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Dirty Harry Film Analysis

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In one of the most memorable gun fights in cinema history, Client Eastwood first utters those iconic words to a wounded bank robber. It was an unforgettable moment that introduced audiences to a new hero, one that is whiling to do what is necessary for the greater good.

Dirty Harry was one of the first true action films that help set the foundation for the genre, a violent and gritty film with a hero who shoots firsts then asks questions if they 're any survivors. The film was a byproduct of the social climate of the era and was panned as a work of "fascist propaganda" upon its release. Yet the film made Eastwood a pop-culture icon while becoming the blue print for other unconventional heroes.

To understand the inspiration behind Dirty Harry, …show more content…

In 1966, California voters rejected Governor Pat Brown 's continued polices of social progression in favor of Ronald Reagan and his promise to "send the welfare bums back to work" and "to clean up the mess at Berkeley". This mood was shared by the country and in 1968, Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States on a platform to restore law and order.

Dirty Harry was the manifestation of the political climate of the era, a hero who upholds law and order while giving criminals their just due. The first attempt to bring such a story to the screen involved a script by Harry Julian and Rita M. Fink titled "Dead Right" which focused on a game of wits between an NYPD detective and a serial killer. This project would then attract acclaimed director Don Siegel along with an upcoming screen writer named John Milius. It would be the uncredited work that Milius did that would introduce the world to Dirty …show more content…

Callahan volunteers to deliver the money but the drop goes wrong and an injured Scorpio escapes without giving the location of the hostage. The police get a break when the doctor who treated Scorpio 's informs them of his location at Kezar Stadium. When Callahan and his partner arrive, Scorpio attempts to make a run for it but is shot then tortured until he reveals the location of the hostage.

The operation is a disaster as the hostage is found dead while the District Attorney is unable to prosecute Scorpio because Callahan searched his home without a warrant and extracted a confession using force. Once back on the streets, Scorpio hijacks a school bus and demands a $200,000 ransom along with a plane to leave the country. The city insists on paying but Callahan angrily refuses and instead rescues the kids. He locates the bus and jumps onto the top from a bridge.causing it crashes into a dirt embankment. Scorpio flees into a nearby quarry, where he has a battle with Callahan before finally being

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