Dirty Harry Movies and the Model 29...

PALADIN85020 · Oct 18, 2013

Who could forget that immortal line from the original 1971 film "Dirty Harry," where Clint Eastwood portrayed that iconic lawman, Inspector Harry Callahan? The fictional Callahan managed to fight his way to victory over the bad guys, first armed with a 6 1/2"-barreled Model 29 Smith & Wesson. On the way, he bent most of the rules and broke dozens more. The initial movie was an instant hit, and propelled the Model 29 to superstar status in the firearms world. For years, it was a hard-to-get item as Smith & Wesson worked hard to keep up with demand.

I'm one of the fans of the Dirty Harry series of movies, and have them all on DVD. When I need a dose of good guy wins over bad guy, I break out one of these:

Dirty Harry - 1971

Magnum Force - 1973

The Enforcer - 1976

Sudden Impact - 1983

The Dead Pool - 1988

Of course, Eastwood starred as Callahan in each of these movies, and he was supported by some fine actors, a number of which are no longer with us.

Dirty Harry will outlive Clint Eastwood for sure, and that character will always be his touchstone role. The series was brilliant moviemaking, and fun to watch even 42 years after the first one was screened. They had villains you loved to hate, and seeing Harry prevail over them with his lopsided "war face" and then a victory grin is always a treat...

John

bad2006z71 · Oct 18, 2013

Magnum Force was my favorite.

Have them all on blu ray, and the transfer was done very well. The films look great.

M29since14 · Oct 18, 2013

It would be fun to know just how that character ever came about. Someone (writer, director, ???) had to be a revolver fan who knew about the 44 Magnum and figured it would be a handy prop for their movie-making. Of course they picked the perfect actor to carry it off.

PALADIN85020 · Oct 18, 2013

M29since14 said:
It would be fun to know just how that character ever came about. Someone (writer, director, ???) had to be a revolver fan who knew about the 44 Magnum and figured it would be a handy prop for their movie-making. Of course they picked the perfect actor to carry it off.

The original script, titled Dead Right, was by Harry Julian and Rita M. Fink. It was to be about a tough NYC cop trying to stop a serial killer.

John Milius was asked to work on the script. Milius claimed he was requested to write the screenplay in three weeks; he wrote his first draft in 21 days. He specifically asked for a Model 29 to examine first, and wrote it into the script.

Incidentally, Frank Sinatra was first picked for the role, but had hurt his hand and couldn't do it. John Wayne then refused the role, saying the movie was too violent and portrayed a rogue cop, which would have hurt his image. He later did his own cop movie, "McQ."

John

Hapworth · Oct 18, 2013

M29since14 said:
It would be fun to know just how that character ever came about. Someone (writer, director, ???) had to be a revolver fan who knew about the 44 Magnum and figured it would be a handy prop for their movie-making. Of course they picked the perfect actor to carry it off.

Search: John Milius.

EDIT:

Paladin beat me to it...

W.E.G. · Oct 18, 2013

So was the first Dirty Harry movie filmed with a Model 29 or was it actually a Model 57?

"I gots to know."

M29since14 · Oct 18, 2013

Hey, thanks for that. It turned out for the best. I can't see either Sinatra or Wayne being as successful in that role.

rdcl · Oct 18, 2013

M29since14 said:
I can't see either Sinatra or Wayne being as successful in that role.

Me either. Apparently the studio did have a poster made up while Sinatra was still involved.

Ivan the Butcher · Oct 18, 2013

I saw Dirty Harry or my 15th birthday. My folks were out of town, so my brother and his wife took me. Growing up around guns, Harry was not a shock, but being a kid from the mid-west, "Alice" sure was! Ivan

mc5aw · Oct 18, 2013

Andy Robinson has never gotten enough credit for his chilling performance as Scorpio.

JPriest · Oct 18, 2013

mc5aw said:
Andy Robinson has never gotten enough credit for his chilling performance as Scorpio.

I agree, probably one of the creepiest most twisted and pathetic bad guys in movie history.

mkk41 · Oct 18, 2013

W.E.G. said:
So was the first Dirty Harry movie filmed with a Model 29 or was it actually a Model 57?

"I gots to know."

Oh no!!! Not this again!!!

It was a .45 Colt Mod.25!

So the muzzle hole looked bigger!

That's what the guy at the gunshop said when I bought my 25.

I didn't argue.

PALADIN85020 · Oct 18, 2013

mkk41 said:
Oh no!!! Not this again!!!

It was a .45 Colt Mod.25! So the muzzle hole looked bigger!

That's what the guy at the gunshop said when I bought my 25.

I didn't argue.

Both the .41 and .45 Colt models are simply gunshop rumors. The gun(s) used for the film was in fact a .44 Model 29, although a rubber dummy gun was used for the scene where he drops the gun near the Coit Tower and Scorpio remarks "My, that's a big one." The actor who played Scorpio (Andy Robinson) ad-libbed that remark and they kept it in the movie. An 8 3/8" Model 29 was used for some of the publicity pictures and posters.

Remember, Model 29s were not in short supply until AFTER the movie was released. There was no need to substitute some other look-alike gun.

John

snubbyfan · Oct 18, 2013

While at the NRA museum, I just had to get a picture of the "Dirty Harry" guns. Including the rubber stand in model 29.

rwsmith · Oct 18, 2013

When was that scene....

The scene where the bad guy is trying to run up the stairs and Harry shoots, kind of implying that he hit the guy in some private part.

Hack · Oct 18, 2013

Best not often quoted line in Dirty Harry:

Harry Callahan: Yeah, I've been following him... on my own time. And anybody can tell I didn't do that to him.

Chief: How?

Harry Callahan: Cause he looks too damn good, that's how!

Hapworth · Oct 18, 2013

Dirty Harry has a lot of classic lines -- some quite famous, as we know -- but also some real gems that slip by; my favorite:

District Attorney: I've got a wife and three kids. I don't want him on the streets any more than you do.

Harry: Well, he won't be out there long...

Yep, Harry basically just told the DA he's going to go kill the suspect.

cavsix · Oct 18, 2013

So, who played thr role of "Hot Mary"??

Grayfox · Oct 18, 2013

Anybody remember this? Quite a hit in its day.

Make My Day

Rick Bowles · Oct 18, 2013

Does anyone remember when a Randall knife was mentioned in a Dirty Harry film?

Dirty Harry Movies and the Model 29...

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