Sudden Impact (1983)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

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

Release Date:

9 December 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Two killers are at large. One of them is Dirty Harry. [Video]

Plot:

A rape victim is exacting revenge on her agressors in a small town outside San Francisco. Dirty Harry, on suspension for angering his superiors (again), is assigned to the case.

Plot Keywords:

Criminal | Dirty Harry | Rape | Police | Revenge

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Harry Callahan
Sondra Locke	...	Jennifer Spencer
Pat Hingle	...	Chief Jannings
Bradford Dillman	...	Captain Briggs
Paul Drake	...	Mick
Audrie Neenan	...	Ray Parkins (as Audrie J. Neenan)
Jack Thibeau	...	Kruger
Michael Currie	...	Lt. Donnelly
Albert Popwell	...	Horace King
Mark Keyloun	...	Officer Bennett
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Hawkins
Bette Ford	...	Leah
Nancy Parsons	...	Mrs. Kruger
Joe Bellan	...	Burly Detective
Wendell Wellman	...	Tyrone
Mara Corday	...	Loretta - Coffee Shop Waitress
Russ McCubbin	...	Eddie
Robert Sutton	...	Carl
Nancy Fish	...	Historical Society Woman
Carmen Argenziano	...	D'Ambrosia
Lisa Britt	...	Elizabeth
Bill Reddick	...	Police Commissioner
Lois De Banzie	...	Judge (as Lois de Banzie)
Matthew Child	...	Alby
Mike Johnson	...	Assassin (as Michael Johnson)
Nick Dimitri	...	Assassin
Michael Maurer	...	George Wilburn
Pat DuVal	...	Bailiff
Christian Phillips	...	Hawkin's Crony
Steven Kravitz	...	Hawkin's Crony
Dennis Royston	...	Young Guy
Melvin Thompson	...	Young Guy
Jophery C. Brown	...	Young Guy (as Jophery Brown)
William Upton	...	Young Guy (as Bill Upton)
Lloyd Nelson	...	Desk Sergeant
Christopher Pray	...	Detective Jacobs
James McEachin	...	Detective Barnes
Maria Lynch	...	Hostess
Ken Lee	...	Loomis
Morgan Upton	...	Bartender
John X. Heart	...	Uniform Policeman
David Gonzales	...	Gang Member
Albert Martinez	...	Gang Member
David Rivers	...	Gang Member
Robert Rivers	...	Gang Member
Harry Demopoulos M.D.	...	Dr. Barton
Lisa London	...	Young Hooker
Tom Spratley	...	Senior Man
Eileen Wiggins	...	Hysterical Female Customer
John Nowak	...	Bank Robber
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bleifer	...	Old Man on Tour Bus (uncredited)
Christine Card	...	Dancer at Wedding (uncredited)
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Threlkis (uncredited)
Camryn Manheim	...	Girl in Elevator (uncredited)
Dihlon McManne	...	Cop (uncredited)
Meathead	...	Bull Dog (uncredited)

Directed by
Clint Eastwood

Writing credits
Harry Julian Fink		(characters) and
Rita M. Fink		(characters) (as R.M. Fink)
Joseph Stinson		(screenplay) (as Joseph C. Stinson)
Earl E. Smith		(story) &
Charles B. Pierce		(story)
Dean Riesner		uncredited

Produced by
Clint Eastwood	....	producer
Fritz Manes	....	executive producer
Steve Perry	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joel Cox

Production Design by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)

Set Decoration by
Ernie Bishop

Makeup Department
Barbara Guedel	....	makeup artist (as Barbara Guedell)
Marlene D. Williams	....	hair stylist (as Marlene Williams)

Production Management
Steve Perry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Moen	....	second assistant director
David Valdes	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master (as Eddie Aiona)
Bob Lawless	....	stand-by painter
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Bub Asman	....	sound effects editor
Les Fresholtz	....	re-recording mixer
Robert G. Henderson	....	sound effects editor (as Bob Henderson)
Donald F. Johnson	....	sound mixer (as Don Johnson)
Alan Robert Murray	....	sound effects editor
Vern Poore	....	re-recording mixer
Jules Strasser	....	boom man
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson)

