In Magnum Force, on his way back from court following his acquittal for mass murder, guilty mobster Carmine Ricca and his associates are killed in Ricca’s limousine. The killer is a San Francisco motorcycle policeman, who guns them down in broad daylight.
A short while later, further murders of known criminals take place, with each committed by a traffic cop. All of the deaths follow a similar pattern, but there are no witnesses and no usable evidence to pinpoint a suspect.
However, after investigating one of the crime scenes, Inspector Harry Callahan begins to suspect the murderer is a policeman. But as more bodies mount up, Callahan questions whether this is a lone killer cop, or perhaps a posse of perpetrators who are taking the law into their own hands.
Directed by Ted Post and starring Clint Eastwood, Felton Perry, Hal Holbrook, David Soul, Tim Matheson and Robert Urich, Magnum Force is neo-noir action-thriller. The movie is the second instalment in the Dirty Harry movie series, and originally arrived in cinemas back in 1973, just two years after its predecessor.
Is it as good as Dirty Harry? I’d say it is.
When it comes to Magnum Force, this Dirty Harry sequel is surprisingly strong. Rather than just provide a complete rehash of what came before, this second instalment serves up a new twist on the established formula and this helps to keep things fresh.
Whereas Dirty Harry was a story about a cop who had no issues breaking rules, so long as it was for the greater good; this time around the movie demonstrates what happens when that rule breaking goes too far. However, it’s not ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan who is crossing the line this time around, it’s a troupe of motorcycle cops who don’t just cross the line, they actively go out of their way to commit murder.
With the cops becoming killers in Magnum Force, the character of Callahan is somewhat repositioned. He’s still a no-nonsense officer, who will shoot first and ask questions later, but he’s far from the vigilante that his colleagues have become.
This is an interesting new dynamic for the film series, because while Callahan has issues with bureaucracy (and his direct superiors), he still leans more toward the lawful side of his job, rather than away from it. But in the case of the killer cops, they have given up on bureaucracy altogether, and see themselves as judge, jury, and executioner.
This creates an interesting juxtaposition between Callahan and the villains of this tale. Callahan and the rogue cops aren’t too dissimilar in their distaste for criminals, but they are not cut from the same cloth.
There’s a key moment in the movie, where Callahan and the cops spend time together at a shooting range, and it seems for a while he admires them and vice versa. This admiration soon breaks down, when it becomes evident they operate in very different ways, but it is fun to see how closely linked they are.
In terms of the killer cops, Magnum Force makes them cold and calculating, and while this group of characters don’t often show too much personality, there are a couple of moments here where audiences get to see the façade they present to the outside world. It’s during moments like this, where actors David Soul and Tim Matheson (two members of the group) are able to offer a few hints at who these guys really are, and how far removed from society they have become.
However, as with Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood is the main draw in Magnum Force and he continues to excel in the role, bringing his star power with him. Eastwood is incredibly cool in the picture, and he remains a very eye-catching screen presence.
The actor is also backed up by some great scenes, including a superb sequence early into the picture, in which Callahan has to stop a plane from being hijacked. It is a fun scene, which allows Eastwood to get a few laughs from the situation, especially when he fakes his way on board.
While this scene isn’t as iconic as any of the big moments depicted in Dirty Harry, it is no less enjoyable – and the same can be said for the film as a whole. Magnum Force has a slightly different sheen than Dirty Harry, but the film still has an edge, and it continuously delivers.
Some may say Magnum Force is not as strong as Dirty Harry, but I respectfully disagree. The story is engaging, Eastwood is on fine form, and the central message about corruption comes through clear.
By offering an alternate take on the idea of cops operating outside of the law, Magnum Force is able to show a different stance to the story, and a different facet to Callahan’s personality. This ensures both the movie and the character remain relatively fresh, while at the same time still bringing the fun and the grit.
Should you wish to check out Magnum Force, the movie is available to buy through all major digital platforms. Magnum Force is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, including as part of the Dirty Harry collection boxset which can be purchased through entertainment retailers including Amazon US and Amazon UK.
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment