The second in one of the most consistently entertaining cop thriller series, Ted Post’s MAGNUM FORCE brings back Clint Eastwood as San Francisco Police Detective Harry Callahan.
Written by John Milius (who directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in the original 1982 version of CONAN THE BARBARIAN) and Michael Cimino (who directed the Oscar-winning THE DEER HUNTER, before making the box-office disaster HEAVEN’S GATE that destroyed the very studio that financed it, United Artists) MAGNUM FORCE sees Callahan dealing with a number of violent assassinations on top crime figures in the city, who are effectively being judge, jury and executioner in one.
With his partner, Early Smith (Felton Perry), Harry is at odds with his superior, Lt. Briggs (Hal Holbrook) who resents his wild-card attitude to police work and somebody who has to use excessive force to get the job done but realizes that Callahan is the right match to solve this case.
Whilst attempting to practice on the police shooting range, Callahan meets traffic rookie cops, Davis (David Soul, TV’s STARSKY & HUTCH), Sweet (Tim Matheson), Grimes (Robert Urich) and Astrachan (Kip Niven) who impress with their dedication and accuracy, but the harsh reality of the case is about to take an unexpected turn…
As stylish, albeit as violent, as it ever was, MAGNUM FORCE is a fine sequel with an interesting concept at the heart of its’ plot, which proved hugely popular and enough to warrant another sequel three years later, THE ENFORCER (1976)