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Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Bradford Dillman, John Mitchum, DeVeren Bookwalter ... see more see more... , Tyne Daly , John Crawford , Bill Ackridge , Robert Behling , Joe Bellan , Samantha Doane , Dick Durock , Chuck Hicks , Robert Hoy , Jocelyn Jones , M.G. Kelly , Will MacMillian , Terry McGovern , Albert Popwell , Rudy Ramos , John Roselius , Jerry Walter , Michael Cavanaugh , Fritz Manes , Brian Fong , Jan Stratton , Bill Jelliffe , Nick Pellegrino

Number three in the Dirty Harry series, The Enforcer equips macho cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) with a female assistant, Kate Moore (Tyne Daly). Their quarry is a terrorist organization which ha... read more read more...s kidnapped the mayor of San Francisco (John Crawford). Harry goes undercover, attempting to root out the terrorists by beating up anybody who looks at him cross-eyed. When Harry and Kate discover that the mayor is being held at Alcatraz Island, it is only a matter of time before the climactic bloodbath. The Enforcer cleared enough at the box office to warrant yet another Dirty Harry opus, Sudden Impact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

60% liked it

14,904 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

26 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: James Fargo

Release Date: January 1, 1976

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DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001

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Stats: 683 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (683)

  • SajinPA
    June 14, 2011
    SajinPA
    In this third installment of the franchise, Callahan is partnered with a female cop, much to his annoyance.
    This movie may be considered a little light-hearted in comparison with other Dirty Harry movies,mainly due to the comic tension between Harry and his new partner. (Let me ... read morerepeat, the term "light-hearted" to be taken only in context with other Harry movies). Beside that tiny pinch of comic relief, everything else pretty much follows the same routine as the previous movies. Eastwood's charisma alone carries the day.
  • moonrivers
    April 21, 2011
    moonrivers
    Vietnam vets/ hippie extremists, planning to "stick it to the man", are plumb surprised when they discover they've got to go through dirty harry first. The stereotypes of the times alone make this historical artifact entertaining.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 15, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Terrific third entry in the Dirty Harry franchis follows Harry Callahan on the trail of a group of radical terrorists terrorizing San Francisco. Usually by the third entry in a franchise things start to slow down. This isn't the case The Enforcer is yet another pulse pounding act... read moreion film. The plot of the film seems at times overdone, but it still works do to the fact that the film is packed the action that everyone has come to expect from a Dirty Harry film. As one fellow reviewer pointed out, the plot is silly, and I agree. In a way, this is what makes the film so much fun, it's level of silliness. One cop against a team of terrorists. The Enforcer should deliver enough to please the most diehard fans of the series, and it does. Even with the fact that it navigates familiar ground, what do you really expect from a Dirty Harry film? This third entry is a good idea for a story, and Harry Callahan briefly has a partner, fellow cop Kate Moore played by actress Tyne Daly. The thing that I love about this series is that despite it somewhat simple plot ideas for films, the films themselves are very entertaining and action packed. I enjoyed The Enforcer and I thought it was like every other film in the series, action packed, fun and thrilling. With Dirty Harry and his monster 44 Magnum you know that the bad guys never do last long. Fans of the first two will thoroughly enjoy this third entry. But to be fair I personally thought it was a step down from Magnum Force, but it does deliver the thrills the coolest one liners and terrific action. A solid third entry in this series. Thought this one is very good it's follow up, Sudden Impact is an improvement as it it's a more serious film. The Enforcer had an implausible plot, but what saved it was the traditional elements that make a Dirty Harry film worth watching. A must for the fans.
  • shawnewing92
    March 14, 2011
    shawnewing92
    I found this film at a slight disappointment compared to the first two dirty harry films. It is still a solid film with decent action but the story felt short and uninteresting.
  • sanjurosamurai
    June 28, 2010
    sanjurosamurai
    the dirty harry series is just so consistent. part of that might be because the stripped down elements of each film are essentially the same, but the films are just so entertaining, well paced, and tightly edited. they arent among the great cop films of all time as their reputa... read moretion would lead one to believe, but they are all very good and fun to watch on a chill evening. this one has a few elements of silliness, but overall is a very worthwhile classic cop action flick.
  • ythelastman89
    January 26, 2010
    ythelastman89
    It really is a sort of letdown from the first two, but I think it's mainly due to the fact that the plot was a little too silly. Clint Eastwood really makes the movie, so if you're invested with his character it's still fun. I think that most of the subplots in the film actually ... read morewould've made for better stories, but it was interesting to see nonetheless.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 8, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Clint Eastwood Movies truly steals my attention in the Movies, no matter Clint Eastwood Directed ones or himself in the Movie.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    I used to have such a crush on Tyne Daly. I remember seeing this on TV in the 80's and crying at the end. 'Why did he have to shoot Lacey?', oh dear, it?s all coming back now...
  • stormyweather980
    August 16, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I love how every Dirty Harry has an interesting premise and then delivers on the action, crime, and drama as you expect them to. This time Eastwood's paired with a female sidekick, whereas in one of the others, a female was the murderer. Not the best Dirty Harry (from what I reme... read morember, it was my least favorite of them - I'll know better once I purchase them all), but still great!
  • sononothing
    June 9, 2008
    sononothing
    Dirty Harry vs. Terrorist Hippies. Things start to slip in this third installment with Harry getting a female partner (played by Tyne Daly).
    Things started to go stale with this one I'm afraid, though Eastwood still is Dirty Harry. Harry's partner gets killed leads to revenge, l... read moreeads to the mayor being kidnapped, leads to stuff blowing up. A descent flick, but not up to the standards of the first two.

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Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio
May 21, 2010
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...lacks a strong, clearly defined villainous presence. Still, Eastwood's flinty-eyed stare and snarling lip are more than enough. Full Review

Pete Vonder Haar
October 28, 2005
Pete Vonder Haar, Film Threat

Finally, we know Lacey's secret past...she was killed in the line of duty

Dennis Schwartz
September 11, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A series that has become too familiar using the same old formula. Full Review

Steve Crum
June 12, 2005
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Dirty Harry has a female partner...briefly. Blasting action.

Scott Weinberg
April 2, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Dirty Harry keeps knocking 'em down in entertaining fashion.

Carol Cling
January 21, 2005
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Dirty Harry confronts women's lib ... and Eastwood demonstrates his feminist affinities once again.

Jonathan R. Perry
November 8, 2004
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

A grim, gutsy, perversely satisfying shot of machismo from an era when action heroes were action heroes -- not a little boy's idea of an action hero.

Brian Mckay
March 22, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

A solid third installment in the DIRTY HARRY series. Tyne Daly excellent as the flustered but competent female partner. Great final showdown with terrorists on Alcatraz.

Gary Brown
November 28, 2002
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers

For Eastwood fans only, third of five in the Dirty Harry series, but hardening of the arteries began to set in with one.

Steve Rhodes
December 3, 2001
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

The best part of the Dirty Harry movies is Harry's signature sarcasm. Full Review

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The Enforcer Trivia

  • In Tim Burton's Batman, The Joker is revealed to be a crime boss' enforcer named Jack Napier. In the comics, what is the Jokers' real name?  Answer »
  • is a dead-end, "bottom of the barrel" Italian-American from South Philadelphia, who is going nowhere in life. He works days as an enforcer for a loan shark and as a boxer at night. stallone when he can act  Answer »
  • Which Chinese actor starred in "The Enforcer"?  Answer »
  • Which action star past or present was selected as the special enforcer and actually kicked Jeff Jarrett in the 1994 Survivor Series?  Answer »
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