History Film / MagnumForce

** In particular, Milius [[ShownTheirWork demonstrates his knowledge]] by alluding to the fact that, in contrast to some other Latin American death squads, their Brazilian equivalent was analogous to Briggs and the motorcycle cops inasmuch as they were less concerned with punishing explicitly political offenses than meting out vigilante justice for perceived crimes.

* ShootingGallery Harry is practicing in one of these.

* ImpersonatingAnOfficer: The assumption by the investigating detectives is that the killings are the work of a hitman disguised as a policeman, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre which has happened before]]. Only Harry suspects the truth (and even he gets the culprit and motivation wrong, initially suspecting a colleague who is cracking up).

** Actually, there's a big difference. For the most part, the bad guys that Harry shoots are always people who deserved it, either because they shot at him or they were threatening to kill hostages; the dirty cops couldn't make the same claim. He also doesn't describe himself as being necessarily ''for'' the system, instead saying that he despises the system but still has an obligation to abide by it, and while he dislikes the current system, he thought the vigilante cops' alternative was worse:

* RedHerring: Harry initially suspects Charlie McCory of the murders. This doesn't seem unreasonable since the early film establishes that he's undergoing a mental breakdown (even attempting suicide).

* KnightTemplar: The vigilante cops, to a T. Even if [[WellIntentionedExtremist their motives are understandable]], they have little concern for collateral damage, as evinced in their exchange with Harry:

* ArcWords: Repeated several times over, which explores the lengths Harry is willing to go to in his war on crime, as well as setting up a supposedly [[NotSoDifferent not so different]] group of rookie cops who go to worse lengths than Harry.

* BondOneLiner: After [[spoiler: Davis]] overshoots Harry on his bike and crashes into the bay, Harry notes that "Briggs was right. You guys don't have enough experience.]]

* OhCrap: The murderous pimp has pulled out his wallet and a $100 bill for the traffic cop. He sees a glimpse of Davis's revolver raised. His eyes widen as he instinctively grabs for his hidden revolver, but is shot by Davis before he gets a chance.

** For the most part, the bad guys he shot deserved it by either shooting at him or threatening hostages; the dirty cops couldn't make the same claim. He also doesn't describe himself as being necessarily ''for'' the system, instead saying that he despises the system but still has an obligation to abide by it, and while he dislikes the current system, he thought the vigilante cops' alternative was worse:

The second film in the ''Film/DirtyHarry'' series (followed by Film/TheEnforcer) where Callahan goes up against some [[DirtyCop renegade cops]] who have [[KnightTemplar formed a death squad]]. Directed by Ted Post, who directed Creator/ClintEastwood in ''Film/HangEmHigh'', and notable for being co-written by future directors [[Film/ConanTheBarbarian John Milius]] and [[Film/TheDeerHunter Michael Cimino]].

The second film in the ''Film/DirtyHarry'' series (followed by Film/TheEnforcer) where Callahan goes up against some [[DirtyCop renegade cops]] who have [[KnightTemplar formed a death squad]].

* HollywoodSilencer: Before killing Lou Guzman in , Officer John Davis attaches a silencer to his Colt Python revolver. Not only would it be completely ineffective, the way it's attached ([[http://www.imfdb.org/images/4/4c/DH2ColtPython-4.jpg just slid over the barrel]]) it would fly right off.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: John Milius based his script on the "death squads" employed by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_squad#Brazil Brazilian military dictatorship]], which received heavy press coverage in the early '70s.

* WagTheDirector: Eastwood apparently took over a lot of the directorial duties after the director that they originally hired turned out not to be up to the job.

The second film in the ''Film/DirtyHarry'' series where Callahan goes up against some [[DirtyCop renegade cops]] who have [[KnightTemplar formed a death squad]].

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A pimp murders one of his girls for not giving him all of her money by [spoiler:pouring drain cleaner down her throat]. For his comeuppance, see AssholeVictim above.

** OhCrap: The murderous pimp has pulled out his wallet and a $100 bill for the traffic cop. He sees a glimpse of Davis's revolver raised. His eyes widen as he instinctively grabs for his hidden revolver, but is shot by Davis before he gets a chance.
* OneSteveLimit: Broken, with Lt. Briggs and Captain Briggs from ''Sudden Impact'' being entirely different characters played by very different actors.
* OutOfCharacterMoment: Harry describes himself as being somehow for the system, despite having shot every criminal he ever tried to put away, (at that point at least, in ''The Dead Pool'' he actually managed to put some mobsters in jail), and preferring to do so, as illustrated in his exchange with the mayor at the beginning of the first film. In fact, the only distinction between him and the rogue traffic cops was that Harry somehow managed to avoid hurting anyone who didn't 'deserve' it, and that he at least tried to put them in prison first.
** For the most part, the bad guys he shot deserved it by either shooting at him or threatening hostages; the dirty cops couldn't make the same claim. He also doesn't describe himself as being necessarily for the system, instead saying that he despises the system but still has an obligation to abide by it, and while he dislikes the current system, he thought the vigilante cops' alternative was worse:

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