This question has been bothering me for years. The first scene, when he actually fires six shots, does he know he is bluffing against the black guy or did he actually forgot the count, like he says, and is he a little shocked by his own recklessness when he pulls the trigger when the guy says "I gots to know"?
If he actually forgot count, what about the last scene?
With the bank robber I think he knew, he was close enough to the guy's shotgun and the guy's hand was too far away, so he could stop him if he tried for it. He might or might not have knew in the last scene, with all the commotion it may have been a bit hard to keep track, but he probably had a pretty good idea there was one left or he wouldn't've provoked him.
shareHe knows with Scorpio later on, chances are he knows with the bank robber as well. Otherwise he wouldn't have pulled the trigger to the empty chamber when the guy "got's to know."
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and it makes him feel a bit more fleshed out and unique in a way as a gangster.Completely agree. Shows good writing. One short line and the dude becomes a person rather than just a target in a video gaeme.
I've always thought that, both times, Harry knew whether or not it was loaded. He's shown to be very experienced and familiar with his weapon, so he'd probably be down-pat on knowing how many times he'd shot. Also, the differences in Harry's expression and tone seem to indicate it as well. With the bank robber, he's smiling while speaking lightly and confidently; he seems to be aware that his gun isn't loaded, but also that the robber wasn't going to make a move. However, with Scorpio, Harry's about two dimensions beyond pissed off. He's much more gruff, and he's aware that Scorpio is insane. He's fully prepared to kill Scorpio, and he knows he has the ability.
The whole "Did I fire six shots" thing just seems to be Harry's way of giving people a chance to surrender.
Of course, this is all speculation, and I'm most likely wrong.
Let a little insanity into your life.
I don't think you're off at all, Sas. Makes sense to me.
Makes sense cause it's Dirty Harry and it is a movie. My guess is that in real life most of us might not be 100% of the shot count as we dodged bullets during a fire fight.
shareA cop once got into a gun fight. When it was over his CO asked him, "So how many shots would you say you fired if you had to guess?" The cop said, "2 maybe 3 at the most." When he opened his revolver to check and see all 6 bullets had been fired. So, no, IRL most people wouldn't have a clue how many bullets are left in their gun while in a fire fight.
shareSo, no, IRL most people wouldn't have a clue how many bullets are left in their gun while in a fire fight.Unless your name is Harry Callahan....not most people. share
Agree with the posters above who say he knew; Harry always knows.
In the fire fight at the end after he "exits" the bus roof he fires 4 shots and the fifth clips Scorpio's shoulder.
You can see in his expression and voice tone that he wants Scorpio to go for the gun, knowing he has one left in the chamber.
In both situations though, Harry had time to reload as long as he did it quickly. So whether or not he know or didn't know, why not just reload anyway, so you have more shots, just for the sake of having more shots?
shareHarry purposely provoked the Scorpio into going for his gun so he could kill the bastard and not have to worry about him getting off again.
You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan
Wasn't that a deleted scene???
shareOh yeah. Harry knew everytime.
shareI watched both scenes several times. You can tell from the inflection in his voice, that Clint knows there's no bullet, he says, "You've gotta ask yourself, 'do I feel lucky?', well do you, punk (said softly and smiling)?" Whereas at the end of the movie, he says it filled with rage, taunting Scorpio to reach for his weapon. So he counted the bullets both times. Down below the tough-guy exterior there's a smart-guy interior.
shareAs that speech is a recurring mantra of Harry's, I'm sure it reminds him to count his shots every time he's in a gunfight... just in case he gets the chance to quiz the bad guy.
He knew.
Harry may be a rogue cop, but hes not an idiot, he's not gonna play around with gun toting lunatics and not know if he has an empty barrel or not
shareHe knew. No doubt about it.
shareYep, he obviously knew, both times. Being an absolute expert with firearms is one of Harry's most consistent traits throughout the series. There's even a scene in The Dead Pool where he keeps count of someone else's shots and informs them they're out of bullets.
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An early version of the script had him point the gun at his own head. That just might suggest he knew.
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