What started out as a vehicle for star Frank Sinatra, eventually became Don Siegel's classic, hugely influential cop thriller that confirmed star Clint Eastwood's place in Hollywood. Eastwood was made for his now legendary role as Harry Cahallan, the tough, hard-bitten cop who goes in pursuit of a deranged sniper (a terrifying Andy Robinson) after his superiors fail to bring the killer to justice.
More than thirty years after its original release, the film carries a distinctive early Seventies look that is more compellingly realistic than dated. The screenplay is more or less unforgettable with line after line of punch, scene after scene of excitement, all coming to the fore in the film's climatic scene. The film was almost notoriously controversial and undermined in its day, which wasn't helped by the string of less credible, cash-in sequels that followed that were inferior on every level to Siegel's original offering. All in all, a strong achievement for Siegel and Eastwood.
More than thirty years after its original release, the film carries a distinctive early Seventies look that is more compellingly realistic than dated. The screenplay is more or less unforgettable with line after line of punch, scene after scene of excitement, all coming to the fore in the film's climatic scene. The film was almost notoriously controversial and undermined in its day, which wasn't helped by the string of less credible, cash-in sequels that followed that were inferior on every level to Siegel's original offering. All in all, a strong achievement for Siegel and Eastwood.