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Magnum Force (1973)

Preceded by: Dirty Harry (1971)
Succeeded by: The Enforcer (1976)

Director:
Ted Post
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Action/Crime
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Magnum '44
RUNNING TIME
124 minutes
Producer:
Robert Daley
Screenwriter:
John Milius
Michael Cimino


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Harry Callahan Clint Eastwood
Lt. Briggs Hal Holbrook ½
Early Smith Felton Perry ½
Charlie McCoy Mitchell Ryan
Davis David Soul ½
Sweet Tim Matheson
Grimes Robert Urich
Call Girl Margaret Avery

 

Review

The politics of this first of many Dirty Harry sequels is anything but subtle, putting in enormous amount of effort to turn the table in order to make Harry Callahan the good guy, and cover up his previous antics. It all becomes a bit too translucent and plotted, with stereotype bad guys with a lot more muddy motivation than the interesting Scorpio from the original. The film uses violence for effect, but what kind? Ultimately, both the Harry Callahan character and the film bite their own tails. If nothing else, the script by John Milius and Michael Cimino is a good detective story, and Clint's performance is commanding and crafty, keeping the action effective throughout. Even if the visuals are nowhere near as appealing as in the stylish original.

Copyright © 21.12.2006 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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