History Characters / DirtyHarry

* AxCrazy: They are batshit insane when it comes to killing despite their KnightTemplar intentions. They are basically [[Film/{{Scream}} Ghostface]]s with badges and KnightTemplar vigilante motives.

* TheSociopath: Despite the death squad having [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]], they are TheUnfettered when it comes to killing anyone even innocent victims who get in the way of their executions of criminals, showing that without a sense of restraint, the crooked cops used the vigilante initiative to heartlessly satisfy their blood lust without regard for collateral damage.

%%* LackOfEmpathy:

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Scorpio is a blatant racist, using NWordPrivileges in his first ransom note and then later calling the guy he pays to beat him up a "black sonuvabitch". He also tries to snipe a gay black priest, implying homophobia as well.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: To further solidify him as an irredeemable monster, Scorpio rapes Ann Mary Deacon after kidnapping her. [[{{Ephebophile}} And she was only 14]].

!!!'''Played By:''' John Mitchum

* EveryoneHasStandards: An important plot point in ''Magnum Force''; while Harry has no problem blowing away crooks left, right and center, they are always justified shootings (they are either trying to kill him or they are committing a violent crime and Harry needs to intervene) and he ''only'' shoots the crooks. The group of vigilante [[DirtyCops Dirty Cops]] that are the main antagonists of that film care none about innocent bystanders becoming collateral damage or whatever the crooks did to earn death (Harry snarks at them at the climax if they will eventually [[AllCrimesAreEqual start to shoot jaywalkers]] and their answer is, paraphrased, "we'll do whatever we want"). They even try to recruit Harry at one point and he tells them to go to hell.

* HatesEveryoneEqually: It's noted that Harry plays no favorites. [=DiGiorgio=] tells Chico Gonzalez that Harry hates every ethnic group in the city, including "[[BoomerangBigot honkies]]". That said, he eventually gets along with each of his partners, be they [[Film/DirtyHarry Latino]], [[Film/MagnumForce black]], [[Film/TheDeadPool Asian]], or [[Film/TheEnforcer female]].

* FailureHero: In the original film. Harry repeatedly fails to catch Scorpio, and [[JackBauerInterrogation his brutal interrogation]] of him results in [[OffOnATechicality Scorpio being able to walk free because Harry forced a confession out of him.]] He does manage to finally put an end to Scorpio's rampage by shooting him, but by then he's already caused a lot of death that could have easily been prevented. The following films depict him as much more competent and slightly more level-headed.

* SacrificialLion: He's one of Harry's friends from the first film who makes a reappearance only to be BackForTheDead.
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:Is stabbed InTheBack by Maxwell in ''Film/TheEnforcer'' and later dies in a hospital]].

* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: Is stabbed InTheBack by Maxwell in ''Film/TheEnforcer'' and later dies in a hospital.

* RedHerring: Act as this if he was the vigilante traffic cop causing the mob killings.
* SacrificialLion: His killing by Davis is what cause Harry to realize Charlie was innocent all along and pinpoint who are the real villains.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I know what you're thinking: 'Did he fire six shots or only five?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?"'']]

-> ''"Go ahead. Make my day."''

* [[spoiler:BigBad]]: [[spoiler:He turns out to be the leader of the vigilante cops.]]

* HatesEveryoneEqually: It's noted that Harry plays no favourites. [=DiGiorgio=] tells Chico Gonzalez that Harry hates every ethnic group in the city, including "[[BoomerangBigot honkies]]". That said, he eventually gets along with each of his partners, be they [[Film/DirtyHarry Latino]], [[Film/MagnumForce Black]], [[Film/TheDeadPool Asian]], or [[Film/TheEnforcer female]].

* NiceGuy

* BadgesAndDogtags: In ''Magnum Force'', Charlie [=McCoy=] says "We should have done our 20 in the Marines", indicating that they served together in the armed forces (most likely in the Korean War).

* HandCannon: His WeaponOfChoice is a Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum, which he describes as the most powerful handgun in the world.

!!!'''Played By:''' Reni Santoni

!!!'''Played By:''' Felton Perry

!!!'''Played By:''' Michael Currie

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Scorpio can pretend to be a friendly sort before showing his true AxCrazy nature. It's especially apparent when he sweet-talks the owner of the liquor store before mugging him. Later, when he hijacks the school bus, he cheerfully tells the children that they're taking a trip to an ice cream factory to keep them from suspecting anything.

** Snipes a swimming wooman in her rooftop pool.

* SociopathicSoldier: He was TheVietnamVet who turned terrorist against his own American soil he had fought for.

* KillerCop: They are a squad of motorcycle cops have turned vigilante and are going out executing criminals who evade the justice system.

* TheSociopath: Despite the death squad having [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]], they are TheUnfettered when it comes to killing anyone even innocent victims who gets in their way of their executions of criminals, showing that without a sense of restraint, the crooked cops used the vigilante initiative to heartlessly satisfy their blood lust without regard for collateral damage.

The leader of a group of rapists targeted by Jennifer in retaliation for the death of her sister years ago.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Scorpio can pretend to be a friendly sort before showing his true AxCrazy nature. It's especially apparent when he sweet-talks the bartender before mugging him. Later, when he hijacks the school bus, he cheerfully tells the children that they're taking a trip to an ice cream factory to keep them from suspecting anything.

* DeadPartner: Harry doesn't have much luck with partners. Five of his partners end up dead, one of which occurred before the films. In top of that, Chico Gonzalez suffers a career ending wound in the first film.

* VillainHasAPoint: Scorpio's an absolute scumbag, but he has a point that Harry shouldn't have tortured him.

A [[{{Sadist}} sadistic]] [[SerialKiller serial sniper]] who serves as the main antagonist of the first film.

A [[{{Sadist}} sadistic]] [[SerialKiller serial sniper]] who serves as the primary antagonist of the first film.

!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/TimMatheson, Robert Urich, David Soul, Kip Niven, [[spoiler:Creator/HalHolbrook]]