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Dirty Harry (1971)



Dirty Harry (1971)



7/10



Starring
Clint Eastwood


Directed by
Don Siegel


Well, the Dirty Harry lines have come to stay over the years, so the decision to finally see the film was long overdue in my case.
Dirty Harry is in a league of its own as a movie, and as a police officer, Harry is ready to do whatever it takes to bring down the bad guys. He’s constantly held back by the rules and his boss, but he’s stubborn and determined, always finding a way to get the job done.

Dirty Harry is famous for introducing the lone officer trope into the crime genre—a cop who struggles to keep partners and is always butting heads with his superiors. The movie’s most memorable speech:
“I know what you’re thinking: 'Did he fire six shots or only five?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?”
It couldn’t be said better than by the man himself, Clint Eastwood. I’ve seen many of his movies over the years, and I feel this is his best. The movie’s score is engaging, and the portrayal of the villain, Scorpio, is one that will stick with me. The director got Andy Robinson to play the role in a way that leaves a mark, making you root for Harry to catch him in time.

As mentioned, Dirty Harry follows San Francisco Homicide Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood). Harry is known as “Dirty Harry” because of his unconventional methods and constant clashes with his superiors. A serial killer hits the town, killing a woman at the beginning of the movie and promising to continue killing daily until the city meets his demand of $100,000.

Harry is on the case, and with his new partner, they corner Scorpio—but he gets away. Scorpio then raises his demands and kidnaps a little girl. Time is running out as the girl is said to be trapped in a hole with limited oxygen. Either the city pays up, or Harry catches Scorpio before it’s too late.

This movie is the beginning of the Dirty Harry franchise—a franchise I plan on watching back-to-back this week, and I do hope I get to enjoy the rest as much as I enjoyed this.

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