Enforcer, The (1976)

This 1976 action film was the third in the Dirty Harry film series.

Directed by James Fargo, it starred Clint Eastwood once again as unorthodox San Francisco policeman Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan.

Harry works in Homicide but his unorthodox methods – such as driving his car straight into a store that is being held up – result in his transfer to the personnel division where he meets policewoman Kate Moore (Tyne Daly). His disdain for her has a lot to do with his dissatisfaction with his new position, but before long he is moved back to Homicide.

Because of an affirmative action programme at the police department, however, Harry is none too pleased to learn that his new partner is rookie Kate!

This time around, Harry has to mount an attack against ‘The People’s Revolutionary Strike Force’, a hippy terrorist group led by Bobby Maxwell (DeVeren Bookwalter) – a man who looks more like a drunk surfer than a militant leader – and based at the derelict Alcatraz prison, who have demanded a million dollars to prevent the destruction of the city.

The supporting cast is largely unmemorable and DeVeren Bookwalter hams it up to no great effect as the villain. Although they do some nasty stuff, the People’s Revolutionary Strike Force seem very cardboard and cartoonish and are never really explained or developed much.

The Enforcer is not a bad film but does feel lightweight and uninspired after the first two Dirty Harry movies.

Inspector Harry Callahan
Clint Eastwood
Lt. Bressler
Harry Guardino
Capt. McKay
Bradford Dillman
DiGeorgio
John Mitchum
Bobby Maxwell
DeVeren Bookwalter
Mayor
John Crawford
Kate Moore
Tyne Daly
Wanda
Samantha Doane
Buchinski
Bob Hoy
Miki
Jocelyn Jones
Father John
M.G. Kelly
Martin
Nick Pellegrino
Big Ed Mustapha
Albert Popwell
Mendez
Rudy Ramos
Andy
Bill Ackridge
Johnny
Bill Jelliffe
Freddie the Fainter
Joe Bellan
Mrs Grey
Jan Stratton
Lt. Dobbs
Will Macmillan
Krause
Jerry Walter
Bustanoby
Steve Boff
Henry Lee
Tim Burrus
Lalo
Michael Cavanaugh
Karl
Dick Durock
Tex
Ronald Manning
Irene DiGeorgio
Adele Proom
Huey
Chuck Hicks
Abdul
Kenneth Boyd
Koblo
Bernard Glin

Director
James Fargo