MovieChat Forums > Dirty Harry (1971) Discussion > You think these movies were a bit racist...

You think these movies were a bit racist?


When Clint had to shoot a bunch of guys at once, they were usually all black guys. Like in the "Do I feel lucky punk" and "Go ahead, make my day" scenes for example.

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Back then was obviously more racist than things are now. I don't think it's necessarily all that racist since there were blacks in the movie that were positive figures - his doctor for one. This movie had offensive factors on many levels I suppose - violence to children, against women, racial slurs, etc... but I think the overall message of the movie overrides that.

"MALLL NOOO, JESUS CHRIST!" - Leonardo DiCaprio, Inception

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there were blacks in the movie that were positive figures - his doctor for one.


Yes, and it also seems that they are old friends. "us Potrero Hill boys gotta stick together".

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Potrero Hill, eh? Currently know as 'Hubba Hill'...Ironically it was where OJ Simpson grew up.

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NO!

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"NO" The movie is NOT racist or "No" blacks don't commit crimes or "No" You don't live in the Potrero District?

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No 1 and No 3

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But if you were to ask Al Sharpton he would say it's racist.

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I don't want to sound racist by saying this, but it seems to me that a lot of African-Americans, stick with their own, when it comes to forming gangs to commit robberies and such.

It seems that they do not like other races mix with them. I think it's the same thing for white gangs as well. Gangs may be more versatile now in allowing in different races, but it seems they were not like that back then, and they prefer to stick with their own. Maybe it's a trust thing.

Could this be it?

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Maybe not TRUST Caucasians, especially in Apartheid USA

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"Apartheid USA"

Thanks. I haven't laughed this hard since "mostly peaceful protest".

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What a shock that you think this movie is racist!

Quote: I don't like repeat offenders. I like dead offenders. Ted Nugent.

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It was the age of Blaxploitation movies?

And don't forget the colour of his partner in the sequel?

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Yeah it's totally unheard of for blacks to be criminals, y'know....

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Yeah, let's review:

Dirty Harry: Some of the minor villians are black, but the main villian is white.

Magnum Force: Villians are four crooked rookie cops, all white, who are taking their orders from a crooked veteran cop, also white. A black pimp kills one of his hookers and is in turn killed by one of the rookies.

The Enforcer: The main villians are all white. A black man (played by Albert Popwell) is involved in minor illegal activities, but gives Harry some important information.

Sudden Impact: All of the villians are white. Black man Albert Popwell plays Harry's partner/friend.

The Dead Pool: Villian is white.

Apparently, in the world of Dirty Harry, people of all races are capable of, and engage in, criminal activities.

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Apparently, in the world of Dirty Harry, people of all races are capable of, and engage in, criminal activities.


Or people of color see only what they want to see in old movies because they are now in a over-politically correct world and REAL action movies like this don't get made anymore.

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Saw the movie last nigh for the first time, nothing racist about it.

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[deleted]

[deleted]

First off -- Harry never shoots a bunch of guys at once.

Instead, he always shoots them one at a time.

So, the premise of your observation is folly.

Now, this is a signature gun, and that is an optical palm reader.

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I understand where the OP is coming from, but I don't agree.

DH by far is not racists, but to me, the black guys in the first one were stereotypical...but they doesn't make it racist. Having the black pimp in Magnum Force was a little offsetting but there were black pimps.

Franchise wise I think there were more white bad guys than black/asian/latin.

Wayne Enterprises buys and sells companies like Stark Industries

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Not racist at all to me either.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

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[deleted]

Haven't watched French Connection in a long time but I was mostly talking about Dirty Harry.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

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Well as a cop he deals with a lot of 'ethnic' dirtbags & lowlifes. I doubt he would refrain from using the most insulting term possible when referring to them.

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His partners in Magnum Force and Sudden Impact were black.

SPOILER

Didn't survive, though.

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Few of Harry's partners survived after this movie.

His partner in Sudden Impact actually played villain roles in some of the earlier Harry movies.

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