Andy Robinson was one of the greatest villains in filmdom as the sniper in this movie, a loathsome creature who kills and tortures without pity, but whines and cowers when directly confronted. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was in reality a pacifist who hated guns!
I remember hearing that Milius picked the 44 Magnum because it was caliber made for hunting big game, it is often carried by hunters and backpackers as backup against bears, he wanted the image of Dirty Harry as a hunter. Incidentally cops largely do not carry the 44 because it is too big of a round for police work and has a tremendous kick.
It’s reported Clint Eastwood liked “Sledge Hammer” and it seems confirmed by the show’s star being in “Flags of Our Fathers.” Hearing this commentary confirms why the parody was so spot on and even respectful, but existed on its own terms.
Very interesting comments here about the movie and the effect of the movie on a single viewer. I saw part of what I think was this movie when it was on television, probably the first time it was televised, (I was maybe ten) and it was then that I first learned the term "psycho".
Some people call Dirty Harry a fascist character. I think they are over thinking this guy. This is a movie world where black and white, right and wrong are more clearly delineated than in the real world. It is cathartic to see some crazed serial killer who just stuffed out the life of a young girl now having his wounded leg ground under Calahan's heel. We know this guy is guilty as sin so I have no real moral problem with this. It would different in the real wotrld I guess, It's just a movie.
Did Andy Robinson ever top this performance? He was tremendous on the school bus making the kids sing and scaring the "yellow lemonade" out of them. I also heard after a few of these films the big wigs of San Francisco thought they gave the place a bad name and wanted no further films made there??
i saw this on a double-bill w/ the wild bunch! epic. one of my all-time faves. the chase in the middle is riveting w/ an incredible showdown and aftermath. im not sure but i think john milius wrote harry's famous speech. keeep on rockin
I used to take film buff friends who came to town to see the railroad trestle from which Clint jumped onto the roof of the school bus, until they tore it down. #sad
YES, FINALLY!!! This trailer PROVES that Hollyweird tried to make this film more PC!!! Listen to the gunshots during the bank robbery. THERE ARE ONLY 5 SHOTS!!! Go and look at the scene elsewhere on UA-cam, and listen to the extra shot (when the bank robbers are driving towards Harry). It takes place (in the PC version) at the 0:43 of the trailer. Notice...IT IS NOT IN THE TRAILER!! Have argued with so many over the years about this......now I have the proof!!! Thank you TFH!!!
In other postings I mentioned the other actors who turned down the Dirty Harry role.I wished that Mr.Spencer mentioned the irony of Robert Mitchum turning down the Dirty Harry role while his younger brother John got his best known screen role of Frank DiGeorgio.
Hi Alan, Love your reviews on the Dirty Harry films. Please check out, "Dirty Marti", our new video about the daughter of Dirty Harry. Kelly Reiter plays LAPD Detective Martine Callahan, Harry's estranged daughter. Marti learns that her dad passed on, and is bequeathed his .44 Magnum. We would love to get your reaction!
The Fincher movie "ZODIAC" has an interesting scene where the 2 detectives on the Zodiac case are at a theater showing "Dirty Harry" and they are asked for their opinion, responding that in the real world actual cops can't just go around violating the laws in order to 'enforce' the law, or words to that effect. As great as "DIRTY HARRY" is as an entertainment, it's more wish-fulfillment than realistic. It's easy to see why it would be such a success, but in reality they never did catch the Zodiac Killer. It's not as if they had proof positive that one specific suspect HAD TO BE their guy, as Inspector Callahan had for his 'Scorpio' villain. One has to wonder what the real Zodiac Killer thought about the way he -- as 'Scorpio' -- was portrayed in this movie, assuming he was still alive when it was in theaters.
+steamfans, I have. Ialways kind of looked at it as a alternate Dirty Harry in which the character succombed to the pressures of his job and became a burnt out alcoholic who redeems himself in the end.
Andy Robinson was one of the greatest villains in filmdom as the sniper in this movie, a loathsome creature who kills and tortures without pity, but whines and cowers when directly confronted. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was in reality a pacifist who hated guns!
