Production Magnum Force

1 production

1.1 development
1.2 directing
1.3 filming

production
development

writer john milius came storyline in group of rogue young officers in san francisco police department systematically exterminate city s worst criminals, conveying idea there worse rogue cops dirty harry. terrence malick had introduced concept in unused draft first film; director don siegel disliked idea , had malick s draft thrown out, clint eastwood remembered film. eastwood wanted convey that, despite 1971 film s perceived politics, harry not complete vigilante. david soul, tim matheson, robert urich , kip niven cast young vigilante cops. milius gun aficionado , political conservative , film extensively feature gun shooting in practice, competition, , on job. given strong theme in film, title changed vigilance magnum force in deference .44 magnum harry liked use. milius thought important remind audiences of original film incorporating line ya feel lucky? repeated in opening credits.

with milius committed filming dillinger, michael cimino later hired revise script, overseen ted post, direct. according milius, script did not contain of final action sequences (the car chase , climax on aircraft carriers). simple script . addition of character sunny done @ suggestion of eastwood, reportedly received letters women asking female hit on harry (not other way around).

milius later said did not film , wished don siegel had directed it, intended:

of films had with, least. changed lot of things in cheap , distasteful manner. whole ending wrong, wasn t mine @ all. movies had motorcycle or car chase @ time — except westerns. have scene black girl s pimp forces drano down throat. in script, merely went morgue , harry said, don t feel bad son of bitch, cause 2 weeks ago 1 of girls in here , d poured drano down throat. think s better hear see later; also, goes right character again: understand harry s feelings it. stuff put in japanese girl: put in scene star gets fuck girl, , s pretty hard out. dirty harry scripts never had harry knowing girls other hookers, because lonely guy lived alone , didn t associate people. never close enough woman have sort of affair. bitter, lonely man liked work

directing

eastwood himself offered role of director, declined. ted post, had directed eastwood in rawhide , hang em high hired. buddy van horn second unit director. both eastwood , van horn go on direct final 2 entries in series, sudden impact , dead pool respectively.

filming

frank stanley hired cinematographer. filming commenced in late april 1973. during filming eastwood encountered numerous disputes post on calling shots in directing film, , eastwood failed authorize 2 important scenes directed post in film because of time , expenses; 1 of them @ climax film long shot of eastwood on motorcycle confronts rogue cops. many of films, eastwood intent on shooting smoothly possible, refusing retakes on scenes. post later remarked: lot of things said based on pure, selfish ignorance, , showed man controlled power. magnum force clint s ego began applying statehood . post remained bitter eastwood many years , claims disagreements on filming affected career afterwards. according second unit director of photography rexford metz, eastwood not take time perfect situation. if ve got seventy percent of shot worked out, s sufficient him, because knows audience accept it.