Rating: 
Summary: Suspense More than a Bloodbath
Review: Dirty Harry is credited with reinvigorating the police crime drama. Eastwood is the quintessential no-nonsense cop who values common sense above procedure. Andy Robinson was picked by the director from an off-Broadway production where he was continually falling down the stairs. When he auditioned, he was covered with bruises. They figured that was dedication. The DVD doesn't offer many extras which is probably too much to expect these many years after its initial release. It does offer some print commentary about how the film was written for Sinatra and turned down by Newman as well as interesting tidbits about the locations. "Dirty Harry" is a suspense picture, building to the final climaxes steadily. The body count is about 6 or 7 in the picture; so it is not a bloodbath. The scenes with Hot Mary and in the strip club offer flashes of T&A, tame these decades later, but still giving the sleazy flavor. Eastwood makes the picture one you'll want in your collection. When the mayor asks him what he's been doing about the crime, he quips, "I've been sitting on my ass for the last 45 minutes waiting for you." It's worth checking out again!
Rating: 
Summary: Dirty Harry: At What Price Dirt?
Review: The San Francisco of 1971 was a city ruled by the police during the day, but by the crazies at night. In an age that pre-dates 'political correctness,' DIRTY HARRY asks the audience to decide which is the greater evil: to tolerate the continued exitence of crime by obeying all the cumbersome niceities of the law that get in the way of police efficiency or to crush crime by bending the law when the police deem a bending necessary. Clint Eastwood plays Harry Callahan as a man who enforces the law in a way that supporters of the later DEATH WISH would applaud. He punctuates his methods of crime busting by getting in the last word with the bad guys. In one memorable scene involving a bank robbery gone bad, Harry shoots a robber, then dares him to go for his dropped weapon and laughs at him for not doing so. 'Make my day,' he taunts. Andy Robinson plays the psycho killer Scorpio, who kills and writes notes to the mayor, demanding money to stop. The mayor, much to Harry's disgust, caves in and agrees to pay, causing Harry to stop Scorpio on his own. The bulk of the movie and its debate over the ethics of Dirty Harry type law enforcement revolve around the continuing confrontation between Harry and Scorpio, a confrontation that director Don Siegel makes clear is but a symbol for a deeper conflict between establishing a sanctioned law and order and paying a price for that law and order. These scenes between Harry and Scorpio are chilling in their brutality. Scorpio breaks the law and brags that Harry can do nothing but obey the law while he can break it with impunity. There are two scenes of note that relate to this conflict. The first merely symbolizes it while the second sanctions it. In this first scene, Scorpio has kidnapped a young girl and placed her in a box which does not contain enough air for her to survive. If Harry follows proper police procedure, then she will certainly die. He does not, instead torturing him to force him to reveal her location. Ironically enough, she dies anyway. In the second scene which closes the movie, Harry realizes that his brand of law enforcement can no longer be overlooked. In disgust, he throws his badge into a river.The movie ends with a message that crime and its Dirty Harry type supression is more important than law and its proper and sometimes inefficient use of that suppression. A sad but unspoken subtext is that society is capable of promoting only two types of crime: the crime that scruffy criminals like Scorpio do when they go wilding and the sort that uniformed types like Harry commit in response. Neither is acceptable, but I fear that a third choice based on modern and more efficient crime prevention got lost in the movie's descent into and glorification of brutality.
