The Enforcer (1976 film) in the context of "Neo-noir"

Inspector Harold Francis "Dirty Harry" Callahan (born October 3, 1930) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Dirty Harry film series, which consists of Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983), and The Dead Pool (1988). Callahan is portrayed by Clint Eastwood in each film.

From his debut, Callahan became the template for a new kind of film cop: an antihero who does not hesitate to cross professional boundaries in pursuit of his own vision of justice, especially when the law is poorly served by an inept, incompetent bureaucracy.

Dirty Harry is an American action thriller film series featuring San Francisco Police Department Homicide Division Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. The five films are: Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983), and The Dead Pool (1988). Clint Eastwood portrayed Callahan in all five films and directed Sudden Impact.

Callahan is notorious for his unorthodox, violent, and ruthless methods against the criminals and killers he is assigned to apprehend. At the same time, he is assigned a partner who is usually either killed or seriously injured during the film.Clint Eastwood was the only actor to have appeared in all five films.

Dirty Harry is a 1971 American action-thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first appearance as San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. The film drew upon the real-life case of the Zodiac Killer as the Callahan character seeks out a similar vicious psychopath.

Dirty Harry was a critical and commercial success and set the style for a whole genre of police films. It was followed by four sequels: Magnum Force in 1973, The Enforcer in 1976, Sudden Impact in 1983, and The Dead Pool in 1988.

Sudden Impact is a 1983 American neo-noir action-thriller film, the fourth in the Dirty Harry series, directed, produced by, and starring Clint Eastwood (making it the only Dirty Harry film to be directed by Eastwood himself) and co-starring Sondra Locke. The film tells the story of a gang-rape victim (Locke) who decides to seek revenge on her rapists 10 years after the attack by killing them one by one. Inspector Callahan (Eastwood), famous for his unconventional and often brutal crime-fighting tactics, is tasked with tracking down the serial killer.

The film is notable for the catchphrase "Go ahead, make my day", written by John Milius and uttered by Clint Eastwood's gun-wielding character at the beginning of the film as he stares down an armed robber who is holding a hostage. This is the last Dirty Harry film to feature Albert Popwell. It is also the second film in the series to feature Bradford Dillman, although in a different role than the one in The Enforcer, and the third to be scored by Lalo Schifrin. Character actor and Eastwood's friend Pat Hingle is also in the film ; he had performed alongside Eastwood in Hang 'Em High (directed by Ted Post, who would also direct Magnum Force, the second entry in the Dirty Harry series) and The Gauntlet (directed by Eastwood, and featuring Sondra Locke as well). At 117 minutes, it is the second longest film of the series after Magnum Force.

James Fargo (born August 14, 1938) is an American film director. He directed numerous films from 1976 to 1998. After serving as assistant director to Steven Spielberg on Duel and on many films starring Clint Eastwood, he was then given the chance to direct the third Dirty Harry film, The Enforcer, in 1976.

Later, he also directed Eastwood in 1978's Every Which Way but Loose, his final film working with Eastwood. Fargo has also directed other films such as Caravans, A Game for Vultures, Voyage of the Rock Aliens, and Forced Vengeance with Chuck Norris.