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Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry was released late in 1971 just before Christmas. It was filmed in San
Francisco at great cost and Im sure they used the studios as much as possible to keep it within a
budget. The timing of this film was absolutely perfect. The fact that it had been released just
before Christmas made it a boom for the Smith and Wesson Company. And ever since that point
in time the company was unable to keep up with demands for that firearm till some point in
1975.
That was a good example of positive feedback for this period. The film was also released during
a time of social unrest; different groups began to seem themselves as minority groups without
much representation in their government. The civil rights movement was gaining recognition and
laws were beginning to make necessary change. The Equal rights amendment was put forth to
the Supreme Court. Our college campuses were filled with young militant people that had Viet-
Nam as a major issue in their lives and were scared to serve. This was a time of distrust of our
government and in turn our system of government was attempting to maintain control by keeping
up with the demands of its people. Even our silent majority was showing its displeasure,
besides the majority was the silent majority. This group felt assailed by all of this change and
was very concerned about what all of this meant to them. Out of this era comes a fictional San
Francisco police detective who became a new kind of movie cop. This was the first example of
the cop/serial killer genre seen in so many American movies released today.
He was the most important movie hero to come out of the seventies. He was right and he knew
what was right and wrong on his terms as an outlaw hero. His vigilante style justice was ripe for
the for the American publics general distrust of the law. We didnt have a lot of popular heroes
come out that era, which says something about Dirty Harry and our Society at the time.
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Dirty Harry was a low budget movie. Most of the expense was the location of filming.
San Francisco location lent credibility to this story. It was based on the Zodiac Killer who
operated in Northern California and specifically in San Francisco. The director used the bay, city
and skyscape as a backdrop for the horrific crimes committed. You feel the irony when you see
this beautiful city in that context. As with the sniper killing the woman on the roof top with the
whole bay as a backdrop. This is also apparent in the scene where the young naked woman is
being removed from an underground grave with an incredible view of the Golden gate bridge in
the foreground. These settings also elicit a feeling of danger in the movie. San Francisco is
surrounded by water and is only readily accessible by bridge. The streets are notoriously steep
and dangerous. Many people have a fear to go to San Francisco because of the mere threat of an
earthquake. There are also scenes in this movie that only San Francisco would it be believed and
not seem too unbelievable. This allowed the writers to focus on this characters bigotry material
to give him an honest and believable character. He is confident and self-assured enough to make
him admirable to all, but on the other hand he wastes no time showing his slight regard to the
Mayor and over all contempt for City Halls inefficiencies. His immediate supervisors admire
him for his competence and integrity but dont think he is really fit to represent the police force
because of his attitude and lone police officer technique. As a result he is tasked to be their go to
man to carry out undesirable assignments. He deals with suspects summarily and barely brings
anyone back alive. He lives within the laws but breaks them when he has to in order to save
lives. This movie showed how the law could be used to protect the criminals because it was
easier. Dirty Harry on the other hand succeeded with his vigilante style of justice, his .44
magnum and outrageous monologue. State laws have been passed with the Dirty Harry mystique
in effect. The make my day law. President Reagan quoted Dirty Harry. And hes always
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used in his correct context. Something comes to mind immediately once his image or quotes are
summoned. He remains in the American majorities psyche as a legendary hero. And it was a
great movie!