The Enforcer (1976/I)

Director:

James Fargo

Writers:

Harry Julian Fink (characters) and
Rita M. Fink (characters) ...

Release Date:

22 December 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The "dirtiest" Harry of them all!

Plot:

Dirty Harry must foil a terrorist organization made up of disgruntled Vietnam veterans. But this time, he's teamed with a rookie female partner that he's not too excited to be working with.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Police | Alcatraz | Vietnam Veteran | Policewoman

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Clint Eastwood	...	Insp. 'Dirty' Harry Callahan
Tyne Daly	...	Insp. Kate Moore
Harry Guardino	...	Lt. Al Bressler
Bradford Dillman	...	Capt. McKay
John Mitchum	...	Insp. Frank DiGiorgio
DeVeren Bookwalter	...	Bobby Maxwell
John Crawford	...	The Mayor
Samantha Doane	...	Wanda
Robert F. Hoy	...	Buchinski (as Robert Hoy)
Jocelyn Jones	...	Miki Waleska
M.G. Kelly	...	Father John
Nick Pellegrino	...	Martin
Albert Popwell	...	'Big' Ed Mustapha
Rudy Ramos	...	Mendez
Bill Ackridge	...	Andy

Also Known As:

Moving Target (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Finland:K-18 (1977) (cut) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | USA:R (certificate #24716) | France:Unrated | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2008) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Brazil:14 | Canada:18A | Australia:R | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:18 | South Korea:18 | Norway:16 (1977) (cut) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:PG (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

23rd & Capp Streets, Mission District, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

According to director James Fargo, at Clint Eastwood's request, an improvised bar scene with Tyne Daly and himself drinking in a bar was set up. After drinking four quarts of beer between the two, they managed to get one good line by her saying she had to go pee, which she did, but the scene overall didn't work and was deleted.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Callahan fires the bazooka at the watch tower that Bobby Maxwell has just climbed up to, the cabin on top of the tower vanishes shortly before the missile hits it. We just see the bare platform for a few frames, then there's an explosion and then we see the platform in flames.

Quotes:

Frank DiGiorgio: Hey, what's with the citizen?
[Harry turns the car around and approaches a restaurant, with a worried-looking waiter outside. Harry addresses the waiter as he pulls up]
Harry Callahan: Police officer, what's the problem?
Waiter #1: Oh, thank God. He's inside.
[he turns to go back into the restaurant]
Waiter #1: [Harry looks at him puzzedly, doesn't move]
Waiter #1: [noticing Harry isn't following him] Come on, it's a heart attack!
Harry Callahan: [to Digorgio] Wait here.
Waiter #1: Make some room, please. Please move aside. Please, move aside, this is an emergency.
[Harry and the waiter continue into the restaurant]
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Brannigan (1975)

The dirtiest Harry of them all

This movie continues the tradition of Clint Eastwood making great movies. The Enforcer is not the best of the Dirty Harry films, but it isn't the worst of them either. (The Dead Pool is). Don't get me wrong, they are all great flicks and I enjoy all of them but there is a best to worst order to these movies. The Enforcer is filled with Harry's dry humor and tough talking dialogue. 1976 San Francisco is filmed beautifully and provides a great background as in all the Dirty Harrys. The music is suitably funky. A bit dated, but funky. Tyne Daly does a good job as Harry's spunky new partner. Tyne Daly wasn't bad lookin' in 1976 either. I'm sure Tyne misses those days. Bottom Line: Must have this movie to complete the Dirty Harry collection. It's a good tough-cop movie on it's own but I suggest getting all these films. Get the box set on DVD.