History Film / MagnumForce

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: PlayedWith, Callahan is actually careful with is firearms throughout the film. Other officers, not so much. One accidentally points his shotgun at Callahan's head who in turn pushes it away.

* BadBoss: Even when two of his vigilante officers (Davis and Sweet) join Harry to arrest a gangster, [[spoiler:Lt. Briggs]] still tips the gangster off, resulting in the death of Sweet, showing that [[spoiler:Briggs]] thinks of them as expendable, even though they believe in his cause. Sure, [[spoiler:Briggs]] initially tried to dissuade Harry from using the two, but still.

* DaChief: Lt Briggs from is a subversion in that he's the [[spoiler:BigBad]].

** At the end, when the other vigilante cops are killed, their leader, [[spoiler: Lt. Briggs]] says he can use their “murders” to prosecute Harry.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Harry, delivering his KirkSummation speech to Briggs, says that he and his [[VigilanteMan vigilante cops]] will eventually start shooting neighbours for letting their dogs piss on their lawn.

** After Briggs gets blown up in his car, Harry says, "[[ArcWords Man's got to know his limitations]]."

* ChekhovsGun: Literally! Lt. Briggs mentions that he has never once taken his weapon out of its holster. When he does, it's to give TheReveal that he's the BigBad.

* DaChief: Lt Briggs from is a subversion in that he's the BigBad.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Briggs has never pulled his gun once in his entire police career. He has his minions do that for him.

* LackOfEmpathy: Lt. Briggs hardly sheds a tear when Harry kills his vigilante cops. He also considers Officer Sweet's death a necessary sacrifice.

* OutOfCharacterAlert: When Briggs pulls out his gun, the one that he says he's never used once in his career, it clicks for Harry that Briggs is with the very cops he's hunting down. Granted, the fact said gun was pointed at ''him'' probably cleared things up.

* PyrrhicVictory: Just imagine the fallout of Briggs' conspiracy, even if it remained contained.

** At the end, when the other vigilante cops are killed, their leader, Lt. Briggs barely sheds a tear, saying he can find more to replace, and will use their “murders” to prosecute Harry.

* RealityEnsues: Harry kills the last two members of the Magnum Force by punching one repeatedly and forcing the other off the side of an aircraft carrier, causing him to fall into the ocean from a significant height and die on impact. Both methods of death are generally non-lethal in movies but have a good chance of being fatal in real life.

* EveryoneHasStandards: "Dirty" Harry Callahan may merrily tap-dance the line between being a CowboyCop and being a RabidCop, but he has always made sure to just shoot the crooks he hunts down and nobody else, and only when the crooks refuse to surrender in an armed confrontation. The titular Magnum Force completely and utterly disgust him.

* LackOfEmpathy: [[spoiler:Lt. Briggs]] hardly sheds a tear when Harry kills his vigilante cops. He also considers [[spoiler:Officer Sweet's]] death a necessary sacrifice.
* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:Briggs declares that he's going to let the System that Callahan is defending take care of him for murdering three cops. Instead Briggs gets blown up by the bomb that was planted to kill Callahan.]]

* FanserviceExtra: The bikini-clad and topless ladies at a mobster's pool party. Becomes DropDeadGorgeous when the ladies are killed along with everyone else by a machine-gun wielding motorcycle cop.

* 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.

* DaChief: Lt Briggs from is a subversion in that [[spoiler: he's the BigBad]].

Post previously directed Creator/ClintEastwood in ''Film/HangEmHigh''. ''Magnum Force'' was co-written by future directors [[Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982 John Milius]] and Creator/MichaelCimino.

The next film in the Dirty Harry series was ''Film/TheEnforcer.

* {{Padding}}: The longest ''Dirty Harry'' movie and it shows. The whole airplane sequence, while establishing Harry as awesome, could have been cut from the film without affecting it at all.

* OutOfCharacterAlert: When Briggs pulls out his gun, the one that he says he's never used once in his career, [[spoiler:it clicks for Harry that Brigg's with the very cops he's hunting down]]. Granted, the fact said gun [[spoiler:was pointed at ''him'' probably cleared things up]].

* PyrrhicVictory: Just imagine the fallout of [[spoiler: Briggs' conspiracy]], even if it remained contained.

It is the second film in the ''Film/DirtyHarry'' series. "Dirty" Harry Callahan (Eastwood) goes up against some [[DirtyCop renegade cops]] who have [[KnightTemplar formed a death squad]].

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Harry, delivering his KirkSummation speech to [[spoiler: Briggs]], says that he and his [[VigilanteMan vigilante cops]] will eventually start shooting neighbours for letting their dogs piss on their lawn.

* 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."
** After [[spoiler: Briggs gets blown up in his car]], Harry says, "[[ArcWords Man's got to know his limitations]]."

* CarFu: Harry disposes of [[spoiler: Grimes]] by ramming his motorcycle head-on with a Ford Galaxie 500.
* ChekhovsGun: Lt. Briggs mentions that he has never once taken his weapon out of its holster. [[spoiler:When he does, it's to give TheReveal that he's the BigBad]].

* {{Hypocrite}}: Briggs has never pulled his gun once in his entire police career. [[spoiler: He has his minions do that for him.]]

** When [[spoiler:vigilante officer Sweet]] is killed during a shootout during an attempted arrest, Harry believes his death was a necessary sacrifice to get himself and the arrestee killed. He even lampshades it twice; once directly, and once when he notes that [[spoiler:Sweet]] was killed with the first shot.

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/ConanTheBarbarian1982 John Milius]] and Creator/MichaelCimino.

-->'''Harry''': Your gun's out of its holster, Briggs. [[CallBack First time]]?

** At the end, when the other vigilante cops are killed, their leader, [[Lt. Briggs]] barely sheds a tear, saying he can find more to replace, and will use their “murders” to prosecute Harry.

* SoftWater: Averted. Harry kills the last member of the "Magnum Force" [[spoiler:aside from Lt. Briggs]] in a motorcycle chase in which the killer cop overshoots and falls off the side of an aircraft carrier into the ocean. He dies on impact.

* GilliganCut: Harry oversees several pilots discussing how to handle a hijacking at the airport while he and Early are at the snack shop. He follows the officials. After learning about the situation, he says, "Can I make a suggestion?" Cut to Harry exiting the hangar disguised as a pilot and walking across the tarmac to the waiting plane.

* FiveBadBand: The KillerCop squad.
** BigBad: [[spoiler:Lt. Briggs]] - High in the ranks of the SFPD.
** TheDragon: [[spoiler:John Davis]] - Seen doing the most of the vigilante killings.
** TheEvilGenius: [[spoiler:Phil Sweet]] - Second most seen after [[spoiler: Davis]].
** TheBrute: [[spoiler:"Red" Astrachan]] - Takes a hell of a lot of punches and kicks to be beaten to death.
** TheDarkChick: [[spoiler:Mike Grimes]] - Sent flying off his motorcycle and killed instantly.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Harry, delivering his KirkSummation speech to Briggs, says that he and his [[VigilanteMan vigilante cops]] will eventually start shooting neighbours for letting their dogs piss on their lawn.

* FiveBadBand:
** BigBad: [[spoiler:Lt. Briggs]]
** TheDragon: [[spoiler:John Davis]]
** TheEvilGenius: [[spoiler:Phil Sweet]]
** TheBrute: [[spoiler:"Red" Astrachan]]
** TheDarkChick: [[spoiler:Mike Grimes]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Officer Sweet]] as a villainous inversion.

** The murderous pimp has pulled out his wallet and a $100 bill for Davis. 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.