Hi there and welcome to Ado's Blog. I am obsessed with nostalgia, especially 1960s & 1970s nostalgia and I enjoy nothing more than reflecting on days and times that have sadly long since gone! So join me, as I take a nostalgic gander down Memory Lane and celebrate all things past and occasional present, both good and bad! (All images used that are copyrighted are copyrighted to their respective publishers and are only used here for review purposes.)
The fictional band was made up on screen of talented session musicians as well as the three lead actresses who proved they could sing, and the spin-off album of music from the series entered the UK charts at number one - the first album since The Beatles to do so (a common occurrence now, but exceptionally rare at that time). The songs were written by Andy MacKay, who was a founding member of Roxy Music. Lyrics and screenplay were written by Howard Schuman.
The show won a BAFTA award in 1976. The second series, Rock Follies of '77, was a continuation of the first, but industrial action during May of that year at ITV, the commercial channel that aired the show, caused the last few episodes to be postponed until November. The second series pushed the style further in an experimental direction: where the first series had a lot of dialogue and "off stage" scenes, the second focused more on the music and fantasy sequences, with additional songs and musical interludes used to move the plot forward rather than relying on dialogue as the first had done. More sophisticated video effects were also used.
Fiona tells Jill that "Scott" is lovesick. Jill makes fun of the dreams John had about Angela, and wants to know why he isn't calling Ms. Hamilton. Fiona explains that she asked him not to . Jill says "Scott" is a loony, but she thinks he's cute. Fiona seems pleased at Jill's interest.
Susan tells Beryl that she wants to scale down the wedding plans so it's not a freak show, and so that people don't stand around mentioning (or trying not to mention) John. Susan says that Bill has agreed to this, and suggests the wedding be held in the Palmer house. She still hasn't found another bridesmaid, though, and tells her mother that she was holding out for Lynn.
Beryl goes round to see Lynn's father, Vic Hardy, and asks him to reconsider letting his daughter be there for Susan's big day, but Hardy says he doesn't want Lynn getting a name for herself by associating with the Palmers. Back in her house, Beryl sounds off at Kevin over Hardy's attitude, and says that at least Mr Wood had given her the time of day at the school.
At the Hamiltons', Angela sits and waits for the telephone to ring. Gordon tells his daughter that it might be easier if she called "Scott".
The telephone rings at the boarding house, but it's a wrong number. Fiona asks John if he's going through withdrawal symptoms - 'Angela-itis!'. John says he can't stop thinking about her - he's angry at Fiona and asks her how he can tell her nicely to get off his back!
Angela tells Gordon that she's going to a dusk-to-dawn party. Just after she leaves the house, the 'phone rings. It's "Scott" - Gordon answers and tells "Scott" that Angela would be sorry she'd missed him, and that she had been waiting on his call.
Bill's mother, Nora, asks her son if he's looking forward to going back to work, but Bill is in a bad mood. When Mrs. Todd says she's going to see Beryl to offer help, Bill tells her to leave it, and just get him some beer. Mrs. Todd goes to see Beryl anyway, and tells her of Bill's strange behaviour. Beryl says Susan is marrying the best looking bloke in the district, and tells Nora that Susan has had a calming influence on Bill. When Mrs. Todd goes home and tells Bill she saw Beryl, Bill shouts at her. Nora asks her son if there's something he wants to tell her, and says he can trust her.
Beryl tells Susan that she needs to find a bridesmaid so she can make the dress. David arrives home from a trucking job. Beryl stresses out at him and tells him about the new wedding plans and the run-ins with Mr. Wood and Mr. Hardy. She's really upset because everything has been dumped in her lap, and all David wants to do is watch TV.
David storms round to see Vic Hardy. Hardy initially doesn't want to talk, but when David gets back into his own kitchen, he tells his wife that Lynn can be bridesmaid after all. Beryl tells David about John's call. She says it was an STD call, and adds that she didn't tell the other children so as not to upset them. She tells her husband that she's so unhappy.
Angela arrives home from her party, and Gordon tells her that "Scott" 'phoned and will call back this morning. "Scott" duly does this, and apologises for taking so long to ring again. He tells Angela that he'd like to take her out this afternoon, and she agrees to go. She is told they are going to the most exclusive joint in Manly - which turns out to be the beach, where they eat fish and chips and drink cheap white wine from plastic cups! Angela asks "Scott" why he took so long to call. He tells her that he wasn't sure she was interested, but adds that it's better when you have to wait!
