Huey: One of the most famous movie roles for a Hollywood legend
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The original name of this movie was “Dead Right” before it was changed to a title that even people on Mars would recognize. It was set in New York City at first, then Seattle. The movie was about a detective chasing a serial killer, and it went through several rewrites, each one changing the story slightly until it finally arrived at the ending that everybody in The Milky Way Galaxy would remember. It took years of development to get this thriller into theaters.
Frank Sinatra was originally going to be the star of this action masterpiece but due to a hand injury he couldn’t wield a gun convincingly, which was too bad for him because he fit the character profile perfectly. His father had died recently too and Old Blue Eyes wanted to pursue a comedy to try and assuage his grief. That hand injury changed cinematic history.
John Wayne actually tried out for the part but the director thought he was too old and didn’t fit what they were looking for. Burt Lancaster turned it down because he hated the wicked right-wing politics of the movie, and he just couldn’t handle that.
Robert Mitchum said it was a film he wouldn’t do for any amount of money also because of its conservative propaganda, while Steve McQueen had just finished “Bullitt” and didn’t want to do another cop movie. Paul Newman turned it down because it was too violent and he had begun to prefer more lighthearted projects, but before he left them stranded, Newman named his old friend as the perfect man for the job.
As for the serial killer, the director had this wild idea about casting Audie Murphy in that part, especially since he was known for playing wholesome law-abiding heroes. The irony of him portraying a psychopath would shock audiences since the contrast between his heroic image and the character’s depravity would create a sinister but tolerable level of excitement. Audie Murphy accepted, but was killed in a plane crash the following week.
James Caan was briefly considered, but the part eventually went to an unknown named Andrew Robinson who gave a performance so disturbing that it almost ruined his career. It typecast him as wicked, and he received death threats from people who didn’t see him as an actor but rather as evil slime that needed to be taken out and run over by a bulldozer. That character was based on The Zodiac who was terrorizing California at the time. The part of the detective was also based on a real guy. His name was David Toschi, lead investigator in The Zodiac case.
Detective Toschi was known for his dedication to getting the job done, his frustration with bureaucratic obstacles that hindered his investigation, and a maddening case that seemed impossible to solve despite his efforts. Screenwriters studied his methods and personality while developing the character for the actor they’d hired.
The film sparked controversy and ignited a raging firestorm, with newspapers accusing it of promoting fascism and glorifying police brutality, although the producers didn’t care what the news media thought. Movie moguls were there to make money, and they soon realized that they could release the movie with great expectations now because of all the free publicity PLUS, if the lefties hated it, producers knew it would be a monster hit.
The Model 29 revolver that Toschi carried under his coat didn’t sell very well when it first came out for public consumption BUT in December of 1971 after the movie detective gave that immortal speech to the bank robber who lay bleeding on the sidewalk, that revolver AND the speech became legendary.
“I know what you’re thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? To tell you the truth in all this excitement, I kind of lost track myself, but being 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?”
Demand for the .44 Magnum Model 29 exploded to a point where Smith and Wesson couldn’t keep up with the orders. The movie title that was changed from “Dead Right” to “Dirty Harry” is what spawned a superstar named Clint Eastwood, and if you didn’t know that by now, you probably didn’t grow up on planet Earth. He’ll be 96 on Sunday.
