Movie review: ‘Dirty Harry’

FloridaGator80
A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

“Dirty Harry” was the first R-rated film I ever saw (it was released in late 1971 and my Dad took me to see it in early 1972) and after watching the film, I didn’t understand why Clint Eastwood was being criticized and why were people making a fuss about the violence and “fascist” police tactics. Hmmm. Must have seen a different film. I saw Clint as a tough cop and the film as what the critics of the time didn’t: An instant crime as well as cinema classic that many more people in each theater audience agreed with, whether they had the courage at the time to say so. Eastwood would earn laurels later for “Dirty Harry,” but it was a mixed bag when it debuted in 1971. Today, “Dirty Harry” is iconic in American cinema – not bad for a San Francisco cop just trying to do right. PS – Despite what you might remember about “Dirty Harry,” Clint’s acting is superlative.

‘Dirty Harry’
(1971; 102 minutes; rated R; directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson and Harry Guardino)

HARRY GETS ALL THE DIRTY JOBS

(NOTE: I updated links in this review in 2016. I expanded this review with additional opinion and trivia and updated links on June 26, 2018. I again expanded it on June 16, 2019. I again expanded it on May 26, 2026.)

“Dirty Harry” is simply a crime classic. It is Clint Eastwood at just about his best. You’ll find his best as both director and headliner in “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (click here to read my review) and I still like “Kelly’s Heroes” more for other reasons (click here to read my review of that one), still, Clint does an outstanding turn as “Dirty Harry.” It has moviemaking that is tight; its cinematography is wonderful; its characters are intelligent and have depth; and it has a smooth screenplay that doesn’t play to a low common denominator.

Of course, these words weren’t always used for “Dirty Harry.” It was controversial and reviled by the liberal left when it was released in 1971 and had scorn heaped on it and its star was perceived as fascist bully and because of its perceived police brutality and even sparked debates about victims’ rights and came under protest at a Hollywood showing by feminists who said it was degrading to women.

A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

Now, back to what you actually see in the movie … and that’s an excellent story and outstanding acting. Yes, I’m writing “outstanding acting.”

Eastwood plays “‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan,” who is a homicide detective in San Francisco. He’s called to investigate the murder of a young woman, who was shot while swimming in a rooftop pool. Eastwood finds the rifle’s spent cartridge shell and a blackmail note on a taller building nearby.

A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

A killer calling himself “Scorpio” is demanding $100,000 (remember, that was a lot of money all those decades ago) or he’ll kill again and again. From the start of the extortion, Eastwood must navigate the dregs of the city with a new partner to get the killer. He’s plunged into trying to ambush the killer from a rooftop (there are a ton of great high views from cinematographer Bruce Surtees) to literally running the ransom across the city to a final chase after a school bus hijacking.

In it all, Eastwood shows he’s called “Dirty Harry” not because of his personal outlook on life or that he doesn’t play by the rules, but because he takes on all the dirty jobs that no one else will.

Eastwood’s best scenes are:

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

    Early in the film with the mayor as “Harry” expresses his quick-to-rise frustration with organizational thinking …

  • … his brief discourse with the bad guy where he does an Oscar-worthy effort in both expression and words of showing how his professionalism overcomes his almost maniacal hatred of the bad guy and not kill him on the spot …
  • … in a scene with the wife of his wounded partner, where he tells her about the death of his wife and reveals just how empty emotionally he has become …
  • … and with the district attorney as he’s incredulous that legal technicalities will allow “Scorpio” to go free.

I won’t go any further into any exacting details of Eastwood’s adventures except through an examination of the actors’ work.

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

    A four-time Oscar winner and nominated seven other times as well as a three-time Golden Globe winner and nine-time nominee (not for tis one), Eastwood is typical Eastwood: stoic, heroic and purposeful in his mission. He does this with ease and with the exception of a racial slur exchange at the beginning of the film (in a context more suited to the time), is actually compassionate as well as passionate in doing his job. I cannot think of any other actor who could have played this role and the further “Dirty Harry” movies as well or with such confidence. Eastwood would never reach this level of acting in a “Harry” sequel (well, maybe somewhat close in “Magnum Force” – click here to read my review). I’m not going to do my usual and list highlights of an actor’s CV here … Clint has just too many laurels and has long cemented his legacy as a Hollywood legend. Click here to read all his awards and nominations …

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

    As the killer “Scorpio,” you’ll find Andrew Robinson (credited as Andy in the film’s credits), who would later go on to do “Hellraiser” and “Cobra” plus numerous TV roles in a prolific career of 112 acting credits since the first in 1969. Robinson is in his first movie here and hits a home run. He plays the psycho perfectly and has enough scenes playing off Clint that it makes a difference in the quality of the film.

