Product Details

• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Mitch Ryan, David Soul, Tim Matheson
• Directors: Ted Post
• Writers: Harry Julian Fink, John Milius, Michael Cimino, Rita M. Fink
• Producers: Robert Daley
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Run Time: 124 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0790751208
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,425 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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• This is item 2 in The Dirty Harry Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This first sequel to Dirty Harry was written by a couple of strong voices, writer-directors Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter) and John Milius (Farewell to the King). But that doesn't mean the film is particularly good. After Don Siegel's ferociously dark style in the first movie, Ted Post's blocky, television-ish direction in Magnum Force is a huge letdown. The story doesn't win any prizes, either. Eastwood's San Francisco detective Harry Callahan (apparently having retrieved his badge after throwing it away at the end of Dirty Harry) takes on a vigilante squad within the city's police force. David Soul is pretty convincing as the major spokesman for these right-wing avengers. Eastwood, on the other hand, had already turned Callahan from fascinating outsider in Siegel's film to purveyor of tough-guy shtick in this one. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Dirty Harry Sequel, May 24, 2004

By	classicmoviefan (Rancho Mirage, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magnum Force (DVD)

Okay... before I begin, I must tell you I am a bit prejudice. I actually saw a scene from this movie being filmed. I lived in San Francisco and in 1973 was walking up the hill to Lafayette Park as they shot some scenes in a high rise apartment building.
I was fascinated as they shot the scene over and over to get the "tension" just right.

Now it is on DVD 30 years later. It has never looked better. Color corrected true wide screen picture, and a soundtrack that is crystal clear.

2 of the vigilante officers are played to perfection by "pre-Starsky" David Soul and, in his first role, the late Robert Urich. The scene in the darkened garage is still powerful in it's quiet threatening tone. It is SO CLEAR the cops enjoy wearing their elegant uniforms and tall boots, leather creaking and chrome gleaming in the dark... an awesome and memorable moment when those who are sent to protect and defend, go over the edge so confidently, quietly and in their minds, logically. It is still very frightening.

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's More Than a Movie, It's a Way Of Life, October 23, 2004

By	SirGeorgeMartini "ElDorado" (Chihuahua Legs, Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magnum Force (DVD)

"Magnum Force" is a threatening, yet humorous story that begins with the malleable premise that three highway patrol officers (recent graduates from the police academy) are excellent marksman, as well as skillful motorcyclists who wear Gestapo styled uniforms and mirrored shades. With Vitalis enhanced, combed back hair and jibbering German, Robert Urich does a convincing Joseph Goebbels while Tim Matheson and David Soul do the goosestep. Callahan suspects something is wrong when his boss (Hal Holbrook) orders the wacky trio of vigilantes to a parking garage to kill him.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT AS GOOD AS THE FIRST, BUT A WORTHY SEQUEL!, July 28, 2007

By	! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b "DR SHOCK" (TRI STATE AREA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magnum Force (DVD)

The second installment in the "Dirty Harry" series is very good (4 1/2 STARS). In some ways it reminded me of a good TV movie. This could be due to David Soul(Starsky), Robert Urich(Vegas)and Susan Summers(Threes Company)appearing in brief roles and that 70' movie soundtrack music. The story is interesting and we see Clint Eastwood playing it a little more tongue and cheek in this one(posing as an overseas airline pilot). Which is a good thing because you can't take this stuff too seriously. I like all the "Dirty Harry" films and I am sure where I ranked this one as I am watching them all again as I review them. I have seen them all several times, but I am watching them on DVD in my Home theater and there is a huge difference seeing these films on a big screen. If I had one complaint with this movie it was too easy to figure out the killers. The DVD transfer looks good and there are some extras on the disc.