When a madman dubbed 'Scorpio' terrorizes San Francisco, hard-nosed cop, Harry Callahan – famous for his take-no-prisoners approach to law enforcement – is tasked with hunting down the psychopath.
Clint Eastwood
Harry
Harry Guardino
Bressler
Reni Santoni
Chico
John Vernon
The Mayor
Andrew Robinson
Killer
John Larch
Chief
John Mitchum
De Georgio
Mae Mercer
Mrs. Russell
Lyn Edgington
Norma
Ruth Kobart
Bus Driver
Woodrow Parfrey
Mr. Jaffe
Josef Sommer
Rothko
William Paterson
Bannerman
James Nolan
Liquor Proprietor
Maurice Argent
Sid Kleinman
Jo De Winter
Miss Willis
Craig Kelly
Sgt. Reineke
Albert Popwell
Bank Robber (uncredited)
Joy Carlin
Communications Secretary (uncredited)
Bill Couch
Suicide Jumper (uncredited)
Diana Davidson
Swimmer (uncredited)
Vince Deadrick Sr.
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Chuck Dorsett
TV Watcher (uncredited)
Al Dunlap
Man in Jaffe's Cafe (uncredited)
Larry Duran
(uncredited)
George Fargo
Homicide Detective (uncredited)
Lois Foraker
Hot Mary (uncredited)
Max Gail
Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
John Garber
Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
Christopher Pray
Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
Eddie Garrett
Policeman (uncredited)
James W. Gavin
Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
David Gilliam
Homosexual (uncredited)
Don Haggerty
Minor Role (uncredited)
Scott Hale
Newsman (uncredited)
Kate Harper
Underwear Chick (uncredited)
Bob Harris
Man in Truck (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks
Flower Vendor (uncredited)
Raymond Johnson
Big Black Man (uncredited)
Richard Lawson
Homosexual (uncredited)
Laurie Mock
Third Nude (uncredited)
Ann Noland
Hippie Girl (uncredited)
Kathleen O'Malley
Lady in Jaffe's Cafe (uncredited)
Angela Paton
Homicide Detective (uncredited)
Victor Paul
Car Driver (uncredited)
Debralee Scott
Ann Mary Deacon (uncredited)
Don Siegel
Pedestrian Passing Harry's Car (uncredited)
Kristoffer Tabori
Hippie Guy (uncredited)
Tony Dario
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Marc Hertsens
Park Emergency Doctor (uncredited)
Gordon Chapli
Fireman (uncredited)
Janet Wisely
Nude Dancer (uncredited)
Pamela Tanimura
Bus Kid (uncredited)
Richard Samuelson
Bus Kid (uncredited)
Derek Jue
Bus Kid (uncredited)
Sean Maley
Bus Kid (uncredited)
Diane Darnell
Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)
Diana Davidson
Sandra Benson-Rooftop Swimmer (uncredited)
Lolita Rios
Stripper on Bed (uncredited)
Stephen Zacks
Kid Fishing (uncredited)
Jauna D'Amico
Nude Dancer (uncredited)
Charles Washburn
Steve, Medical Intern (uncredited)
John Allen Vick
Fire Captain (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan
Krausgrill Tough (uncredited)
Dean Webber
Newsman (uncredited)
Director
Don Siegel
Other
Scott Hale
Screenplay
Dean Riesner
Screenplay, Story
Harry Julian Fink
Screenplay, Story
Rita M. Fink
September 12, 2015
9
More than iconography here in dynamite Siegel/Eastwood teaming.
The film opens with a shot of a memorial wall in praise of the San Francisco Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, a SFPD badge is prominent as the camera scrolls down the ream of names on the wall. Cut to a rooftop sniper shooting a girl taking a swim in a swimming pool, cut to the coolest looking cop you have ever seen making his way to the rooftop scene, he stands and surveys the whole of the San Francisco bay area, this is, his area, and we know we are in for a very special film indeed.
Dirty Harry is now something of an institution, the film that pushed the boundaries of cops versus bad guys movies, some of the film's dialogue became part of modern day speak, and it's the film that propelled Clint Eastwood into the stratosphere of super stardom. Often tagged as a fascist film, I think it's more a cynical look at the rights of criminals because Harry is everyone who has ever been a victim of crime, he will do what it takes to take down the criminals festering in society, you break the law and Harry will get you any way he can. Here Harry is on the trail of Scorpio, a ruthless sniper killing at random, Scorpio kidnaps a teenage girl and demands $200.000 from the city or she will die in the hole he has her buried in. Harry is just the man for the job of delivery boy and this sets the wheels in motion for what becomes a personal crusade for Harry to take Scorpio down at all costs.
Director Don Siegel crafts a masterpiece here, creating a western within the big city landscape, the pace is energetic at times yet reeling itself in to provide genuine suspense when needed. Siegel should also be praised for sticking by Andy Robinson as Scorpio, for it's an insanely great performance from him. Yet it might never had happened since Robinson was petrified of guns, but Siegel stood by him and coaxed him through it. The result is a maniacal turn that scares and amuses in equal measure - witness his mad singing during a bus kidnap scene, you will not know whether to laugh or be afraid.
Yet as good as Robinson is, he gives way to a seamless piece of magnificence from Eastwood as Harry Callahan, note perfect and enthusing the role with the right amount of dynamic cool and gusto, it's no surprise that the character became a cinematic legend after such a great acting performance. Finally I must mention the wonderful score from Lalo Schifrin, jazz/electro/beat combinations segue perfectly into each scene with maximum impact to cap off one of the finest films of the 70s, and if you don't believe me then you can go argue with Harry. 9/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$4,000,000.00
Revenue:
$35,976,000.00