The 1970s was an analytical decade for filmmaking. Films explored and criticized social movements and
political ideologies. Crime and law enforcement were two big issues in movies of the disco decade. Films like
"Death Wish," "Serpico" and "The French Connection" criticized the hypocrisy and corruption running through
the government and the police departments and also reflected a backlash against the hippie-era pacifism that
had turned citizens into sheep in the face of thugs. Of all these films, there was one that became the definitive
cop-on-the-edge movie that has been copied and emulated even today.
"Dirty Harry," in the film that made Clint Eastwood a superstar, told the story of one cop who didn't play by the
rules, a cop who realized that criminals were taking advantage of the system and he was willing to fight fire with
fire and a hog leg of a revolver, the .44 Magnum. Harry Callahan was a sign of the times, a creative knee jerk
by a society that was tired of laying down and taking it and tired of losing. In the midst of the Vietnam War,
America was jaded and the government was corrupt. The antihero who was willing to break the rules of the
system resonated with audiences.
What made Harry unique as a character was his affiliation with the system he saw as impotent. Throughout the
series, Harry shows little more than contempt for the police department and its rules, but it's the avenue
through which he's able to bring hard justice to the scum of society.
The series grew with the times and dealt with a number of issues over the years, including female equality,
rape and dirty cops. The character of Dirty Harry also spawned some of the biggest one-liners in history
including "Go ahead. Make my day.", and "You've got to ask yourself just one question. 'Do I feel lucky?' Well,
do you punk?"
Although the final installments of the series falter a bit compared with the original few, and even though the
character of Dirty Harry almost hopelessly type casted Eastwood, what resulted were some of the most
powerful and easily most influential cop dramas of modern cinema. They still resonate today and their
influence is still easily seen in the frames of more tepid, modern antihero fare.
political ideologies. Crime and law enforcement were two big issues in movies of the disco decade. Films like
"Death Wish," "Serpico" and "The French Connection" criticized the hypocrisy and corruption running through
the government and the police departments and also reflected a backlash against the hippie-era pacifism that
had turned citizens into sheep in the face of thugs. Of all these films, there was one that became the definitive
cop-on-the-edge movie that has been copied and emulated even today.
"Dirty Harry," in the film that made Clint Eastwood a superstar, told the story of one cop who didn't play by the
rules, a cop who realized that criminals were taking advantage of the system and he was willing to fight fire with
fire and a hog leg of a revolver, the .44 Magnum. Harry Callahan was a sign of the times, a creative knee jerk
by a society that was tired of laying down and taking it and tired of losing. In the midst of the Vietnam War,
America was jaded and the government was corrupt. The antihero who was willing to break the rules of the
system resonated with audiences.
What made Harry unique as a character was his affiliation with the system he saw as impotent. Throughout the
series, Harry shows little more than contempt for the police department and its rules, but it's the avenue
through which he's able to bring hard justice to the scum of society.
The series grew with the times and dealt with a number of issues over the years, including female equality,
rape and dirty cops. The character of Dirty Harry also spawned some of the biggest one-liners in history
including "Go ahead. Make my day.", and "You've got to ask yourself just one question. 'Do I feel lucky?' Well,
do you punk?"
Although the final installments of the series falter a bit compared with the original few, and even though the
character of Dirty Harry almost hopelessly type casted Eastwood, what resulted were some of the most
powerful and easily most influential cop dramas of modern cinema. They still resonate today and their
influence is still easily seen in the frames of more tepid, modern antihero fare.
| "A man's got to know his limitations." - Harry Callahan |
| THE DIRTY HARRY FILMS |
| Dirty Harry - 1971 Magnum Force - 1973 The Enforcer - 1976 Sudden Impact - 1983 The Dead Pool - 1988 |
| Clint Eastwood in the original "Dirty Harry." |
| Clint Eastwood and Tyne Daly in "The Enforcer." |
