Magnum Force (1973) - full transcript

San Francisco Police Inspector 'Dirty' Harry Callahan and his new partner, Early Smith have been temporarily reassigned from Homicide to Stakeout Duty. You Meanwhile, those of the city's criminals who manage to avoid punishment by the courts are nevertheless being killed by unknown assassins. Callahan begins to investigate the murders despite being the orders of his superior officer, Lieutenant Briggs. A man has to know his limitations...

Go a little faster,

I'm on their side.

- Roll down your window.

- What? Are you out of your mind?

- I've never been wrong yet, have I?

- I don't know why I'm doing this.

- Say, excuse me. Could you help us out?

- What do you want?

Maybe you could help us,

we seem to be lost.

We were looking for the entrance to

San Quentin. You know where that is?

It's back there. Don't

you see too good?

Yeah, I see fine. I just wanted to know

whether you knew where San Quentin was.

And you do, don't you, asshole.

Get you yet, you son of a bitch.

You always gotta do things

your way, don't you?

No wonder Briggs

stays on your tail.

You do things someone else's way and

you take your life in your own hands.

That son of a bitch Guzman!

He hasn't gone out for

almost 24 hours now.

Hey, one of our

guys took a spill.

It's Charlie McCoy!

Seems to be okay.

Let me take a look.

Yeah, he's okay.

There he is.

So, all you've got to do is

sit around all day, Guzman?

This coke is out of sight!

Oh, Guzman gets the best, baby.

Oh, you bitch. Don't spill it.

That stuff's worth

$900 an ounce.

You better not spill it.

Don't get so uptight.

Nobody says "don't" to me.

You understand? Nobody.

I never touch the stuff.

You want to put that

over there now?

Take over for me, will you, Ed?

Damn, I wish something

would happen.

Take it easy.

That's what stakeouts are all about.

Waiting.

No, please! No!

Frank!

- Just what the hell is going on?

- Somebody killed a cop.

Folks, there's been a little trouble here.

Everyone stand back.

Please, ma'am, move back.

There's been some trouble.

What happened?

Everything seems to

be all right, folks.

What's going on?

Move it, people.

Please, sir, stand back.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

No, sir. We won't let

anything out to the press.

Yes, sir.

You endangered an entire investigation

by trying to push something.

Not to mention your own lives.

You blew the whole

Palancio stakeout.

Instead of keeping him under

surveillance as I told you to...

you had to harass him. What do

you have to say about that?

What do I tell Avery? What?

You tell him it's not Palancio.

You tell him it's a traffic cop.

A cop?

That's right.

A traffic cop. Are you

out of your mind?

Do you expect me to believe

that a traffic cop...

is killing off all the top

criminals in the city? Who?

It's Charlie McCoy.

He's ready for the rubber gun squad.

He even tried to kill himself.

Charlie McCoy.

Guzman was hit today.

A cop was killed. It

was Charlie McCoy.

- McCoy?

- Yes, Charlie McCoy.

The only reason I don't bust you

into the bag this minute...

is I know the two of you

were close friends.

I was just about to call his wife.

Or you can, if you want to.

I know he had kids.

Yeah!

- Who reported it?

- Davis.

Davis?

What happened to the

DiGiorgio stake-out team?

It was an accidental coincidence. Davis

happened to be going by, it happens.

McCoy was already dead

when he got there.

Any witnesses?

None.

- I'll make that call.

- Go ahead.

Harry, if it means anything coming

from me, I'm sorry about Charlie.

But it's Palancio, believe me.

I'll have a warrant in 48 hours.

You can pick him up.

He's all yours.

Well, thank you for

coming, Harry.

You sure you have to leave?

I won't have any place to go

for a sit-down dinner anymore.

I never really did like

it here very much.

I always liked the

change of seasons.

I'm going to take him home.

It's time.

It's time he went home.

Come on, kids, let's

get in the car.

It was nice of that young man

to help us with the children.

Goodbye, Harry.

We'll all miss you.

'Bye, doll.

Take them to the passenger

terminal, please.

It was nice of you to come out.

You didn't have to do that.

If I'd have been there sooner,

he might still be alive.

He didn't deserve

to get it that way.