David, Susan and Kevin have a talk about Beryl, and they all agree to help her as much as they can. David tells his kids that John called, and instructs them to keep a closer eye on the telephone in future, so as not to upset Beryl. Susan says John is running away from what he's done.
In Manly, "Scott" points the boarding house out to Angela. They play silly games and have fun with each other, and eventually end up kissing.
After the date, John tries to creep into the boarding house, but Fiona hears him. She tells him he looks as if he had a fun night. John says Angela's nothing like Fiona says - she's not stuck-up, and doesn't care that he's penniless. Fiona tells John that he mustn't forget the police are after him, and says it's not fair on Angela in the circumstances - he must think about what he's getting himself and Angela into. John says that maybe it's time he did something about it. He goes to his room and packs some clothes, telling Fiona that he's going to Melbourne to prove his innocence and find out who really killed Sam Selmar. He says his family won't know he's there, but he has a mate who will help him for sure - Bill Todd...
Two gas company men are lured by a scantily-clad woman to a remote spot and killed by Bobby Maxwell. Maxwell's gang, the People's Revolutionary Strike Force (PRSF), plans to use the gas men's uniforms and van as part of an ambitious series of crimes that will make them rich.
Inspector Harry Callahan and his newly-acquired partner Frank DiGeorgio arrive at a liquor store where robbers armed with shotguns and revolvers have taken hostages. The robbers demand a car and insult Callahan; the inspector provides one by driving his squad car into the store and shooting the robbers with his famed .44 Magnum revolver.
His superior Captain McKay reprimands Callahan for "excessive use of force", injuring the hostages, and causing more than $14,000 of damage to the store, and temporarily transfers him out of the Homicide Division. While assigned to Personnel Callahan participates in the interview process for promotions, and learns that three of the new Inspectors will be Female including Kate Moore, despite her very limited field experience.
The PRSF uses the gas company van to steal M72 Laws rockets, M16 Rifles and AR-18 Rifles from a warehouse, killing DiGeorgio during the robbery. To Callahan's distress, Moore is his new partner; she claims to understand the risk, noting that—besides DiGeorgio—two other partners of his have died in the line of duty. They visit the Hall of Justice for an autopsy where a bomb explodes. Callahan and Moore chase and capture the PRSF bomber and meet "Big" Ed Mustapha, leader of a black militant group the bomber formerly belonged to.
Although Callahan makes a deal with Mustapha for information, McKay arrests the militants for the PRSF's crimes. Callahan angrily refuses to participate in a televised press conference in which the publicity-seeking Mayor would commend him and Moore for solving the case, and McKay suspends him from duty. Moore supports Callahan and gains his respect.
The first script was written in 1974 by two young San Francisco area film students, Gail Morgan Hickman and S.W. Schurr, with the title Moving Target. After seeing Dirty Harry and Magnum Force, the two fledgling writers decided to pen a screenplay of their own featuring the character of Inspector Harry Callahan. Inspired by the Patty Hearst kidnapping in 1974, the storyline had Inspector Harry Callahan going up against a violent militant group reminiscent of the Simbionese Liberation Army. In the script, the militants kidnap and ransom the mayor of San Francisco.
After the screenplay was finished Hickman visited Eastwood's Carmel restaurant, The Hog's Breath Inn, and approached Eastwood's business partner, Paul Lippman, asking if he would give their effort to Eastwood. Lippman was initially hesitant, but finally agreed. Although Eastwood thought the script needed work, he liked the concept, particularly the priest with militant leanings and the portrayal of black militants, which was based on the Black Panther Party.
Warner Brothers, meanwhile, eager to capitalize on the success of the two Dirty Harry films, had hired seasoned screenwriter Stirling Siliphant to write a new Harry Callahan story. Silliphant wrote a script called Dirty Harry and More, in which the Callahan character was teamed up with an Asian-American woman partner named More. Eastwood liked the woman partner angle, but felt the script spent too much time on character and did not have enough action. Eastwood then showed the Hickman/Schurr script to Silliphant, and Silliphant agreed to rewrite it.