I remember hearing that Milius picked the 44 Magnum because it was caliber made for hunting big game, it is often carried by hunters and backpackers as backup against bears, he wanted the image of Dirty Harry as a hunter. Incidentally cops largely do not carry the 44 because it is too big of a round for police work and has a tremendous kick.
Thanks, Alan, for a very thoughtful analysis.
I loved Dirty Harry as a child and still do. Thanks Uncle Clint!
It’s reported Clint Eastwood liked “Sledge Hammer” and it seems confirmed by the show’s star being in “Flags of Our Fathers.” Hearing this commentary confirms why the parody was so spot on and even respectful, but existed on its own terms.
I love Dirty Harry. It a film that got guts.
Very interesting comments here about the movie and the effect of the movie on a single viewer. I saw part of what I think was this movie when it was on television, probably the first time it was televised, (I was maybe ten) and it was then that I first learned the term "psycho".
That Alan Spencer chap is so handsome, and he definitely knows what he's talking about.
Some people call Dirty Harry a fascist character. I think they are over thinking this guy. This is a movie world where black and white, right and wrong are more clearly delineated than in the real world. It is cathartic to see some crazed serial killer who just stuffed out the life of a young girl now having his wounded leg ground under Calahan's heel. We know this guy is guilty as sin so I have no real moral problem with this. It would different in the real wotrld I guess, It's just a movie.
Did Andy Robinson ever top this performance? He was tremendous on the school bus making the kids sing and scaring the "yellow lemonade" out of them. I also heard after a few of these films the big wigs of San Francisco thought they gave the place a bad name and wanted no further films made there??
i saw this on a double-bill w/ the wild bunch! epic. one of my all-time faves. the chase in the middle is riveting w/ an incredible showdown and aftermath. im not sure but i think john milius wrote harry's famous speech. keeep on rockin
Andy Robinson also played Liberace in some made for TV movie.
I used to take film buff friends who came to town to see the railroad trestle from which Clint jumped onto the roof of the school bus, until they tore it down. #sad
YES, FINALLY!!! This trailer PROVES that Hollyweird tried to make this film more PC!!! Listen to the gunshots during the bank robbery. THERE ARE ONLY 5 SHOTS!!! Go and look at the scene elsewhere on UA-cam, and listen to the extra shot (when the bank robbers are driving towards Harry). It takes place (in the PC version) at the 0:43 of the trailer. Notice...IT IS NOT IN THE TRAILER!! Have argued with so many over the years about this......now I have the proof!!! Thank you TFH!!!
In other postings I mentioned the other actors who turned down the Dirty Harry role.I wished that Mr.Spencer mentioned the irony of Robert Mitchum turning down the Dirty Harry role while his younger brother John got his best known screen role of Frank DiGeorgio.
Hi Alan, Love your reviews on the Dirty Harry films. Please check out, "Dirty Marti", our new video about the daughter of Dirty Harry. Kelly Reiter plays LAPD Detective Martine Callahan, Harry's estranged daughter. Marti learns that her dad passed on, and is bequeathed his .44 Magnum. We would love to get your reaction!
The Fincher movie "ZODIAC" has an interesting scene where the 2 detectives on the Zodiac case are at a theater showing "Dirty Harry" and they are asked for their opinion, responding that in the real world actual cops can't just go around violating the laws in order to 'enforce' the law, or words to that effect. As great as "DIRTY HARRY" is as an entertainment, it's more wish-fulfillment than realistic. It's easy to see why it would be such a success, but in reality they never did catch the Zodiac Killer. It's not as if they had proof positive that one specific suspect HAD TO BE their guy, as Inspector Callahan had for his 'Scorpio' villain. One has to wonder what the real Zodiac Killer thought about the way he -- as 'Scorpio' -- was portrayed in this movie, assuming he was still alive when it was in theaters.
Have you seen Clint Eastwood in "The Gauntlet"
+steamfans, I have. Ialways kind of looked at it as a alternate Dirty Harry in which the character succombed to the pressures of his job and became a burnt out alcoholic who redeems himself in the end.
There is a story that Frank Sinatra couldn't play the part after he sprained his wrist and couldn't handle the 44 Magnum?