By: Bakri Baharom [email protected] /www.polimas.edu.my/ 019-488-1430 16 April 2014 designed & edited by: Azlida Ahmad (PTSS) I am neither a film critic nor a film addict, but I enjoy The film kicked off with an assassin taking a shot at a young watching films at times. During my secondary school days (1972 - lady swimming in a pool from the rooftop. Using a hand-gun with 1977), through its Cinema Club the school would screen films every telescopic lens made targets an easy prey. First responders to the fortnight. The juniors (Form 1 - 3) would watch on Friday night while scene were a team of forensic and detectives, while the shooter the seniors (Form 4 - 6), the next night. There were all English films. made an escape. The lady was pronounced dead. Inspector Callahan Among the most memorable ones were Dracula played by Peter scouted the possible location of the shooter only to find an empty Cushing (1913 – 1994) who scared us out of our wits. We enjoyed bullet casing and a note by the killer: very much the cowboy as well as the cartoon films. My all-time favourites from then till now were Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood. Incidentally, the teacher who was in-charge of the "To the City of San Francisco. I Cinema Club was Mr Chan Teng Hong was also my Remove Class will enjoy killing one person every form teacher in 1972. day until you pay me one Clint Eastwood was born Clinton Eastwood on 31 May hundred thousand dollars 1930 in San Francisco, USA. That means he is now 84 years old and ($100,000). If you agree say so remains active in film making. In real life, he has 7 children from 5 tomorrow morning in personal spouses/partners. To date he has acted in no less than 65 films. He directed some of the films as well as playing the main cast. For this column, San Francisco Chronicle installment, let’s review one of his 5 sequels as Harry Callahan, the and I will set up a meeting. If I do extra-ordinary San Francisco Police Inspector. The films are Dirty not hear from you, it will be my Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983) and The Dead Pool (1988). Let’s probe pleasure to kill a Catholic priest or into Dirty Harry first: a nigger". SCORPIO Duration : 1 hour 43 minutes Film Company : Warner Bros Pictures Inspector Callahan : Clint Eastwood Inspector Callahan’s Partner : Reni Santoni (Chico) The bad guy : Andy Robinson (Scorpio) The mayor called the top police brass for discussion. Inspector Callahan (IC) who was assigned with the case was San Francisco Mayor : John Vernon (Mayor) San Francisco Police Chief : John Larch (Chief) consulted. Finally, the mayor decided to yield to the sniper’s demand to gain some breathing space. It was also decided that San Francisco San Francisco Police Lieutenant : Harry Guardino (Bresseler) Producer and Director : Don Siegel Police will station policemen on the rooftops with watchful eyes from Synopsis of the film : In a signature role, Clint Eastwood plays a the helicopters. The statement in the newspaper will read: streetwise San Francisco police detective who gets the job done. A rooftop sniper named "TO SCORPIO. We Scorpio is involved in 2 murders. Harry Reni Santoni Callahan will nail the perpetrator, one way or agree to but need another, no matter what the system prescribes. time to get Filming on location, director Don Siegel made the City by the Bay a vital part of one of the money. Be patient." Andy Robinson best police thrillers ever made. In the next scene, IC was at a Burger Restaurant downtown. police officers on a chopper spotted him. Through a hailer, the police While ordering his lunch, he asked the waiter (Jaffe) to look at a tan called him out to surrender. He had no choice but to abandon the Ford car parking next to the bank across the street. He suspected operation. He quickly exited through the rooftop door. The that there might be a bank robbery in progress. As the waiter was information passed to the police on the street was male, calling the police, the bank alarm went off followed by a gunshot. Caucasian, wearing a pale blue shirt, brown coat or The pedestrians scurried for cover. IC approached the crime scene sweater, dark gloves, and carrying a tan suitcase. Chico with his gun drawn. The robber with a hand-gun retreated from the and IC who were driving combed the area. It was already dark. It bank and fired at him, but missed. The return shot by IC hit the turned out the guy whom they spotted carrying a bag of similar robber's arm. He fell on the pavement. As the accomplices tried to colour was a wrong suspect. Chico had to bail IC out as he was escape with the tan Ford, IC shot them all. The car hit a stall before attacked by the neighbourhood watch group that thought he was a a water hydrant near it turned turtle. IC approached the first guy he peeping Tom. They walked away empty handed. shot at. He was sprawling on his back with his head leaning against a wooden flower pot, but was still alive. Blood oozed out from his The next minute, the police car radio reported an incident in right hand. He tried to reach for his gun. IC pointed his revolver at progress, code-named 8-0-4, at California Hall at Polk and Turk the man, and said: Street. IC and Chico rushed to the location, blaring the siren. As they reached at the scene, the crowd was looking upward. A suicidal man was about to throw himself off from the top of a building. Firemen "I know what you're thinking: 'Did he fire six shots or only with mobile crane were already on stand-by. They tried to console five?'. Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of him but to no avail. The fireman suggested that IC went up using lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most the crane and reason with the man. The crowd grew larger. The powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean exchange was quite interesting. Look at the kind of off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?". reverse psychology that IC employed. Chico IC then gave a wry smile. The robber tried to inch towards his gun with his left hand but changed his mind. As IC collected the Man: Don't you try to get me. robber's gun and moved away, the man could not contain his IC: Not me, no. You're the one who wants to get yourself killed, not me. Always curiosity. He said: happens with you guys, you know? The last minute you always want to grab onto somebody, take somebody with you. Down you go. Not me, brother. "Hey. I got to know." Man: Aren't you gonna try to grab me? IC: A friend of mine, was up about 20 floors with a jumper a few years ago. The jumper grabbed him and they went off. And 20 floors down, just mashed all over. IC turned back, walked up close to the man, pointed his Couldn't tell which legs were with which, which arms were with which. And it revolver at the man's head and released the safety-cock. The injured was a terrible mess. I tell you, I almost threw up myself. I'd just like your name robber was terrified. IC pulled the trigger. It was an empty click. IC and address, that's all. chuckled and the bad man cursed his heart out. Man: Why? IC: Like I said, it's such a mess down there afterwards. It makes identification impossible, even if they find your driver's license, all that blood and everything. Scorpio checked out the advertisement the next day while Man: I think...I think I'm gonna puke. he was on top of a building overlooking a church. He felt dejected. IC: Oh, now don't do that son. I mean, all those people down there looking up. The As he was scanning the area with a telescope, a black man (bishop?) fire chief’s looking up. His face... appeared from the next building. Scorpio continued to trace him until Man: You rotten... he settled down with a friend on a bench. It was a perfect spot for a killing. With a contented grin on his face, the sniper hastily assembled his rifle and took an aim. As he was about to fire, two The furious man jumped towards IC. IC grabbed him. They Notice how the killer was both cruel and cunning. He knew tussled and the disturbed man was hampered by a blow on his nose. what he wanted by stating his terms and conditions clearly; he sent The firemen quickly brought the crane down. The man was tamed. strands of the girl’s hair and extracted her tooth for her mother's and From that incident, Chico learned why IC was known as Dirty Harry dentist's identifications respectively. The ransom money was doubled (DH). He always got to do all the dirty jobs. as he felt "cheated" in the previous attempt. He wanted the cash to be in used tens and twenties to avoid the serial numbers.