  • Of course, John Vernon, who plays “The Mayor,” didn’t know at the time he would become a comedy icon with his role as “Dean Vernon Wormer” in the classic “Animal House” seven years later. Vernon does a good job here as a politician out of his league. Vernon’s career best is the fantastic supporting turn with Eastwood in “The Outlaw Josey Wales.” Vernon died of complications following heart surgery at the age of 72 in 2005.

Here is a rundown of other supporting actors:

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “Dirty Harry.”

    Reni Santoni plays “Det. Chico Gonzales” and is Eastwood’s new partner (Harry’s tough on partners’ health). Santoni, who was also in “Cobra” and played an NBC executive in a nice turn in the HBO film “The Late Shift” (click here to read my review) does a workmanlike job. Santoni died at 82 of throat and lung cancer in 2020.

  • A two-time Golden Globe nominee (not for this one), Harry Guardino plays “Lt. Al Bressler” and has such excellent experience in the supporting roles that he knocks this one off smoothly and competently. Guardino earned his nominations for “Houseboat” and “The Pigeon That Took Rome” with Charleton Heston. He was also in “Any Which Way You Can” with Eastwood (click here to read my review) and one of the “Harry” sequels. Guardino died at 69 in 1995 of lung cancer.
  • Josef Sommer plays district attorney “Rothko,” who says he is forced to let “Scorpio” off on a technicality because of the law. Sommer does his usual solid job here as he is the harried prosecutor who has to follow a legal avenue and has also been in “Witness” and “Target” (click here for my review).
  • John Mitchum, who was the younger brother of the much more famous Robert Mitchum, plays “Det. Frank Di Giorgio” in a small role. He’s competent and would return for two more “Harry” movies until his character was killed off in “The Enforcer” (click here for my review). He died at 82 in 2001 of a stroke.

Best in the film is how Eastwood’s signature “lucky” quote is used so much better here (especially tying up the ending) than in his sayings in the sequels (such as “a man’s got to know his limitations”). In “Dirty Harry,” it’s delivered perfectly while in the sequels it’s forced and not very good work. The quote, which is often misquoted, is said to a bank robber Eastwood has wounded. He says to the robber, “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

Of course, Clint introduces what would be his trademark Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver as the world’s “most powerful handgun.” It became so quoted (along with “do you feel lucky?”) that I hope Clint collects royalties off it from S&W.

Lost in all the quotes and the .44 Magnum is that Clint delivers a truly Oscar-worthy performance. If you haven’t seen it in a while, revisit it. It’s worth your time … anytime.

“Dirty Harry” was ranked fourth at the box office (some have it fifth) with $36 million in the U.S. (it was released in late 1971 and went over to 1972). According to Wiki, it was a financial hit, too, with a budget of only $4 million. The No. 1 film of 1971 was “Billy Jack” with $98 million. Also, “Dirty Harry” was nominated as best motion picture at the 1972 Edgar Allen Poe Awards. Here are the other films from that year that I’ve reviewed:

Assorted cast notes (via IMDb.com):

  • Eastwood’s full birth name is Clinton Eastwood Jr.; Robinson’s middle name is Jordt; Santoni’s birth name was Reinaldo Santoni; Vernon’s birth name was Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz; and Sommer’s full birth name was Maximilian Joseph Sommer.
  • As to actors’ heights (always an issue when Clint’s around): Eastwood is 6-foot-4; Robinson is 5-foot-10½; Guardino was 5-foot-10; Santoni was 6-foot-1; Vernon was 6-foot-2; Mitchum was 5-foot-11; and Sommer was 6-foot-3½.
  • Paul Newman reportedly turned down the “Harry” role because of its societal views.
  • Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” franchise brought young actors such as Robinson to the screen as the bad guys, such as the “The Enforcer” with terminal bad guy DeVeren Bookwalter as “Bobby Maxwell.” Also, you’ll find Hollywood A-lister-to-be Liam Neeson in “The Dead Pool,” which is the final film in the franchise.
  • Max Gail, who would become more famous as “Wojo” in the classic TV series “Barney Miller,” plays a thug in a tunnel scene.
  • Eastwood decided to recommend Robinson to director Don Siegel to play the killer after seeing him in a Broadway performance.
  • Because of a pacifist philosophy at the time of filming, Robinson had to take lessons in how to shoot a gun because of his serious flinching when firing a weapon.
  • Directly from IMDb.com: “A police department in the Philippines ordered a print of the movie for use as a training film.”
  • Albert Popwell, who plays one of the bank robbers in an early scene, was in all the “Harry” movies except “The Dead Pool” in 1988.
  • Finally and directly from IMDb.com: “Clint Eastwood performed all his own stunts, including the stunt where he jumps onto the roof of the hijacked school bus from a bridge. His face is clearly visible throughout the shot.”

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