If there's anything I can do...

I feel responsible somehow.

The next shooter is Callahan.

Davis on deck.

You sure shot the pants off of

everybody with that score, Harry.

I've never seen you smoother.

By the way, I personally

want to tell you...

how sorry I am about what

happened to Charlie.

What I can't figure out, Frank, is how

that kid, Davis, got in there first.

You guys were right

across the street.

I don't have a goddamned idea, Harry.

The kid came out of nowhere.

We were in that garage

before you could spit.

Maybe I'm slowing down in my old

age or something, I don't know.

I want to be the first to congratulate you

on what I think will be the winning score.

You shaded me by seven points.

The only person now who

has a chance is Davis.

Shoot 'em up!

I think the kid beat you, Harry.

It happens.

Harry, he edged you

by four points.

That evens it up on

the overall champion.

You have your choice

in the shoot-off.

Bull's eye or combat?

Combat.

Out!

5:46 seconds. Score, perfect.

Good luck, sir.

A good guy!

That last one was a good guy!

5:36 seconds. But I'm sorry,

Harry, you hit a good guy.

You had a bad break. I

really don't deserve it.

You won, didn't you?

- I guess, but...

- That's all that matters.

You mind if I try that one?

Chester, how about six?

Not bad. I seem to have

lost the last one.

You get used to it.

I can see how you

would, at that.

You said five minutes and I've

been waiting for a half an hour.

Don't you ever get hungry?

- It just didn't seem like a half hour.

- Yeah, well it has been.

I went over to my butcher's

yesterday and picked up some veal.

Pops is really an artist, man. I could

watch that man cut meat all day long.

Why don't you come

home with me and...

My wife's a good cook. Have

a little dinner with us.

No, thanks. I just saw something

that killed my appetite.

We'll catch those animals with their pants

down. I was going to call you at home.

We got our search warrants

and multiple charges.

We're going to make a city-wide

raid tomorrow morning.

Palancio is yours. Just don't

take him out head-first, Harry.

I think you'll find what I want to show

you in ballistics very interesting.

You'll find more leads than you can

shake a stick at tomorrow morning.

- Good morning, Harry. Sir.

- Walter.

Do you mind excusing

us for a few minutes?

Sure.

There's only two.

- I wonder what happened to the others.

- Federal boys have them.

Well?

Take a look.

Close, real close.

But there's still a lot of

lines that don't match up.

All this proves is that

these two bullets...

came from barrels with a similar

twist and width of rifling.

You don't think it would

stand up as evidence?

As it is, no.

But I'll have a full comparison

report made, no problem.

You're probably right. Besides,

it isn't necessary yet.

What do you mean, "yet"?

Where'd you get that slug?

I'd just as soon not say

for the time being.

Don't play games on this.

Whose side are you on anyway?

It's just a wild shot

and I'm probably wrong.

I'd like to handle

it my own way.

By the way, I'd like to have Davis and

Sweet as my back-up squad tomorrow.

They're just rookies

for Christ's sake.

You drum up somebody in the department

who can shoot as well and I'll use them.

Goddamn it, there isn't

supposed to be any shooting.

Besides, they don't have the

experience yet for a job like this.

How the hell's a man supposed to get

experience if nobody gives him a chance?

And Davis is the new

pistol champion.

Suppose they panic

and start shooting?

Nothing wrong with shooting, as

long as the right people get shot.

- Let him know who you are and keep cool.

- Okay.

I want you to keep an

eye on Davis and Sweet.

What for?

Just do it, will you?

All right.

- You all set?

- All set.

We'll take off in three cars.

Davis and Sweet will make the arrest.

Early will cover.

I'll be on the back at the pier in

case anybody makes a break for it.

If there'll be trouble,

that's where it'll start.

We're holding the other squads back

until you've made your arrest.

Yours is the most important, it'll be

the first. We don't want any foul-ups.

- Right?

- Right.

I'd never walk up to a door with

Harry, too many people don't like him.

Thanks. I needed that.

- You boys ready?

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you for requesting us.

- Sir, we won't let you down.

Well, I'm depending on that.

Nickie.

Yeah?

Who is this?

What was that, Nickie?