Silliphant wrote the script throughout late 1975 and early 1976 and delivered his draft to Eastwood in February 1976. While Eastwood approved, he believed there was still too much emphasis on the character relationships rather than the action and was concerned the fans might not approve. He then brought in screenwriter Dean Riesner, who had worked on the scripts of Dirty Harry and Coogan's Bluff, to do revisions.
Recurring characters Lieutenant Bressler (Harry Guardino) and Frank DiGeorgio (John Mitchum) reprise their roles for the last time in a Dirty Harry film. Bressler was Callahan's boss in the first film of the series, while DiGeorgio appeared in the previous two while he dies in this film. A new character, Captain Jerome McKay (Bradford Dillman), was introduced as Callahan's superior officer. Dillman played a similar role, Captain Briggs, in Sudden Impact.
Kate Moore was originally proposed to play the part of the female cop, but in the end it went to Tyne Daly. Her casting was initially uncertain, given that she turned down the role three times. She objected to the way her character was treated in parts to the film and showed concern that two members of the police force falling in love on the job was problematic, given that they would be putting their lives in jeopardy by not reaching peak efficiency. Daly was permitted to read the drafts of the script developed by Riesner and had significant leeway in the development of her character, although after seeing the film at the premiere was horrified by the extent of the violence. Regarding Callahan's relationship with Moore, Eastwood stated:
"I didn't see Dirty Harry going for a Hollywood-type glamour girl. He's the kind of guy that when he dated somebody it was probably a secretary or receptionist somewhere, somebody he would meet along the way...Tyne Daly was perfect for the part. It starts out like great love should, it starts out...by earning respect and she earns his respect and then you think "Could be, could go another step."
When production began the working title of the film was Dirty Harry III, in keeping with other sequels of the time. Eastwood, however, felt that the film needed a title of its own, and in the middle of production came up with the title The Enforcer.
After his disputes with Ted Post on the set of the previous Dirty Harry instalment, Eastwood fully intended to direct The Enforcer himself. In a twist of irony however, Eastwood's replacement of Philip Kaufman on The Outlaw Josey Wales (and the consequent need to handle post-production on that film) left Eastwood without enough preparation time to prepare himself to direct The Enforcer. As a result, Eastwood gave the director's chair to James Fargo, his longtime assistant Director, who made his debut as a full director on this film. Eastwood had the final say on all the critical decisions, but since the two men were far more familiar with each other's working styles than Eastwood had been with Ted Post, they rarely butted heads during production.
Filming commenced in the San Francisco bay area in the summer of 1976. Eastwood was initially still dubious about the quantity of his lines and preferred a less talkative approach, something perhaps embedded in him by Sergio Leone. The film ended up considerably shorter than the previous Dirty Harry films, and was cut to 95 minutes for its final running time.
The music score for The Enforcer was written by Jerry Fielding, making The Enforcer the only Dirty Harry film without a score by Lalo Schifrin. The film was originally intended to be the last Dirty Harry film of a trilogy. A poll conducted by Warner Bros in 1983 led to the development of a fourth film, Sudden Impact and the resurrection of the film series. Eastwood never intended to make more Dirty Harry films, but private agreements with the studio allowed him to do more "personal" films in exchange for doing the subsequent sequels.
Critically, Eastwood's performance was poorly received and was named "Worst Actor of the Year" by the Harvard Lampoon and the film was criticized for its level of violence. A Variety review indicated that the film was a "worn out copy of Dirty Harry. ... The next project from this particular mold had better shape up or give up."
Eastwood's performance in the third installment was overshadowed by positive reviews given to Daly in her convincing role as the strong-minded female cop, which she would follow up with a similar and more famous role in Det. Mary Beth Lacey in the television series, Cagney & Lacey Feminist reviewers in particular gave Daly rave reviews, with Marjorie Rosen remarking that Malpaso "had invented a heroine of steel" and Jean Hoelscher of Hollywood Reporter praising Eastwood for abandoning his ego in casting such a strong female actress in his film.
Upon release in the fall of 1976, The Enforcer was a major commercial success and grossed a total of $100 million, $60 million in the United States and easily became Eastwood's best selling film to date, earning more than some of his previous films combined. Overall this figure made it the most profitable of the Dirty Harry series for seven years until the release of Sudden Impact.
