Dirty Harry returns in MAGNUM FORCE(1973).
© Warner Home Video

Mania Grade: B+
DVD: Magnum Force (Deluxe Edition)
Rating: R
Starring: Clinit Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, David Soul, Tim Matheson
Written By: Harry Julian Fink, John Milius
Directed By: Tim Post
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Original Year of Release: 1973
Extras: Audio commentary, two featurettes, trailers

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MAGNUM FORCE (Deluxe Edition)

Of the five films in the Dirty Harry series, Magnum Force is perhaps the most underrated. On many levels it is as good as Dirty Harry. It has a more complex plot, a broader cast, and a good deal more action. A group of rookie motorcycle cops, all former Special Forces members, have formed a hit squad to kill some of San Francisco’s most notorious criminals. Harry Callahan begins the film on stakeout assignment but when the body count begins to rise, his Supervisor, Lt. Briggs (Hal Holbrook), has no choice but to put Harry on the case. 

In what would be a recurring subplot throughout the series, Harry is teamed with yet another new partner, Early Smith (Felton Perry). One thing you have to say about the Dirty Harry films is that in an era where there sometimes was not a lot of minority diversity in acting roles, these films embraced the concept. Harry’s partners included an Hispanic, an African-American, a woman, and an Asian-American.

The rookie motorcycle cops included fresh-faced newcomers David Soul, Robert Urich, as well as Tim Matheson who had been acting since he was a teenager in the early 60’s but was still only 26 years old at the time. Callahan is initially impressed by this sharp-shooting quartet. Officer Davis (Soul) even beats Harry in the annual target range contest. However, while Harry loves to see the bad guys taken out as much as anyone, he still doesn’t approve of their methods and he finds himself facing off against the young cops in a terrific chase and shootout climax.

Magnum Force doesn’t have the tension or street grittiness of Dirty Harry but it does offer some other interesting aspects. First, we get the first real glimpse into Harry’s personal life. He visits a fellow cop’s ex-wife and her family for dinner and the kids all seem to adore Harry. We also see Harry having a tryst with a beautiful Japanese girl who lives in his apartment complex. Magnum Force showed Harry as a real person and not just a tough cop.

Hal Holbrook gets to play the superior officer who spars with Callahan and his methods. This would be yet another tradition throughout the five films. There was always that “pain in the ass” boss who gave Harry a hard time. Keep an eye out near the beginning of the film for a very young Suzanne Somers doing a topless scene in a swimming pool in an uncredited role. Magnum Force is a exceedingly worthy sequel to Dirty Harry.

The Deluxe Edition DVD comes with a couple of new extras. John Milius, who wrote the original story, provides an audio commentary.

In a wew Featurette, “A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry” -- Filmmakers, social scientists, Castmembers and authors take a look at the moral, political and ethical themes of the Dirty Harry films. One prominent New York writer would go so far as to label Harry Callahan a fascist.

There’s also a shorter featurette, produced at the time of the feature film called “The Hero Cop: Yesterday and Today” which is basically a promotional piece for the film.