Somebody said we'll be hit in two minutes.

They'll be dressed like cops.

Did it sound like

anybody you know?

No, I couldn't tell.

Ed, Chuck...

get over to the windows.

I got the water side.

I'll take the street side.

If they are cops, this

could be a set-up.

After the holes they put in Ricca

you want me to wait and see?

If they're cops,

they'll have papers.

Car coming, Frank.

There's a big guy out there.

- He got a uniform on?

- No.

He ain't no cop. Cops always

come in the front door.

Another car.

Why didn't they come in

squad cars if they're cops?

That big guy's working himself

around by those containers.

He's got a gun out.

Two uniforms in it.

That ain't no cop's gun, Frank.

There's a cop in uniform

coming up to the door.

We aren't open.

Come back tomorrow.

Police officers, we'd like

to ask you some questions.

Yeah, I'm just a watchman.

Nobody's here.

We're looking for Mr.

Frank Palancio.

Would you open the door? We

have a warrant for his arrest.

I said nobody's

here, goddamn it!

We have warrants for a

search of the premises.

Serve them!

They got Sweet! Send some help!

Quick!

Cease firing.

Throw your weapons out and come out

with your hands behind your heads.

- Bullshit!

- Fuck you!

You sure you don't want a local for this?

Takes about seven stitches.

No, thanks.

Okay, it's your ass.

My head, cut's on my head.

Why does everybody suddenly

become a comedian in here?

Does he have to stay in here?

No, I could stop and let the man's

brains run out all over his shoes.

Rogers, I don't need to have a doctor

display that kind of attitude.

A police officer is dead.

Sorry.

I got those warrants for a search

of the premises, Callahan...

not for you to become judge,

jury and executioner.

It was supposed to

be a simple arrest.

Arresting a killer like

Palancio isn't always simple.

People are guilty

until proven...

I mean...

Goddamn it, you

know what I mean.

The city's on the edge of the

worst violence in its history...

and you have to start

full-scale military operations.

I didn't start shooting at anyone who

didn't start shooting at me first.

Each time you pull out that gun, my

paperwork backs up for three months.

The chief and I have already

conferred on this matter.

A full investigation

is warranted here.

What about a dead cop?

- I warned you against taking them.

- Sweet was killed with the first shot.

Besides they were tipped off.

They knew we were coming, Briggs.

How? Don't hand me that crap.

They knew we were coming. After 200

arrests, I know the difference.

If I have my way, Callahan, you won't

make another arrest as long as you live.

Is that all, Lieutenant?

No, that's not all.

I want that slug you showed me.

I ran that through ballistics, it was

nothing. The rifling was totally different.

It's still State's evidence.

I want it anyway.

Eat it.

Look, Harry, if it means anything, I think

you got the wrong end of the stick.

- You do?

- Yeah.

What did they find when

they got in there?

Nothing. Palancio was as clean

as he could possibly be.

They knew we were coming, Harry.

Why do you figure

they opened up on us?

They must've thought it was

a set-up like the others.

- It was.

- No.

It was a set-up, Early.

What I'll lay on you seems so far-fetched,

I can't even believe it myself.

I gave up being surprised

working with you anyway.

Would you be surprised

if I told you...

a bunch of rookie cops were the ones

who were doing all the killing?

See this?

I gave Briggs a phony

for the time being.

This is a bullet I took

out of the target range.

It came from Davis' gun.

It matches up with the one taken

out of Charlie McCoy's body.

Davis? That's insane.

Maybe so, but somebody tipped-off

Palancio that we were coming.

Wanting me killed or

Palancio or hopefully both.

Yeah, but Sweet died today.

Sweet was sacrificed.

What's more important if I'm

right, I'll be sacrificed.

They've gotta figure I told you,

which means you'll be sacrificed.

Yeah.

If anything happens to me, I want

you to give that to Lt. Briggs.

Okay.

What happens if

they get us both?

Then they win.

It's not hard to understand how this

could happen, the way things are.

As incredible as it seems, there may be a

sub-organization within the police force.

Sort of a death squad like they

had in Brazil some years back.

Damn.

Some nights I wake up, wonder where

the hell the world's going to.

I want you to take care of

yourself, you understand?

