Maybe Not So Dirty Harry Analysis

Maybe Not So Dirty, Harry
The 70s were a period of confusion and turmoil. The era was rearing the end of the second Indochina war, and the Antiwar Movement was increasingly prevalent. Nixon’s questionable invasion of Cambodia in 1970 on top of violence at the home front—several student deaths during protests at the hands of state officials—disturbed America’s short-lived tranquility. Violence was afoot, and hostility knocked at the back of every American’s conscious. The rising violence and hostility gave way to a justice system that few could actually confide their trust in. In turn, many Americans took a stand against the deteriorating state of the union and voiced their opinions. Of the many, Don Siegel stood out as a forerunner. In his …show more content…
Chico is a young, hotshot police officer, who has little to no experience working in the force, just like any private in the military. At the beginning of film, Chico is characterized as eager and ready to plunge into the field. This can be seen in his persistence in wanting to be Harry Callahan's partner even after being referred to as a "spic." Although he winked at another colleague, the camera angle shows that Chico is unable to see said wink, so to Chico, Harry appears hostile with the possibility of being racist. However, to Chico, not even the possibility of working with constant derogation could keep him from the thrills of being a cop in the field. Furthermore, even after a direct order from the captain, he still chooses to trail Harry and put himself in harm's way on his day off. This eagerness is found in countless privates ready to defend the frontier in honor of the flag. The eagerness soon transitions to fear. After his wound, Chico knew it was time to leave the force, and for an inexperienced soldier, injury, or even just the death of those around him, serve as key indicators for when enough is enough. Some tragedies are too much for normal men to withstand, and Spiegel emphasizes this severity in the fact that Chico has the opportunity/means to leave the force. Unfortunately, a soldier does not have the …show more content…
Harry's snide remarks towards his captain and mayor do not serve to only portray him as a badass. These remarks are disrespectful in their nature, and they show his disdain for the law. The irony of an officer not believing in the very thing he represents intensify the feelings of civilians because if a man of the law does not believe in it, a citizen can not possibly be expected to. In the final scene, after personally hunting down Scorpio and eliminating the threat himself, Harry has a moment with his badge. The pause cue for this scene allows the audience to inspect the badge. Harry's handling of the badge allows the light to hit in different spots giving the appearance of shiny. Also, the removal of the badge allows the audience to hear a little "ding," a characteristic of polished metal. The badge is symbolic for the glorifying facade the justice system has placed in front of them, and in throwing the badge, Harry, is expressing his disappointment in the system. During this scene, the camera focus gives the audience the vision of Harry. In other words, the audience is able to feel the same disappointment Harry does. In this era, a failing justice system was more concerned with using publicity to portray a positive image than adhering to the needs of its citizens. The audience is reminded of this failure in the interactions between Harry and the district