Dirty Harry
Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Warner Bros.  (1971) 103 mins R

7.9 (29,949 votes)
Detective Harry Callahan. He doesn't break murder cases. He smashes them.

Harry Callahan is a tough, streetwise San Francisco cop whom they call Dirty Harry. In this action classic, you'll see why-and also why Clint Eastwood's reputation as a premier film star and moviemaker is secure.

A rooftop sniper (Andy Robinson) calling himself Scorpio has killed twice and holds the city ransom with the threat of killing again. Harry will nail him one way or the other-no matter what the "system" prescribes.

Filming on location, director Don Siegel made the City by the Bay a vital part of Dirty Harry, a practice continued in its four sequels. The original remains one of the most gripping police thrillers ever made....

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Cast and Crew
Clint Eastwood  ......  Insp. Harry Callahan
John Vernon  ......  The Mayor
Harry Guardino  ......  Lt. Al Bressler
Andy Robinson  ...... 
Rene Santoni  ...... 
John Larch  ......  The Chief
Director  .....  Don Siegel
Producer  .....  Robert Daley; Carl Pingitore; Don Siegel
Writer  .....  R.M. Fink; Dean Riesner; Harry Julian Fink; Rita M. Fink
Notes
Filming Locations:
Bank of America Building - 555 California Street, San Francisco, California, USA (more)

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?" (more)

Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Picture of two kids behind Harry Guardino's desk is the same picture of two kids on Josef Sommer's desk, except two small pictures are jammed in the corner to camouflage it. (more)

Quotes:
The Mayor: Well let's have it.
Harry Callahan: Have what?
The Mayor: A report! What have you been doing?
Harry Callahan: Well, for the past three quarters of an hour I've been sitting on my ass in your outer office waiting on you!
(more)

Awards:
1 nomination (more)