Dirty Harry (1971)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Harry Julian Fink (screenplay) &
Rita M. Fink (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

You don't assign him to murder cases, You just turn him loose.

Plot:

A San Francisco cop with little regard for rules (but who always gets results) tries to track down a serial killer who snipes at random victims.

Plot Keywords:

Dirty Harry | Ransom | Sniper | Police | City

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Police Inspector Harry Callahan
Harry Guardino	...	Police Lt. Al Bressler
Reni Santoni	...	Police Inspector Chico Gonzalez
John Vernon	...	The Mayor
Andrew Robinson	...	Scorpio Killer (as Andy Robinson)
John Larch	...	The Chief
John Mitchum	...	Police Inspector Frank DiGiorgio
Mae Mercer	...	Mrs. Russell
Lyn Edgington	...	Norma
Ruth Kobart	...	Bus Driver
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Mr. Jaffe
Josef Sommer	...	Dist. Atty. William T. Rothko
William Paterson	...	Judge Bannerman
James Nolan	...	Liquor Store Owner
Maurice Argent	...	Sid Kleinman (as Maurice S. Argent)
Jo De Winter	...	Miss Willis
Craig Kelly	...	Police Sgt. Reineke (as Craig G. Kelly)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ann Bowen	...	Yelling Wife (uncredited)
George Burrafato	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Joy Carlin	...	Communications Secretary (uncredited)
Bill Couch	...	Suicide Jumper (uncredited)
Jana D'Amico	...	Third Nude (uncredited)
Tony Dario	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Diane Darnell	...	Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)
Diana Davidson	...	Swimmer (uncredited)
Vince Deadrick Sr.	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Chuck Dorsett	...	TV Watcher (uncredited)
Al Dunlap	...	Man in Jaffe's Cafe (uncredited)
Larry Duran	...	(uncredited)
Denise Dyer	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
Diane Dyer	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
George Fargo	...	Homicide Detective (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan	...	Man in Truck (uncredited)
Leslie Fong	...	Man with Sam (uncredited)
Lois Foraker	...	Hot Mary (uncredited)
Max Gail	...	Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
John Garber	...	Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
Eddie Garrett	...	Policeman (uncredited)
James W. Gavin	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
David Gillum	...	Homosexual (uncredited)
Don Haggerty	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Scott Hale	...	Newsman (uncredited)
Jack Hanson	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
Kate Harper	...	Underwear Chick (uncredited)
Bob Harris	...	Man in Truck (uncredited)
Diana Henrichsen	...	Hippie Chick (uncredited)
Marc Hertsens	...	Steve - Doctor (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	Flower Vendor (uncredited)
Raymond Johnson	...	Big Black Man (uncredited)
Derek Jue	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
Stu Klitsner	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Richard Lawson	...	Homosexual (uncredited)
Sean Maley	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
Laurie Mock	...	Third Nude (uncredited)
Charles Murphy	...	Man on Pay Phone (uncredited)
Mary Ann Neis	...	Miss Van Sachs (uncredited)
Ann Noland	...	Hippie Girl (uncredited)
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Lady in Jaffe's Cafe (uncredited)
Angela Paton	...	Homicide Detective (uncredited)
Victor Paul	...	Car Driver (uncredited)
John W. Peebles	...	Walkie-Talkie Cop (uncredited)
Albert Popwell	...	Bank Robber (uncredited)
Christopher Pray	...	Tunnel Hoodlum (uncredited)
Lolita Rios	...	Nude (uncredited)
Ernest Robinson	...	Robber (uncredited)
Frederic Ross	...	Hippie Guy (uncredited)
Richard Samuelson	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
Debralee Scott	...	Ann Mary Deacon (uncredited)
Allen Seaman	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Don Siegel	...	Pedestrian Passing Harry's Car (uncredited)
Kristoffer Tabori	...	Hippie Guy (uncredited)
Pamela Tanimura	...	Bus Kid (uncredited)
John Tracy	...	Black Queen's Friend (uncredited)
Charles Washburn	...	Intern (uncredited)
Dean Webber	...	Newsman (uncredited)
Janet Wisely	...	First Nude (uncredited)
Stephen Zacks	...	Lake Kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Don Siegel

