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Many a hit film gets a sequel, so Dirty Harry Callahan was brought back in this good, by-the-numbers story, helped by some capable direction and Eastwood's undeniable screen presence.
Callahan (Clint Eastwood) has a new partner in Early (Felton Perry), never explaining why he rejoined the San Francisco Police Department after throwing his badge away at the end of the first film. He muscles his way back into the homicide division, as it seems like a bunch of high profile criminals who go unpunished by the system are being gunned down. Callahan immediately butts head with his boss Briggs (Hal Holbrook), and begins detective work on his own to discover who is behind the violent murders.
The script, by John Milius and Michael Cimino, is full of gun violence and carnage. Harry is thrown into some odd situations, like a plane hijacking, in what seems to be filler material. Eastwood gamely plays his role, we get a lot more characterization, but the script cheats the audience, explaining how Dirty Harry Callahan wasn't a lone wolf vigilante in the first film. Here, HE's fighting vigilantism from inside a law enforcement system he has come to despise. For a detective, Callahan completely misses the secret identity of the main villain, and the climactic finale telegraphs all of its punches. However, Post directs the action sequences expertly, actually turning some San Francisco outskirts into abandoned-looking ghostly infrastructure. Because the end is a foregone conclusion, this sequel is very watchable but doesn't stand out in the series, becoming more slick than its predecessor. I missed the grimy city of the first film, and much like the first film, I doubt anyone in Hollywood would remake this script word-for-word.
"Magnum Force" is not great stuff, but perfect for completists. Known as "Dirty Harry 2" outside of the United States here and there. Followed by "The Enforcer."
Stats:
(1973) 124 min. (7/10)
-Directed by Ted Post
-Screenplay by John Milius and Michael Cimino, Story by John Milius, Original Material by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink
-Cast: Clint Eastwood, Felton Perry, Hal Holbrook, Mitchell Ryan, David Soul, Tim Matheson, Kip Niven, Robert Urich, Maurice Argent, Margaret Avery, Richard Devon, Albert Popwell, Suzanne Somers
(R)- Physical violence, strong gun violence, gore, profanity, nudity, some sexual content, sexual references, strong adult situations, drug use, alcohol and tobacco use
Media Viewed: Streaming
