbiters of justice is a "fascist" portrayal of good versus evil. While the plot of Dirty Harry is exaggerated in Hollywood fashion, news stories have always been full with the tragic tales of victims of drug abuse, human trafficking, rape, mutilation, and murder. Can you truly say that when you hear about such a horrifying story, and the inhumanity inflicted upon the victims that you cannot wish to see something done about it? A theme like the intent of law and morality is bigger than even Dirty Harry can tackle, although it tries on its own scale. Dirty Harry attracted controversy on its release, with accusations of bigotry, sexism, and other flags waved by activists who consider it their prerogative to protest a movie instead of doing something more meaningful. One contentious scene involves Harry walking with his new partner, a Hispanic; Harry is prodded by another cop about his aloof attitude, claims that Harry "hates everyone", and then proceeds to rattle off assorted racial epithets. Harry doesn't protest, and contributes, but it is evident that he doesn't actually appreciate the tasteless joke. It is ironic that some audiences considered Harry the racist here, when it is Scorpio who chooses to target his victims by race or religion. Harry's experiences have made him cynical, including the loss of his wife to a drunk driver some time before. His despair comes from years of frustration at watching diplomacy fail to save lives and bureaucracy serve as a coward's shield. Harry hates the corrupt ecosystem that thrives in this stagnant cesspool of ineffectiveness so much, that anyone who feeds it is not worth his respect.
Recommended for: Fans of a tough and fierce action film that raises intriguing questions about striking the balance between police authority and the rights of criminals. The eponymous "Dirty Harry" has become such a larger-than-life movie icon--due in part to his famous "do you feel lucky, punk" speech--that the film spawned four sequels about the stern and driven cop.
The "rights of criminals" were established to deter the abuse of authority by police; but in the face of vicious killers like Scorpio, it instead gives the unfortunate impression of indifference or impotence. Enter Dirty Harry, a movie which answers that desire to see a hero in the vein of a Wild West gunslinger to "clean up the scum in town"--no small coincidence that it stars Clint Eastwood. When Harry is asked by Lt. Al Bressler (Harry Guardino) if he wants to be the "bag man" for the ransom after Scorpio takes a young girl hostage, it is because subconsciously, the Lieutenant suspects that Harry will live up to his name--"Dirty Harry"--and will do what is necessary. Harry's nickname highlights Callahan is a bit of a renegade, and he isn't afraid to break the rules when it means that good will triumph over evil. Harry maybe gruff and sardonic--even irreverent--when it comes to authority, but it's evident that he respects the well-being of the citizens of San Francisco. For example, when Harry is having his lunch and he catches sight of a bank robbery, he marches out into the street, where an explosive firefight ensues. Harry moves through the fray like a primal force of violence and justice, like the most natural thing in the world--he doesn't even stop chewing on his hot dog as he fires rounds from his iconic .44 Magnum pistol into the perps and their cars. When he's mistaken for a peeping tom while he and Chico are tailing a possible suspect, he is summarily assaulted by concerned citizens--taking the law into their own hands--but he is merciful and lets them go without even a lecture or remark. Harry sympathizes with their interests in defending what is good and decent, while thugs like the robbers or psychopaths like Scorpio are unworthy of that honor.
It has been argued that the portrayal of criminals as a cancer to be excised and men like Callahan as heroic arbiters of justice is a "fascist" portrayal of good versus evil. While the plot of Dirty Harry is exaggerated in Hollywood fashion, news stories have always been full with the tragic tales of victims of drug abuse, human trafficking, rape, mutilation, and murder. Can you truly say that when you hear about such a horrifying story, and the inhumanity inflicted upon the victims that you cannot wish to see something done about it? A theme like the intent of law and morality is bigger than even Dirty Harry can tackle, although it tries on its own scale. Dirty Harry attracted controversy on its release, with accusations of bigotry, sexism, and other flags waved by activists who consider it their prerogative to protest a movie instead of doing something more meaningful. One contentious scene involves Harry walking with his new partner, a Hispanic; Harry is prodded by another cop about his aloof attitude, claims that Harry "hates everyone", and then proceeds to rattle off assorted racial epithets. Harry doesn't protest, and contributes, but it is evident that he doesn't actually appreciate the tasteless joke. It is ironic that some audiences considered Harry the racist here, when it is Scorpio who chooses to target his victims by race or religion. Harry's experiences have made him cynical, including the loss of his wife to a drunk driver some time before. His despair comes from years of frustration at watching diplomacy fail to save lives and bureaucracy serve as a coward's shield. Harry hates the corrupt ecosystem that thrives in this stagnant cesspool of ineffectiveness so much, that anyone who feeds it is not worth his respect.
Recommended for: Fans of a tough and fierce action film that raises intriguing questions about striking the balance between police authority and the rights of criminals. The eponymous "Dirty Harry" has become such a larger-than-life movie icon--due in part to his famous "do you feel lucky, punk" speech--that the film spawned four sequels about the stern and driven cop.