Rating:
Summary: He Upholds The Law When The Law Won't Allow Him
Review: Dirty Harry was and remains a landmark in American film, the best-known assertion of the right to uphold the law when liberal politics and revolving-door justice pervert the law. Some called the film fascist at the time, a typically muddleheaded view that deliberately misunderstood SFPD Detective Inspector Harry Callahan.They call him Dirty Harry because he takes the dirty jobs that come along, such as roughly talking down a belligerent suicide attempt and also blasting four bankrobbers who interrupt his hotdog lunch, goading one (Albert Popwell) by hinting the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver he's carrying may or may not be out of ammo. Harry, having seen previous partner Fanducci killed and most recent partner Dietrich hospitalized, also initially doesn't cotton to the young new partner he's been saddled with, but Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni) nonetheless establishes the bond necessary for working detective teams. The case Harry and Chico are assigned is to track down Scorpio (Andrew Robinson, who was briefly considered genuinely psychotic because of the sheer believability he imbued in the role), a hippie who uses a sniper rifle to kill a beautiful young woman in her penthouse pool. After shooting the girl he sends a ransom note for $100,000 or else he'll kill selected victims. The Mayor of the city (John Vernon) is reluctant to see particular harm come to Scorpio, as he is unhappy with Callahan's previous crime-fighting forays - shown in the famous "That's my policy" exchange between Harry and the Mayor early on. Director Don Siegel and his cinematographers use the subtleties of circa-1971 San Francisco to extract powerfully effective stylization as well as gritty, realistic tension in the flow of the plot, such as when Harry and Chico stake out the church of a threatened priest and a gunfight erupts with Scorpio. When the killer escapes (killing a policeman in the process), he takes a pre-pubescent girl hostage and Harry must pay the ransom, but Harry has Chico surreptitiously tail him and Scorpio is seriously inujured at the drop, but so is Chico. Harry teams with Frank DiGeorgio and they track down Scorpio at Kezar Stadium; Harry shoots Scorpio and tortures confession out of him - by which time the girl is already dead. Because of Harry's conduct snooty DA Bill Rothko (Josef Summer), using a liberal judge as a second opinion, throws out prosecution of Scorpio, this even though the rifle used in the killings matches up in ballistics. A furious Harry warns that Scorpio will kill again - and the resourceful punk even gets himself beaten up to try and frame Harry. He then robs a liquor store and takes a schoolbus hostage - and with official San Francisco ready to cave in to Scorpio, Harry disgustedly takes on the killer himself. The film ends with the most discussed scene of the entire Dirty Harry series - ashamed that the department he serves seems no longer concerned with upholding the law, Harry throws his badge into a creek and walks off (a brilliant long-range shot by Siegel). As Harry of course returns to filmdom, this act is obviously overlooked by the department - an admission to themselves, perhaps, that Harry was right all along.
Rating:
Summary: Clint Eastwood Will Make Your Day in this Great Crime Drama
Review: Clint Eastwood is probably responsible for more catch-phrases then any other actor ever, but the majority of those phrases come from the Dirty Harry movies. Several people feel this film is politically incorrect in several ways, but keep in mind this film was made before politically correct was being used as a phrase. This film is not the best crime picture ever but I believe its one of the best. Eastwood plays Detective Harry Callahan on the San Fransico Police Dept. He handles cases in a very violent way, which could be construed as unesesary but it is a classic Eastwood action film, and what is an action film without it's fair share of violence? To me the two best things about this movie is the cinematography and the ending. The camera in this film makes you feel like you are behind Dirty Harry the entire duration of the film. The ending is very well done but I won't give it away. Not to be poltically incorrect but this is kind of a "guy movie" to a certain degree. Harry is a no-nonsense rogue cop that is not bashful when it comes to pulling the trigger or roughing up a suspect. The [$] price is well worth this Clint Eastwood masterpiece, if you can wade through Harry's body count without being offended.
Rating:
Summary: Great action flick.
Review: "Dirty Harry" is the first and the BEST of the "Dirty Harry" films. The story involves homicide Inspector 'Dirty' Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood), a cop who breaks some rules to have justice served. The villain is Scorpio (Andy Robinson, who does a great job playing the character) that is killing off innocent people of San Francisco. When Scorpio buries a 14-year-old girl alive, and threatens to cut off her oxygen supply unless a ransom is paid, Harry tortures Scorpio to tell where the girl is, but it's too late, she's already dead. Due to the fact that Callahan tortured Scorpio, Scorpio is set free. Harry takes it into his own hands following, and eventually killing Scorpio, by shooting him through the chest with his .44 magnum. The movie is great in fact that it is entertaining and very political on how the Constitution works with criminals as well as with citizens. The locations in San Francisco are brillantly filmed by director Don Seigle, and the script is perfect. You definitly need this in your collection whether you're an Eastwood fan or not.
Rating:
Summary: Do You Feel Lucky?
Review: Action-Packed this movie definitely is. Clint Eastwood delivers his own brand of justice in tracking down a serial killer to plagues the city of San Fransisco. The plot certainly has many exciting twists and turns as the elusive villain (Andy Robinson) is able to dodge a conviction because Eastwood's anger gets the best of him. However, Robinson to hijack a bus full of school children and Dirty Harry spots the opening and tracks his man down. Was it five shots or six, but Mr. Robinson sure was not too lucky. Whereas Clint Eastwood was his usual striking self, Robinson fit the role of the villain like a hand in a glove. Robinson's character really made you want to hate him and therefore the film as a whole stands out from others in the Dirty Harry series.
