The Enforcer

Probably the worst of all the Dirty Harry movies. The only interesting and innovative point in this one is that we have a woman as Harry's partner. Eastwood keeps nailing his role but that's about it. A foreseeable plot with quite a mediocre development. Probably, the best in this one is the music.

Here's a seven-point suppository! The Enforcer is directed by James Fargo and collectively written by Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Stirling Silliphant, Dean Riesner, Gail Morgan Hickman and S.W. Schurr. It stars Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Harry Guardino, Bradford Dillman, DeVeren Bookwalter and John Mitchum. Music is by Jerry Fielding and cinematography by Charles W. Short. Dirty Harry Callahan is tasked with foiling a terrorist organization made up of supposed revolutionaries. However, when he's partnered by a rookie female cop he's far from best pleased and feels sure she's out of her depth. This is the third entry of what would eventually become five Clint Eastwood starring Dirty Harry films. Sensing the need to inject a bit of freshness to what was obviously going to be a safe "no nonsense cop" formula, the makers introduce a nifty complexity to Callahan's world by pairing him up with a female cop - one that's fresh out of school. So with Callahan's propensity for being irked about partners in general, and his suspected misogyny dangled by his superiors, this is a forward thinking turn of events by the writers. From a narrative stand point director Fargo (for his feature film debut) doesn't deviate from what made the previous two films a success. Pacing is steady so that this allows dramatic character interplays to breathe, and forceful action sequences bounce into the fray at various junctures. This is not however detrimental to the story, which zips along and is punctured by customary Dirty Harry humour. The relationship between Harry and Kate (passable but not quite a great casting choice) builds through various stages, from begrudging mentor and pupil beginnings, to something that actually ends up rather touching. Sadly this "Dirty Harry" film lacks great villainy, the People's Revolutionary Strike Force come off as a mixed bunch of psychos and confused hippies, with not enough screen time for their leader (Bookwalter) to impact greatly on proceedings. Be that as it may, there's enough for Callahan to chew on, with the gruff straight talking cop surrounded by the usual moronic bureaucrats and handy allies (the always great Albert Popwell in a customary appearance). Where it stands with fans of the Dirty Harry series as a whole is unclear? for The Enforcer appears to now be fondly remembered more the decades have passed. But it certainly is no dead loss and a strong 7/10 rating I feel is fully justified.

“If she wants to play lumberjack, she’s going to have to get used to handling her end of the log!”. Sadly, that’s about as pithy as his one-liners get in this rather flat outing for “Callaghan” (Clint Eastwood). This time he is saddled with rookie “Moore” (Tyne Daly) and put on a case to track down some brutal mercenaries from a people’s revolutionary strike force who robbed an arms factory and then have only gone and kidnapped they mayor. No great loss, you might think, but the city’s problem is made worse because their most inept Captain “McKay” (Bradford Dillman) has already suspended the only man who can do what’s needed - for insubordination. Of course, with the city facing a $5 millions ransom demand, our intrepid inspector and his partner are determined to sort things out with his Magnum, a confessional booth and even a ship’s water cannon. It’s all entirely predicable and to be honest, Eastwood has lost a little of the glint in his eye as the film progresses, except perhaps when confronted with an whorehouse that peddles inflatable dummies at $75 a pop whilst the senior citizens run a direct-mail service that would make Larry Flynt blush. There are some flourishes of activity but it’s all really only a collection of set-piece scenarios that build to a conclusion that might just have inspired a few video games. At least you know what you’re getting with this series, but this one is lacking the attitude - either that or I’m just desensitised to his unique way of policing now.

Not as enjoyable as the first two, but <em>'The Enforcer'</em> still entertains. Clint Eastwood is again excellent in reprising the role of Harry Callahan, while the support cast is spearheaded by the likes of Tyne Daly and Harry Guardino. I don't really have much to say that's different from the 1971 and 1973 films, in that it's a fun flick that is paced well; even if, again, it is a drop from its two predecessors.