Dirty Harry, starring the legendary Clint Eastwood, has to be one of the most iconic characters in film history. Eastwood truly brings the essence of Harry Callahan to life, delivering a gritty performance that captures the hero’s gruff, no nonsense ways and vigilante-style justice. In 1971, the same year Eastwood starred in Dirty Harry, Michael Caine was cast as the lead in a British motion picture called Get Carter, which carries many of the same themes.
Dirty Harry follows San Francisco Police Inspector ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan as he attempts to track down a psychotic serial killer called Scorpio. Harry is a man who believes in doing whatever it takes to catch the criminal, even if that means ignoring the mandated rules and regulations of a police officer. This puts him and his partners on the edge of the law, creating precariously dangerous situations. His new partner, Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni) realizes this, as one of Callahan’s former partners recovers in the hospital while the other is dead. Despite Callahan’s vigilante ways, he works well with Gonzalez and the duo follow the clues to track down the elusive Scorpio Killer (Andrew Robinson).
At times, Eastwood plays the role in quite a subdued manner, yet at others his powerful and almost caricatured persona comes to life with great zest. It is hard to argue with the man’s portrayal of this classic 70’s archetypal character, which is likely why Dirty Harry spawned four sequels.
Director Don Siegel’s Dirty Harry is a classic. The story, written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink is a perfect vehicle for the star, featuring a solid story with strong dialogue that mixes some great humour into the dark crime tale; whether it be Eastwood’s classic delivery of his famed .44 Magnum threat or a lesser known but equally entertaining running gag as to why Callahan has the nickname ‘Dirty’.
Lalo Schifrin’s musical score is very unique, and in its own way, brilliant. The unorthodox drum-work when the killer is on screen is highly memorable, while the eerie chorus that flows through some scenes gives us chills. Finally, the setting of the hilly San Francisco landscape adds a rich and colourful backdrop to the tale.
Get Carter has many of the same themes Dirty Harry has, yet the story unfolds quite differently. Written and directed by Mike Hodges, the film follows Jack Carter (Caine), a London mobster who returns to his hometown of Newcastle to attend his brother Frank’s funeral – it does not take long for Carter to realize that the death, by way of a drunken car crash, seems unlikely and rather mysterious.
This leads Carter to follow a number of complex and loose threads to try to figure out who killed his brother. He soon meets Frank’s daughter Doreen (Petra Markham) and his brother’s mistress Margaret (Dorothy White), setting up his base in her digs. He begins to traipse through the underbelly of the seedy underworld, which contains many sketchy characters including old acquaintances Albert Swift (Glynn Edwards) and Eric Paice (Ian Hendry), as well as crime boss Cyril Kinnear, (John Osborne) among others.
Throughout the film, Carter is tracked down, threatened and told to leave town by many-a-shady individual, including his gangster friends from London, who are afraid he may inadvertently start a mob war. All of these meetings come together to create a violent and highly memorable climax that feels like a counterpunch to the typical Hollywood finale.
This movie will shock some with its brutal violence, controversial sexuality and nudity – in a film that is now forty-five years old. Caine is excellent as the unstoppably driven yet flawed protagonist. Much like Eastwood, he concocts an edgy and memorable persona. As far as I can gather, one will also witness the first-ever amorous phone conversation to be put in a mainstream picture, which occurs between Carter and the London mob boss’s girlfriend Anna (Britt Ekland). The final reveal, where everything comes together and the plot is realized, may also stun some viewers.
Though the setting is very different in this offering, it is no less effective. The bleak and sooty shots of Newcastle, located in England’s north east, perfectly encapsulate the gritty themes of vengeance and the dark criminal world.
Dirty Harry and Get Carter are two excellent crime films that feature the theme of vigilante justice. The pair of stars show that they are both supreme actors that perform admirably in their respective roles. So, enjoy these two thrillers; that is, if you feel lucky. Well – do ya, punk!