1971 • Directed by Don Siegel
Screenplay by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink
With Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon, and Andrew Robinson
Released by Warner Brothers
Early 1970s Hollywood saw the rise of vigilante films, which portrayed cops and citizens who were discontented by the state of crime in America and took up arms without a go-ahead from the police. In 1971, director Don Siegel and western star Clint Eastwood made 'Dirty Harry,' widely viewed as the definitive crime film of its time. While not entirely about vigilantism, 'Dirty Harry' is probably the best example of films that depict a justice system fixated on the rights of criminals when American cities are becoming overrun with felons who pay no heed to the law.
'Dirty Harry' focuses on the deeds of Scorpio, a sniveling, obnoxious madman played by Andrew Robinson. Scorpio takes fun in placing all of San Francisco under siege by killing civilians from rooftops and writing letters to the mayor that threaten additional deaths if the city fails to pay a huge ransom. After some coddling by the police, Scorpio decides to kidnap a young girl whom he rapes and hides underground with limited oxygen. The police immediately turn to Harry Callahan (Eastwood), an inspector who is frowned upon for his rough-and-ready ways but tolerated since there are few 'dirty' assignments he won't take on. Callahan, already disillusioned by his superiors, is pushed even further to the limit in tracking down Scorpio and the missing teenager. With help from his new partner Gonzalez (Reni Santoni) and hanger-on Frank DiGiorgio (John Mitchum), Harry manages to capture Scorpio, only to see him walk free after the prosecution drops all charges on grounds of illegal search and seizure. Which leads, of course, to a hostage crisis that no sane person could imagine�
While the sentiments of 'Dirty Harry' may now seem quaint, the film still asks important questions about a middle ground between rights of innocent people and the accused. Callahan is depicted as a police officer who wants the American justice system to work, but finds himself at odds when trying to defend San Francisco against a ruthless lunatic. Harry sees law and order disintegrating at the hands of people like Scorpio, who are beyond reason and must be stopped at all costs. Callahan dishes out his personal brand of justice as expected, but the film ends rather bleakly, his vigilante-type deeds being just another indication of a society gone mad.
Despite its controversy, 'Dirty Harry' had tremendous impact on the crime genre, leading to four sequels and influencing movies such as 'Death Wish,' 'Lipstick,' '10 to Midnight,' and the Abel Ferrara thriller 'Ms. .45.' A large portion of Dirty Harry's success is owed to Eastwood, whose rugged style of acting in the Leone westerns can be seen here. Eastwood's portrayal is balanced, with none of his speech or physical action wandering into excess. In fact, his acting is at times so understated that Harry comes across as a humorous and somewhat likable man. Only the role of Scorpio calls for an over-the-top presence and this is pulled off masterfully by Andrew Robinson, who admitted to having no experience in reading film scripts. The supporting roles, including Gonzalez (Reni Santoni), San Francisco's mayor (John Vernon), and Lieutenant Bressler (Harry Guardino), are all played with honesty.
The straightforward editing of Carl Pingitore ('Play Misty for Me,' 'Across 110th Street') is nicely paced, keeping the action sequences moving at a brisk clip while at times slowing things down to keep the film grounded in reality. 'Dirty Harry' maximizes the San Francisco locations with broad angles and overhead shots by cinematographer Bruce Surtees. Never do we feel that 'Dirty Harry' is taking place in a studio or at a secondary venue. Composer Lalo Schifrin is also in top form with his eerie score that combines synthesizers and a regular ensemble to background this funky, depraved urban landscape.
Although its sequels never lived up to the original installment, 'Dirty Harry' became a solid movie franchise, lasting for five titles over a 17-year period. Anyone who has seen heavily-edited, full frame versions of 'Dirty Harry' on television will appreciate Warner Brothers' 2000 DVD release of the film, which comes packed with extras. The movie is presented in its original widescreen format with Dolby 5.1 surround sound; French 'dubbing' is included with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. Disc extras include a short documentary made at the time of Dirty Harry's release; a new 30-minute program on the impact of Dirty Harry, hosted by Robert Urich; interview clips with several who were involved in the Dirty Harry series; and the theatrical trailer.
'Dirty Harry' is in excellent condition, although there are occasional artifacts such as grain and speckling. Unfortunately, its Dolby enhancement is not the finest, putting too much emphasis on gunshots and Schifrin's music. Dialogue and background noise are comparably soft, while Callahan's magnum and Schifrin's bass flex come out throbbing at climactic moments. This is not necessarily a bad thing, although it seems geared to those interested just in action. The original documentary is an interesting look at how 'Dirty Harry' was sold to audiences with its controversial subject matter. WB's new program is well-made and deals with the influence of Harry, but could have explored the film's initial reception and the flack its makers had to live with. Overall, fans of Harry should be pleased and the disc will be of great help in creating a new legion of fans.
