SUDDEN IMPACT (1983)

MORGAN'S RATING

A vicious serial killer is on the loose in San Francisco and the police trace a link to a small town further down the coast. When Harry Callahan upsets the press and the mayor in his usual style, he's shipped out of town to investigate while the heat is on. With the help of his new Magnum handgun, Harry goes on the trial leaving behind the usual trail of dead criminals along the way.

Clint Eastwood (Inspector 'Dirty Harry' Callahan), Sondra Locke (Jennifer Spencer), Pat Hingle (Chief Lester Jannings), Bradford Dillman (Capt. Briggs), Paul Drake (Mick), Aurie J. Neena (Ray Parkins), Jack Thibeau (Kruger), Michael Currie (Lt. Donnelly), Albert Popwell (Horace King), Mark Keyloun (Officer Bennett), Kevyn Major Howard (Ed Hawkins), Bette Ford (Leah), Nancy Parsons (Mrs. Kruger), Joe Bellan (Burly detective), Wendell Wellman (Tyrone), Mara Corday (Coffee Shop Waitress), Russ McCubbin (Eddie), Robert Sutton (Carl), Nancy Fish (Historical Society Woman), Carmen Argenziano (Attorney D'Ambrosia), Lisa Britt (Elizabeth Spencer), Bill Reddick (Police Commissioner), Lois De Banzie (Judge), Matthew Child (Alby Jannings), Michael Johnson, Nick Dimitri (Assassins), Michael Maurer (George Wilburn), Pat DuVal (Baliff), Christian Phillips, Steven Kravitz (Hawkins' Cronies), Dennis Royston, Melvin Thompson, Jophery C. Brown, Bill Upton (Young Guys), Lloyd Nelson (Desk Sergeant), Chris Pray (Det. Jacobs), James McEachin (Det. Barnes), Maria Lynch (Hostess), Ken Lee (Loomis).

DIRTY HARRY IS AT IT AGAIN.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood (True Crime). WRITERS: Charles B. Pierce, Earl S. Smith and Joseph Stinson, and based on the characters created by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink. PRODUCER: Clint Eastwood. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Steve Perry. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Fritz Manes. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Lalo Schifrin. DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.

QUOTES

Harry: Listen, punk. To me you're nothin' but dogshit, you understand? And a lot of things can happen to dogshit. It can be scraped up with a shovel off the ground. It can dry up and blow away in the wind. Or it can be stepped on and squashed. So take my advice and be careful where the dog shits ya!

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: December 9th, 1983 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: November 20th, 2001 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $9.6 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $67.6 million (USA) - This film was Sondra Locke's last costarring role with Clint Eastwood. - Albert Popwell, who plays Harry's friend Horace, played villains in the three previous Harry Callahan movies -- Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973) and The Enforcer (1976). - The source of the phrase, "Go ahead, make my day." It was originally said by actor Gary Swanson in the 1982 movie Vice Squad, who played a Hollywood vice cop, said the line, "Go ahead scumbag, make my day," to actor Wings Hauser, who played a pimp. - Clint Eastwood is seen wearing Gargoyles sunglasses, which would later resurface in The Terminator (1984). - The scene where Callahan chases the robber in the senior citizen bus was filmed at and around the Pacific Garden Mall in Santa Cruz, California. This area was heavily damaged in teh Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989. Many of the buildings in this scene had to be razed, due to extensive earthquake damage. - The handgun used by Harry Callahan, the .44 automag, was extremely difficult to acquire. Th studio eventually went to the gun's designer who, although retired, had enough parts in his basement to build two guns for the production. They were serial numbered "Clint 1" and "Clint 2". One was modified to function with blanks for use in the film, the other was left in its original configuration so that Eastwood could fire it at a pistol range to familiarize himself with its function. - The production company had to keep a diver on the set during the filming of the climactic scene filmed on a pier in which Callahan shoots the bad guy. When the gun would jam, which it did frequently, Eastwood could in a fit of rage throw the gun a considerable distance into the water. The driver would retrieve the gun, which would be dried out, repaired, and reloaded for the next take. - Followed by a sequel: The Dead Pool (1988).

Harry: Nobody, but nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog anymore!

Harry: We're not just going to let you walk out of here. Crook: Who's "we", sucker? Harry: Smith, and Wesson, and me.

Harry: Go ahead, make my day.

Ray Parkins: I'll make your face have its first period.

Police Commissioner: Inspector, your methods are unconventional to say the least. Of, you get results. But often your successes are more costly to this department in terms of expenses and physical destruction than most other men's failures.

Captain Briggs: Don't you lecture me, you son of a bitch! Do you know who I am? Do you know my record? Harry: Yeah...you're a legend in your own mind.

Harry; Do you know the emergency phone number for San Francisco General? Well, why don't you call them right now and have them send down an ambulance. Tell them there's two sorry-looking assholes here with multiple contusions and various abrasions and broken bones.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Eastwood's new catch word is "swell," the body count is higher than ever, he's honed his snarl to perfection, and the ending is straight out of High Noon." -- John J. Puccio, DVDTown.com

"Probably Sondra Locke's best performance." -- Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scrope

"Worth watching, just for THEE line." -- Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

"Same bag of tricks, but fans will like a look all the same." -- Clint Morris, Moviehole

"The worst of the Dirty Harry films, made even more excruciating by Sondra Lock's presence. Fans of the series will find several worthwhile moments, however." -- Brian McKay, EFilmCritic.com