Hi!

Hi.

Jesus, what happened

to your face?

Nothing, just a few stitches.

I was going to the market, how

about if I bring back a few beers?

Good, I could use a

beer right about now.

I've got your key, so

I'll get your mail, too.

All right, baby.

Keep it warm.

Do you have any idea how hard

it is to prosecute a cop?

You heroes have killed a

dozen people this week.

What are you gonna do next week?

Kill a dozen more.

Is that what you guys are

all about, being heroes?

All our heroes are dead.

We are the first generation...

that's learned to fight.

We're simply ridding society of

killers that would be caught...

and sentenced anyway if our

courts worked properly.

We began with the criminals

that the people know...

so that our actions

would be understood.

It's not just a question of

whether or not to use violence.

There simply is no

other way, Inspector.

You of all people...

should understand that.

Either you're for us

or you're against us.

I'm afraid you've misjudged me.

- Hi, Sunny.

- Hi, Sue.

No, no!

Harry, what are you doing?

Hey, what's going on down here?

I'm taking the mailbox apart,

what does it look like?

- You people live here, don't you?

- Yeah.

What are you doing to the mailbox?

Did you lose you key?

Why don't you mind your

own goddamn business.

That's my mailbox, too. Don't

you get smart with me!

Tampering with the mail

is a federal offense.

I'm calling the police.

I am the police.

What?

The cop that lives upstairs?

What's that?

Plastic explosive.

A bomb?

That's right.

If you'd bothered me any more,

we'd all be stuck to the ceiling.

- Do you want to hold it?

- No. I don't want to get involved.

Go to your apartment and stay there.

Don't open for anybody.

Homicide, Lt. Briggs,

Inspector Callahan calling.

Callahan, where are you?

Look, Briggs, I just found

a bomb in my mailbox.

I want you to get a man over

to Early's house right away.

What?

I've got a bomb right here!

Now get a man over to

Early's, you hear me?

Right.

Stay right where you are.

I'll be down there myself.

Don't move.

Yeah?

Come on in.

I don't like looking

down one of those.

Where's the bomb?

Right on the dresser.

All right. Let's

get out of here.

Avery will want to see this.

You mind driving? I want to take

a closer look at this thing.

This thing could be activated

by your mailbox key.

Or by a timer.

Turn right, here.

Get on the freeway.

The freeway?

You got a new route to

city hall, Lieutenant?

Your gun's out of its holster, Briggs.

First time?

You know you're not

going to city hall.

The only way you're going

anywhere is in a rubber bag.

Let me have your gun.

Now the shells.

Three. You always carry three.

Throw them out the window.

How do you figure on

pulling this off, Briggs?

I run the investigation, with your

record, I can make anything stick.

What I can't understand is,

why you of all people?

A hundred years ago in this city,

people did the same thing.

History justified the

vigilantes, we're no different.

Anyone who threatens the security

of the people will be executed.

- Evil for evil, Harry. Retribution.

- That's just fine.

But how does murder fit in?

When police start becoming

their own executioners...

where's it gonna end, Briggs?

Pretty soon, you'll start

executing people for jaywalking.

And executing people for

traffic violations.

Then you end up executing your neighbor

'cause his dog pisses on your lawn.

There isn't one man we've killed that

didn't deserve what was coming to him.

Yes, there is. Charlie McCoy.

What would you have done?

I'd have upheld the law.

What the hell do you

know about the law?

You're a great cop, Harry.

You had a chance to join the team, but

you'd rather stick to the system.

Briggs, I hate the goddamn system.

But until someone comes along...

with some changes that make

sense, I'll stick with it.

You're about to become extinct.

Get off at the next exit.

Red?

Red?

Briggs was right. You guys

don't have enough experience.

Just hold it right

there, Callahan.

No tricks.

Your organization's

through, Briggs.

There's a lot more where

they came from, believe me.

Move out of the way. Move it!

Uphold the law.

You just killed three

police officers, Harry.

And the only reason I'm

not gonna kill you...

is because I'm gonna prosecute

you with your own system.

It'll be my word against yours.

And who's gonna believe you?

You're a killer, Harry.

A maniac!

A man's got to know

his limitations.