Special Effects by
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects

Stunts
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunts (as Christine Baur)
Jadie David	....	stunts (as Jade David)
Scott Dockstader	....	stunts
Jerry Gatlin	....	stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts
Kristy Horak	....	stunts
Jack Lilley	....	stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunts
Fritz Manes	....	stunts
Paula Marie Moody	....	stunts (as Paula Moody)
George Orrison	....	stunts
Debby Porter	....	stunts
Al Silvani	....	stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator (as Wayne VanHorn)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts
George Orrison	....	stunt double: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Ayer	....	bestboy
Kirk Bales	....	dolly grip (as Kirk E. Bales)
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator (as Jack Green)
Jeff Miller	....	camera assistant
Marsha Reed	....	still photographer
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
Bruce D. Spellman	....	second grip (as Bruce Spellman)
Tom Stern	....	gaffer
Johnny Walker	....	camera assistant (as John Walker)

Casting Department
Marion Dougherty	....	casting executive

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Darryl M. Athons	....	wardrobe: men (as Darryl Athons)
Sue Moore	....	wardrobe: women
Glenn Wright	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
John Morrisey	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Donald Harris	....	music editor
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Keith Dillin	....	transportation captain
Cliff Hill	....	transportation coordinator
H. William Miller	....	transportation captain (as Bill Miller)

Other crew
Marco Barla	....	unit publicist
Paul A. Calabria	....	animal handler (as Paul Calabria)
Judie Hoyt	....	assistant to producers
Linda Sony Kinney	....	production secretary (as Linda Sony)
Michael Maurer	....	auditor
Lloyd Nelson	....	script supervisor
Jim Porter	....	first aid
Rik Converse	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Malpaso Company, The (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. A Warner Communications Company)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1984) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (1998) (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanvideo (1980s) (Finland) (video)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (deluxe edition)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (2009) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Tony's Food Service  catering

Also Known As:

"Dirty Harry 4" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | USA:R (certificate #27193) | Sweden:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1993) | Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1984) | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) | Australia:M (TV rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | South Korea:18 | UK:18 (tv rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2008) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Italy:VM18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | France:-12 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 (re-rating) (heavily cut) | UK:18 | West Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1988) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1984-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

1000-1600 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Clint Eastwood is seen wearing Gargoyles sunglasses, which would later surface in The Terminator (1984).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Callahan is attacked by the four Mafia hit men, they start firing at a wooden box they suppose Harry is hiding in. One of them fakes shooting a pistol, mimicking the recoil, as it is clear that the gun doesn't fire at all.

Quotes:

Ray Parkins:Why don't you suck my ass with a straw!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Waxwork (1988)

Soundtrack:

THIS SIDE OF FOREVER

Clint doing what he does best..

A rape victim is going around, bumping off her attackers one by one, having been denied justice originally. A rather unconventional detective, Callahan is put on the case.. but whose side will he take?

This is one of the most brutal films I've seen in quite some time. Virtually every scene seems to be a set-up for some punks to make the mistake of annoying our hero, who then proceeds to beat the living daylights out of them, or simply blows their heads off. I am 100% convinced that if any serving officer did what the Eastwood character gets away with in this film, he would not only be stripped of his badge, but also be looking at a considerable stretch in prison. Another striking aspect of the picture is the violence used against the fairer sex. The female cast members get punched in the face, kicked when on they're on the ground.. And that doesn't even include the constant flashbacks we get of Sondra Locke's sexual assault ordeal (We get one every time she carries out one of her revenge attacks on her aggressors). The misogyny displayed on screen is incredible and is unlikely to endear itself to anyone concerned about domestic violence.

So why am I recommending it? Well for a start, the film is well directed, with some very exciting gunfights and car chases which will keep you on the edge of your seat. But the main reason for watching is Clint himself, the evergreen icon giving us another classy performance as a veteran cop who might not share the ethics of the modern police force, but tends to do the job 10x better than his colleagues who do it all 'by the book'. If only we had someone like that here in Britain, perhaps this country wouldn't be the crime hotspot it is these days.. 6/10