Magnum Force

Introduction

Harry Callahan is back, he didn't quit after the first film, despite throwing his badge into the same pond that the recently deceased psycho Scorpio fell into after taking a shot or two from Callahan's trusty .44 Magnum.

Callahan has changed though. Whilst he's still the same enforcer (excuse the pun) he always was, he is a believer in the system, no matter how flawed it is. And this is even after new boss Lieutenant Briggs (Hal Holbrook) has transferred Harry (Clint Eastwood) and new partner Early Smith (Felton Perry) off the streets and on secondment to the rather boring and boringly titled Stakeout Squad.


Meanwhile someone has decided to clean up the streets and take out the trash, in this case high profile criminals who seem to be sticking two fingers up at the justice system. Harry manages to involve himself, much to Briggs' annoyance, and becomes relentless after the death of old friend Charlie McCoy (Mitch Ryan).

On the other side of the law, crossing the line, are ex-Special Forces colleagues turned motorcycle cops Davis (David Soul), Sweet (Tim Matheson), Astrachan (Kip Niven) and Grimes (Robert Urich). This quartet are very much admirers of Callahan, but severely underestimate his willingness to bend the law.

Visual

The picture looks superb, very much on a par with the Dirty Harry release.

Audio

Rather spiffing 5.1 Surround track that is quite powerful, especially when you consider the age of the film. There are also German and Spanish mono soundtracks and an English Stereo 2.0 soundtrack. Subtitles in English are available on both the main feature and the extras.

Another superb score by Lalo Schifrin.

Extras

Commentary with writer John Milius


A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry - a 25 minute piece examing the political landscape of 70's America and those of the character Dirty Harry

The Hero Cop: Yesterday and Today - 7 minute original featurette that accompanied the cinema release of Magnum Force

Dirty Harry Trailer Gallery - all the trailers to the 5 Dirty Harry films

Overall

Magnum Force may be the second Dirty Harry film but is actually superior to the first one. Yes some of the set pieces of the first film won't be bettered (such as the 'most powerful handgun in the world' soliloquy, so good it's used again virtually verbatim over the opening credits) but overall Magnum Force holds the narrative much better than Dirty Harry, the first film lapsing after a while into a bizarre standoff between hardline cop and whiny psychopath.

Here we take the initial question on the rights of criminals and expand it further. Is society justified in taking vigilante action on those who can cheat the criminal justice system? In Dirty Harry, it seemed as if Eastwood's character was doing just that, but here (and possibly after massive outcry from some critics) Callahan is very much on the side of the law. The villains in this piece are policemen, but dressed in black leather, dark shades and topped off with a white helmet, they are evil personified. This quartet are cool killers who just happen to have the law on their side, or so they think. Two of this duo in particular went on to much bigger and better things; David Soul would find fame playing Ken Hutchinson and singing about Silver Lady's, whilst Robert Urich would actually get a few lines in S.W.A.T.

Eastwood has deliberately softened his character in this film whilst still wearing the Dirty Harry persona that made him a star. He still extols his lethal brand of justice at the hands of his Magnum but only on those in the midst of committing crime. Callahan even finds himself being picked up by women, his oriental neighbour taking a shine to him and taking him at his word when she asks him what it takes to sleep with him. His answer? Try knocking on the door.



Great film, available as a stand-alone release or as part of the new Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition box set.