MovieChat Forums > Magnum Force (1973) Discussion > Kinda spoils the first film

Kinda spoils the first film

posted 15 years ago by keithbalbi
14 replies | jump to latest

I'm 3/4 of the way through Magnum Force so far and although i'm enjoying it a lot, I kind of wish it never got made, along with the other sequels.

The first film was all about Harry turning his back on the legal system. He starts to question whether being a cop is right for him and then when he finds out that Scorpio is walking away free and even being given his money, he turns his back on the system and hunts Scorpio down and kills him. Then he throws away his badge, making the decision that being a cop is not for him anymore.

The only reason he's now back as a cop is coz Hollywood can't leave a good thing alone.

I also don't like how the villains are vigilante cops. This is exactly what Harry was in the first film, but now we're supposed to not like vigilante cops and they are seen as villains?

Despite those points, I do think it's a great film.

[–] liambean 10 years ago

The first film was all about Harry turning his back on the legal system. He starts to question whether being a cop is right for him and then when he finds out that Scorpio is walking away free and even being given his money, he turns his back on the system and hunts Scorpio down and kills him. Then he throws away his badge, making the decision that being a cop is not for him anymore.

Yes and no. The Miranda decision (having to read an arrestee his/her rights) was a very recent decision. Also, there was real pressure in the justice system to insure than anyone detained by the police had their rights fully protected. Then, as now, the pendulum of effect went a bit too far in one direction in an attempt to respect everyone's rights.

Harry was most definitely "old skool." He was a police officer long before Miranda at a time when a police officer's integrity was counted upon to insure that justice (not law) was properly meted out.

Harry never shoots anyone who has not shot at him first. Indeed, the only reason he resorts to torture with Scorpio is because the suspect himself has set things up in such a way that Callahan has no choice; he has to make Scorpio talk to save the buried teen.

Consider this then. If Scorpio and Callahan are moved forward in time to 2010 and Scorpio was a known terrorist and had planted a bomb in a public place, would torture be acceptable then?