Sudden Impact (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)
- Matt Palmer
- Sep 27, 2021
- 2 min read
Initial release date: December 9, 1983
Tagline: Dirty Harry is at it again
Plot: Jennifer Spencer was gang raped, but the crime went unpunished. Now she demands revenge, killing off the men that attacked her years before. The murders attract the attention of Harry Callahan, who is on a forced vacation due to his violent approach to police work. The case gets complicated when Harry develops a relationship with Jennifer, and it’s up to Harry to make the right decision when Jennifer’s life is threatened for a second time.
Cast
Clint Eastwood - Harry Callahan
Sandra Locke (Every Which Way But Loose; Any Which Way You Can) - Jennifer Spencer
Pat Hingle (Talladega Nights) - Chief Jannings
Bradford Dillman - Captain Briggs
Paul Drake - Mick
Audrie Neenan (Doubt) - Ray Parkins
Jack Tibeau (Action Jackson; Lethal Weapon) - Kruger
Michael Currie (The Dead Pool) - Lt. Donnelly
Albert Popwell - Horace King
Bette Ford - Leah
Writer: Joseph Stinson
Director: Clint Eastwood
Rated R (117 min)
‘Sudden Impact’ is the only entry in the ‘Dirty Harry’ franchise that was directed by Eastwood.
The plot of the movie, about Harry Callahan going after someone killing people one-by-one, vigilante style, is extremely thrilling and intriguing. In a way, you kind of almost want to be on the vigilante’s side. Years back, something tragic happened to her and her sister and nothing was done about it. And, now she’s taking justice in her hands.
There are many tense moments scattered throughout the fourth ‘Dirty Harry’ movie. It is also the most character-driven installment and has a lot of dramatic moments as well. So, check out the fourth ‘Dirty Harry’ on HBO Max.
FYI - ‘Sudden Impact’ is 38 years old!
Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘Sudden Impact’:
The only ‘Dirty Harry’ movie directed by Clint Eastwood.
The highest grossing entry of the franchise.
Of the five ‘Dirty Harry’ movies, it was this movie that used the catchphrase “Go ahead, make my day,” whereupon it became synonymous with the Harry Callahan character and became popularized into the vernacular of pop culture.
The reason this movie was made at all had to do with a survey. Warner Brothers was preparing to release the Sean Connery/Bond feature ‘Never Say Never Again’ and they took a survey. They asked moviegoers to name an actor and a famous part that actor played. Eastwood as ‘Dirty Harry’ scored so high in the survey results, the studio told Eastwood it would be “open” to distributing another ‘Dirty Harry’ movie. Eastwood made this movie as a result of that meeting.
The production company had to keep a diver on the set during the filming of the climactic scene filmed on a pier in which Callahan shoots the bad guy. When the gun would jam, which it did frequently, Eastwood would in a fit of rage throw the gun a considerable distance into the water. The diver would retrieve the gun, which would be dried out, repaired, and reloaded for the next take.
In its opening weekend, the film took $9/7 million in 1,530 theaters in the US. In total domestically, the film made $67.6 million.
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