FILM REVIEW: Dirty Harry (1971)

Preface

This review was written back in March 2020 for academic purposes, and I thought it would be well suited for me to post it here now. I am hoping that my future reviews are more similar in structure to this one.

The Review

I have this memory of my mother in an argument with somebody, which she ended by saying “Go ahead, make my day.” It wasn’t long after this that I learned our surname meant guardian and watcher on the wall. Shortly thereafter I was introduced to the iconic character of Inspector “Dirty Harry” Callahan. I saw the Dirty Harry movies in fragments growing up, but I didn’t see the first film completely until recently. As a film student, I knew this movie was one I had to watch properly because of its acclaim. By the end of the picture, I regretted my delay.

As an overview, Dirty Harry is a gritty noir action movie that is packed with a solid story, thrills that keep you on the edge of your seat, good pacing, and memorable performances from both Clint Eastwood and Andrew Robinson. The movie follows Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” as he chases down Robinson’s Scorpio, a psychotic serial murderer modeled after The Zodiac Killer, in San Francisco, California. The film is appropriately rated R for the violent content and adult themes found within; the brief moments of nudity do not contribute to the plot, but rather are an aspect of establishing the seedy underbelly of the world that Harry lives in. Furthermore, the violence depicted is not particularly gory, but those who are sensitive to the sight of blood may wish to turn away during certain scenes. However, unlike the nudity, the violence portrayed is germane to the plot as it helps set the tension of specific sequences and establishes the stakes that the characters face. In short, I found this film very entertaining and would recommend it for viewing, particularly if you are a fan of the crime noir/thriller genre.

However, this movie has specific aspects that make it particularly good. Without diving into spoilers, Dirty Harry has a classic three act structure that is executed with expert subtlety. When I thought Harry was at his lowest point, I was proven wrong as matters only got worse; it was a perfect setup for Harry’s full force comeback in the third act. Additionally, following Harry’s pursuit of Scorpio, the nearly real-time course of events is presented with clear cut editing that intensifies the suspense of the threat that Scorpio presents to both his hostage and San Francisco. At the film’s resolution, I was clearly able to see an intended message. I was assured of the concept of a man who would stand as a watcher on the wall— fighting for true justice, no matter the cost.

Speaking of Harry specifically, Eastwood’s performance provides a clear model of the Hollywood antihero. At the beginning of the movie, we wonder why Harry Callahan has been dubbed “Dirty Harry.” His new partner speculates that it’s Harry’s methods, while a colleague says that it’s because Harry hates everyone. Harry himself says it’s because he’s tossed every dirty job in the city. At several points we’re led to believe that it could be because of how Harry seems to get his kicks while on the job. But by the end of the movie, it’s apparent that he’s dirty for the very reason Harry believes he’s dirty— he not only takes the jobs nobody wants, he’s also the only man willing to get his hands dirty in a fight for what’s right. This is an aspect of character development that makes this film great, while Eastwood also gets to deliver some unforgettable lines that make Dirty Harry an iconic renegade of film history.

All of that being said, this film had one distinct flaw: lighting. There are specific chase and fight scenes that happen in darkness that make it nigh on impossible to see the action on screen. With the robust nature of the opening and closing scenes of the film, it makes you wonder if the filmmakers ran out of money to properly light what happens in the middle. But, I was so into this film’s story that I didn’t care about the poor lighting during those sequences— Which is something I couldn’t say about Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Dirty Harry hit the big screen in 1971, almost fifty years ago, so why are we still talking about it now? In my opinion, Dirty Harry stands out in history because of what Harry Callahan stands for. The 1970s was an era of vicious acts and increasing crime rates, Inspector Callahan is a symbol of a hero who fights for justice, despite bureaucratic nonsense and legal loopholes that lets evildoers escape. It’s an encouraging idea that no matter how bad things get there will always be somebody to stand up and fight no matter the cost, and that’s why this movie has its acclaim and my stamp of approval.