DVD Corner

Dirty Harry 4K UHD Review

“Dirty Harry” is a true classic.

Inspired by the Zodiac Killer and penned by Harry Julian Fink, Dean Riesner and R.M. Fink, 1971’s “Dirty Harry” is a police thriller that finds a crazed killer (Scorpio) terrorizing the citizens of San Francisco for ransom money. Police Inspector Harry Callahan and his rookie partner Chico are on the job to catch him, but Scorpio proves elusive. When he is caught, Scorpio is released back into the streets for a myriad of legal reasons. Disgusted, Harry (whose nickname is the titular Dirty Harry) decides to take the law into his own hands. 

Expertly directed by Don Siegel (who continually made great films with Clint Eastwood), “Dirty Harry” is one of those quintessential 70’s films that looks and feels dangerous and challenges the viewer. The gritty thriller explores deep subject matters which are still relevant to this day such as the deeply flawed legal system, police brutality, justice, human rights, and so forth. Harry himself is a fascinating anti-hero character who doesn’t always play by the rules and indeed questions his own job. He’s not a particularly likable person as he’s racist and violent, but he is honest and does have a heart. As we know from the franchise, he also has his own brand of justice. He’s the type of fascinating and complex cinematic character that audiences cannot get enough of. 

On the subject of Harry, Clint Eastwood is at the top of his game here in the title role. It’s one of those iconic characters he truly makes his own especially when it comes to delivering lines like “Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?” Andy Robinson (perhaps best known for “Hellraiser” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) also stands out here as the unhinged Scorpio. He’s a deeply unsettling villain from start to finish.

The cinematography by Bruce Surtees elevates the film as a whole. The San Francisco location shooting is really a character in and of itself in this film. Not only is it the setting, but it becomes both Harry and Scorpio’s playground as it were.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.40:1 2160p. How does it look? Taken from an 8K scan of the original camera negative, this Panavision/Technicolor film really pops on 4K. The print maintains the grain while also offering up sharper colors. This is well worth the upgrade. 

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Expect a clean and effective Atmos track.

Extras:
* Commentary by film critic Richard Schickel.
* Interviews with Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Urich.
* “Lensing Justice: The Cinematography Of Dirty Harry”- A new featurette.
* Digital copy
* “Generations And Dirty Harry”- The 2nd new extra covers the generational appeal of “Dirty Harry” via interviews.
* “American Masters Career Retrospective: Clint Eastwood: Out Of The Shadows”- Archival 86 minute documentary about Eastwood.
* “Clint Eastwood: The Man From Malpaso”- Another archival Eastwood documentary
* “Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy- Fighting For Justice”- A featurette on Clint Eastwood and the Harry Callahan character.
* “Dirty Harry’s Way”- A vintage featurette
* “Dirty Harry: The Original”- Another featurette that covers the Dirty Harry franchise, locations, and more.

April 28, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 70's Film, Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry, Dirty Harry 4K UHD Review, Don Siegel, Thriller Movie