This is often considered to be the weakest of the Dirty Harry series, but it does still manage to deliver action and violence. Having just completed The Outlaw Josey Wales, Clint Eastwood had plans to direct The Enforcer himself, but instead gave James Fargo a chance in the director's chair. Fargo had worked as an assistant director on many of Clint's previous films, as well as on Steven Spielberg's Duel and The Sugarland Express. Fargo was blown away at the opportunity, but kind of hesitant to take on the job because the movie was quickly rushed into production.
Fargo's account of the story really pay off in this third entry of the franchise: an entertaining rooftop chase, a shootout at the famous Alcatraz prison, and more character development of Harry Callahan. This time, he is reluctantly teamed with an eager beaver police Inspector Kate Moore (Tyne Daly) to nab a gang of ruthless militants terrorizing the city. The characters really shine through, we see a final portrayal of Harry's comic-relief, but tough-as-nails former partner Frank DiGorgio (played by John Mitchum) and the smarmy, no-nonsense Captain McKay (Bradford Dillman), who Harry strongly dislikes. Harry Guardino also reprises his role as Lt. Bressler from the first film, but his character isn't given much to do than serve as yes-man for McKay and trading zingers with Harry from his office. The script actually adds a lot of humor which was mostly absent from the first two films, including a man who fakes a heart attack in a restaurant to get a free meal and ambulance ride and a random scene where Callahan stumbles upon a porno movie crew shooting a stag film inside an apartment.
All in all, this is still an entertaining sequel, even if it does play like a TV movie with some healthy doses of R-rated violence and (surprisingly full-frontal) nudity.
Fargo's account of the story really pay off in this third entry of the franchise: an entertaining rooftop chase, a shootout at the famous Alcatraz prison, and more character development of Harry Callahan. This time, he is reluctantly teamed with an eager beaver police Inspector Kate Moore (Tyne Daly) to nab a gang of ruthless militants terrorizing the city. The characters really shine through, we see a final portrayal of Harry's comic-relief, but tough-as-nails former partner Frank DiGorgio (played by John Mitchum) and the smarmy, no-nonsense Captain McKay (Bradford Dillman), who Harry strongly dislikes. Harry Guardino also reprises his role as Lt. Bressler from the first film, but his character isn't given much to do than serve as yes-man for McKay and trading zingers with Harry from his office. The script actually adds a lot of humor which was mostly absent from the first two films, including a man who fakes a heart attack in a restaurant to get a free meal and ambulance ride and a random scene where Callahan stumbles upon a porno movie crew shooting a stag film inside an apartment.
All in all, this is still an entertaining sequel, even if it does play like a TV movie with some healthy doses of R-rated violence and (surprisingly full-frontal) nudity.