Rating:
Summary: You may feel very lucky having the Special Edition Set
Review: Or maybe not. On the plus side the set comes with a generous amount of eye candy - a set of black and white stills, reproductions of the lobby card set, a reprint of the original one sheet, and a framable picture with a splice of actual 35mm film the picture was taken from. On the down side the disc itself is nothing unique. A trailer, some production notes, and the film either full frame or widescreen. No commentary from Eastwood? Sadly the transfer is nothing to write home about. There is a tremendous amount of grain in the night scenes and the 2:35:1 aspect ratio is cropped, the sides are missing (shoulders are cut off, as is the first letter of police officers names scrolling at the beginning, also the marquee with Play Misty for Me is likewise halved) and the tops of heads are cut off. Dirty Harry is a landmark police thriller, one of the very best (which is why I still give this classic 5 stars instead of docking it a point or two on principal for the horrible picture quality), too bad that this classic movie didn't get a little more special treatment for this 'special' edition.
Rating:
Summary: One of Eastwood's Best
Review: On any level, large or small, the desire to see justice done in universal. Many will contend that it is more pronounced in the wake of a significant emotional experience, but in the final analysis, it's a craving with parameters of neither time nor place; a hunger that demands to be satiated. And in our tumultuous times and world, that longing for justice too often goes unsatisfied, and occasionally it's gratifying to get a taste of it, if only through the magic of the movies. Which is exactly what you get with "Dirty Harry," directed by Don Siegel, in which star Clint Eastwood introduces one of-- if not the-- most memorable characters of his long and varied career, the iconoclastic veteran San Francisco detective, Harry Callahan. In his many years on the job, Callahan has seen it all up close and suffered personal loss, as well; so much so that he is committed to doing the right thing, even if it means discarding all the rules and proceeding as he sees fit-- playing by his own rules, as it were. In his eyes, there's the law, and then there's justice-- and he is determined that the latter shall prevail at any cost. Which is the lesson a psychotic killer (Andrew Robinson) is about to learn when he picks Callahan to play a game of cat-and-mouse with; a game that involves the life of a young girl he has kidnapped and is threatening to kill unless Harry jumps through some hoops of his own demented design for him. And by the time it's over, there are lessons learned, to be sure. Everything may not turn out happily ever after, but rest assured, before the credits roll, justice will have been served. Dirty Harry style. Siegel has crafted and delivered an emotionally involving drama that makes you feel the frustration and anger of being defiled without recompense, at the hands of one of the cinema's most heinous villains ever. Siegel presents his antagonist in such a way that very quickly he becomes a truly loathsome character who is almost unbearable to watch at times. He is so vile, in fact, that by the time Callahan draws a bead on him you want nothing more than to see him throttled from one side of the screen to the other. As in real life, however, things do not necessarily proceed as you would like, and you may find yourself gnashing your teeth in mounting frustration as the killer eludes Callahan's grasp time and again. But as you're biting off yet another fingernail, keep in mind that in the end, justice is visited. Dirty Harry Callahan is the character, it seems, that Clint Eastwood was born to play. The attitude, the nuance and the eye for detail he brings to this role makes Callahan unique and memorable. This is a character onto which you can project your own frustrations and sensibilities, which enables you to share not only his sense of futility, but his satisfaction as Harry ultimately metes out the justice it seems the whole world is in need of by the end of the movie. And it's a satisfaction you will carry with you out of the theater, or beyond the confines of your own living room. There's a depth to Eastwood's portrayal that gives you some clues as to what it is that really makes Callahan tick, but at the same time he only lets you in so far, so that by the end there is still a bit of mystery behind the man. And even now, some thirty years after this film was made, Harry Callahan emerges as the definitive anti-hero for our times, which serves as an indication of just how strong this performance by Eastwood is. It is, without question, one of his best. There's no mystery, however, to the fact that Andrew Robinson gives an extraordinary performance here as the killer. He is so despicable, in fact, that one has to wonder if this part perhaps had an adverse affect on his career. On a personal note, I know that for years afterward I couldn't stand to see Robinson in anything, because no matter what part he was playing I could not get past his persona as the killer in this film. A