Writing credits
Harry Julian Fink		(story) uncredited &
Rita M. Fink		(story) uncredited
Harry Julian Fink		(screenplay) &
Rita M. Fink		(screenplay) (as R.M. Fink) and
Dean Riesner		(screenplay)
John Milius		(screenplay) uncredited

Produced by
Robert Daley	....	executive producer
Carl Pingitore	....	associate producer
Don Siegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carl Pingitore

Art Direction by
Dale Hennesy		(as Dale Hennessey)

Set Decoration by
Robert De Vestel		(as Robert DeVestel)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Jean Burt Reilly	....	supervising hair stylist

Production Management
Jim Henderling	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Rubin	....	assistant director
Barry Stern	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Randall	....	sound
Sergio Reyes	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Alex Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Everett Creach	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bennie E. Dobbins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
William T. Lane	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Lerner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Miles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ernest Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Sawaya	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Stromsoe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Richard Washington	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Glenn Wright	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
George Fargo	....	assistant to producer
Scott Hale	....	dialogue supervisor
Clint Eastwood	....	director: suicide jumper sequence (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Malpaso Company, The
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1972) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Sandrews (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (deluxe edition)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1999) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Malpaso Company, The  copyright
• Panavision  filmed in
• Technicolor  the company
• Warner Bros. Pictures  copyright (as Warner Bros. Inc.)

Also Known As:

Dead Right (USA) (original script title)
Harry, el sucio (Argentina) (Peru) (Spain) [es]
Dirty Harry (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
L'inspecteur Harry (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
A Fúria da Razão (Portugal) [pt]
Brudny Harry (Poland) [pl]
Dirty Harry (Denmark) [da]
Dirty Harry (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Harry el brut (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Ispettore Callaghan: il caso Scorpio è tuo (Italy) [it]
Kirli adam (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Likainen Harry (Finland) [fi]
O epitheoritis Callahan (Greece) [el]
Perseguidor Implacável (Brazil) [pt]
Piszkos Harry (Hungary) [hu]
Prljavi hari (Serbia) [sr]
Smerige klabak (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]

Runtime:

102 min | Portugal:99 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | UK:X (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (1972) (cut) (re-rating after appeal) | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 | France:-12 | UK:15 (2008) | Ireland:15 (re-rating) (2008) | Ireland:18 | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Peru:18 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Brazil:14 | Australia:MA | Australia:R (original rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1972) | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bank of America Building - 555 California Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

According to the original script, the phrase that Dirty Harry quotes during both the bank robbery and his final confrontation with Scorpio was not the actual quote for the movie, the actual quote in the script was, "Well? Was it five or was it six? Regulations say five...hammer down on an empty...only not all of us go by the book. What you have to do is think about it. I mean, this is a .44 Magnum and it'll turn your head into hash. Now, do you think I fired five or six? And if five, do I keep a live one under the hammer? It's all up to you. Are you feeling lucky, punk?"

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening scene, Scorpio is tracking the swimming girl through his gun-sights, which provide the POV for the camera. As he shoots, the gun-sights are removed and the camera shows the girl from the same angle. However, when the girl is hit, the bullet hole is below the right shoulder and as such has to be from a bullet fired from at least 90 degrees to the right of the camera, ie there is no way Scorpio could have hit her where he hit from his supposed position on the other building.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Harry Callahan: Jesus.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "S.W.A.T.: A Coven of Killers (#1.2)" (1975)

The best of the Dirtiest

DIRTY HARRY (1971) **** Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Andy Robinson, John Vernon. Eastwood made cinematic lore out of laconic San Francisco renegade cop Harry Callahan known more for his intolerence of the bureaucratic legal system and his firm belief in justice through violent means necessitated by righting wrongs. In the first of the series he's faced with a psycho serial killer named Scorpio (grinning looney toon Robinson) just begging to be noticed. Directed by Eastwood's long-time mentor Don Siegal the film acts as a parable of the system strangle-holding society and still remains an indictment of how bad things still are. Classic Clint.