Review of Dirty Harry (1971) by Alec L — 07 Nov 2015

Clint Eastwood stars in one of his most famous roles as San Francisco Homicide Inspector Harry Callahan known amongst the police fraternity as Dirty Harry for his quite antihero but ultimately successful methods.

The film from 1971 is lavishly shot in the city of San Francisco by director Don Siegel. The film also boasts a soundtrack composed by Lalo Schifrin better known for composing the TV theme for Mission Impossible.

The plot concerns a mad man serial killer called Scorpio who terrorises the city with ransom demands and ever more elaborate murders.

The city mayor not wanting more bloodbaths seems intent on meeting the killers increasing financial demands whilst Callahan believes he needs stopping using his more direct methods shall we say that fly against the 'left wing' civil liberties of the American constitution.

Eastwood directs some scenes himself in a sign of what direction (pardon the pun) his later film career will take perhaps.

I was amused with the 1971 environment. For example Scorpio at first demands the 'massive' sum of $100,000!

The cars look massive almost as bushy as Eastwoods hairstyle.

I sometimes wonder if a more right wing method of law enforcement would lower the crime rate (minus blowing people's heads off of course!).

That reminds me. The film is best known for one of Callahans phrases that he uses twice in this film.

The "Do you feel lucky, punk" speech. Actually Callahan is armed with a .44 Magnum firearm. The most powerful hangun in the world at the time.

It apparently could blow your head clean off. If faced with its barrel pointing at you, you've got to ask yourself one question surely. It fires six bullets. In all the excitement of a 1970s shooutout. You wonder if five or six shots have been fired. 'Do I feel lucky? Well, do you punk?'.