good example is the 1973 film "Charlie Varrick," which is an excellent movie (also directed by Siegel), but one I would not be able to appreciate until years later because Robinson's presence was simply too overwhelming. In retrospect, it says a lot about his ability as an actor; that he could leave such an indelible impression with a single portrayal is certainly indicative of his talent. The supporting cast includes Harry Guardino (Bressler), Reni Santoni (Chico), John Vernon (The Mayor), John Larch (Chief), John Mitchum (De Georgio), Mae Mercer (Mrs. Russell), Lun Edgington (Norma) and Ruth Kobart (Bus Driver). Backed with a terrific score by Lalo Schifrin, "Dirty Harry" is a hard-hitting, extremely emotionally involving film (especially for one of this genre) that will get your blood pumping in any number of directions at the same time. It's escapist fare, to be sure, but it hits so close to home that it is both disconcerting and ultimately fulfilling. Definitely one you're going to remember. And that's the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: THIS ONE MADE EASTWOOD A WORLD CLASS ICON
Review: Does everything comes full circle? If so, the one-man law unto himself of hard-boiled, politically incorrect San Francisco cop "DIRTY HARRY" should connect with a vast new audience eager to (...) right wrongs. Brilliantly directed by Don Siegel, the intense action follows Harry's hunt for a psycho serial sniper holding the city by the bay hostage. This film secured Clint Eastwood's iconic status. All five Dirty harry films are available as a set and there's also a great new full length documentary, "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows" available seperately. Politically out of the acceptable zone and a truly terrific film of visceral impact.
Rating:
Summary: The first is still the best
Review: After three decades and five flicks, I still consider the first 'Dirty Harry' to be the best. True, the fake blood didn't look all that realistic, but they managed to improve on that over the next several sequels! And compared to the last DVD release of 'Dirty Harry', the Clint Eastwood Collection re-issue is an improvement by leaps & bounds! The sound's just as good, but thanks to a bit of cleanup & a great digital transfer, the picture quality's much better! Another diff: no widescreen / pan & scan option on this disc Still, if your TV's big enough, it shouldn't affect your enjoyment of the flick too much. Unfortunately, there's still one feature that hasn't changed that I wish was different: Warner Bros. still using cardboard snap cases instead of plastic keep cases like every other studio uses nowadays! I know I've been beating this particular point to death in my previous reviews of Warner-released DVDs, but still! I'm willing to pay a few more cents for a more durable covering for my discs, and I'm sure many others are as well. So, get to it already! Also included on the re-release are a few documentaries. The first one, a half-hour retrospective hosted by 'Magnum Force' co-star Robert Urich, features the history of the Dirty Harry saga as it unfolded over two decades and five movies. Includes snippets of memories by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Andy Robinson (Scorpio) from the first 'DH', Hal Holbrook from 'Magnum Force', Evan Kim & Patricia Clarkson from 'The Dead Pool', and ol' Clint himself. Robinson, probably better known nowadays as the Cardassian tailor/spy Garak on 'Star Trek: DS9", discusses how rich he'd be today if he had a dollar for every time someone came up to him and recited the infamous "Do you feel lucky?" line to him. Of course, this is not counting the fortune he'd have if he had a buck for every time a Trekkie asks him to hem a pair of Starfleet uniform trousers. Another useless Andrew Robinson tidbit: he's probably the only actor to get 'beat up' by two famous action-movie stars (he was also 'punched out' by Sylvester Stallone at the end of 'Cobra'). Speaking of "getting lucky", if you've seen all of the Unclean Harold flicks, you're probably wondering why that one surviving bank robber looks so familiar. Well, it's probably due to the fact that he has small roles in each of the first four movies, each time playing a different character. Strangely enough, he's nowhere to be seen in 'The Dead Pool'. An insidious Hollywood conspiracy, perhaps? Naaahhh.... Anyway, lemme get back to the other features. There's the other doc, a seven-minute look at past cop-action flicks and their comparisons & contrasts to 'Dirty Harry'. Also included is a theatrical trailer, which is pretty much an obligatory extra for most movie DVDs nowadays. But the weird thing is, this particular trailer ran for over three minutes, and much of it tried to show Harry's softer side. Sheesh, if I wanted to see someone's softer side, I'd just rent some insipid romantic comedy, okay? C'mon, give me some meaty exit wounds & stuff if you really want me to watch the acual movie! But, then again, it might've been done as a ploy to bring in the ladies. Hey, when you're marketing a flick, you gotta bring in the widest demographic possible, you know? 'Late
|
