Dirty Harry (1971) - 4K Ultra HD Analysis

      Dirty Harry, 1971.

      Directed by Don Siegel.

      Featuring Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, Andy Robinson, John Larch, and John Vernon.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The legendary 1971 film Dirty Harry, helmed by Don Siegel and featuring Clint Eastwood, makes its debut on 4K Ultra HD. The visuals are impressive, and the bonus content is noteworthy. I'm even open to reevaluating this film as I age.

      I must confess that I had an immediate negative reaction to Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry character in the 80s, largely due to Ronald Reagan's frequent quoting of his “Go ahead, make my day” line from the 1983 film Sudden Impact. Additionally, I've never been particularly keen on vigilante films, although I can comprehend the motivations that drive individuals to take the law into their own hands.

      Nevertheless, I approached the original film in this series, entitled simply Dirty Harry, with the perspective of a 55-year-old family man and professional, rather than as a disenchanted teenager from the 80s. (I acknowledge that this movie was released in 1971, but I was just one year old then, so my recollection of the character began in the 80s.)

      While I'm not inclined to watch the subsequent films in the franchise, I can appreciate this one within the context of the era it was released. The notorious Zodiac Killer had recently terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area, which serves as the film's setting, and many American cities were grappling with rising rates of violent crime and unrest that would peak during the 1970s. (As a side note: show this film to anyone who believes crime today is worse than during “the good old days.”)

      I reference the Zodiac Killer because he served as the inspiration for the antagonist in this film, a serial killer who uses a sniper rifle to eliminate his victims. Similar to the Zodiac killer, he mocks local authorities through letters and demands a response in the newspaper, though this character, dubbed “Scorpio,” is also content with a message in a classified ad. (That was a more common practice before Craigslist.)

      Dirty Harry's “I'm too old for this shit” routine may seem cliché in today's context, especially when he's reluctantly teamed up with an inexperienced rookie, but it resonated during a time of societal turmoil. Additionally, the film is set just a few years after the landmark 1966 Supreme Court ruling led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, which established what are now known as Miranda rights for criminal suspects, a decision that garnered considerable backlash at the time.

      And I understand Harry's plight. He confronts a maniac who has no qualms about threatening children. Scorpio's motives remain unexplained, but perhaps that's unnecessary—some individuals simply lack normalcy. When Harry finds incriminating evidence but realizes he failed to secure a search warrant first, his frustration is relatable, knowing he is hindered in his pursuit of justice.

      Yet, there is a reason behind our legal system's treatment of suspects, as not all crimes are as straightforward as Scorpio’s thrill-seeking murders, with suspects who might not be as blatantly guilty as he is. In conclusion, I regard Dirty Harry as a film reminiscent of later works like Falling Down, where the main character is pushed beyond their limits and resorts to actions that many may not condone, yet can somehow empathize with.

      Now, with that established, Warner Bros. has released this film alongside Eastwood’s Pale Rider and The Outlaw Josey Wales (reviews forthcoming) on 4K Ultra HD. The new transfer was created from an 8K scan of the original camera negative, and it looks fantastic. Like many recent 4K releases, this is essentially the pinnacle of what one can expect in home video (unless you have an extremely large screen capable of actually benefiting from an 8K disc).

      Additionally, it includes a code for a digital copy and a solid variety of bonus features:

      • Audio commentary: Film critic and Clint Eastwood biographer Richard Schickel provides a deeply informative discussion about the movie, contextualizing it within film history of that time and the career of its star. Although it may feel a bit dry to casual listeners, I enjoy these types of commentaries.

      • Generations and Dirty Harry (6:15): Newly produced for this release, this brief segment features various individuals expressing their appreciation for the film, regardless of their age. Contributors include Warner Archive’s George Feltenstein, IndieWire writer Jim Hemphill, podcasters Chris Collins and Josh Rodriguez, among others.

      • Lensing Justice: The Cinematography of Dirty Harry (7:54): This is the only other new feature included here, honoring the cinematography of the late DP Bruce Surtees, who also worked on several other Eastwood films.

      • American Masters Career Retrospective – Clint Eastwood: Out