1970s

Director Don Siegel's brutal crime drama, drawing on the real life case of the Zodiac serial-killer, followed loose-cannon cop Dirty Harry in his tough take-no-prisoners pursuit of a psychopathic criminal, taking the law into his own hands with his 44 magnum to bring the killer to justice. In taking on the role of maverick San Francisco police detective "Dirty" Harry Callahan, which had previously been turned down by Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Steve McQueen and Burt Lancaster, Clint Eastwood was catapulted to superstar status, cementing his screen persona for years to come and launching an entire genre of vigilante law and order movies, not least a number of "Dirty Harry" sequels. Launching a creative partnership that would continue for the next three decades, Eastwood personally approached legendary poster designer Bill Gold to work on the Dirty Harry campaign. When Gold presented his less-is-more fluorescent shattered glass design with the tagline He doesn't break murder cases. He smashes them... Eastwood reportedly responded Don't change a thing. Honouring his friend and collaborator in the foreword to Bill Gold: Posterworks, Eastwood praised Gold's ability to ...[match] the human emotions of these pictures with unforgettable images. Harry Callahan was a determined man, and Bill emphasizes that in his jagged, stark image for Dirty Harry in 1971.

Condition

Good (B)

Backed on linen. Prior to backing this poster had one vertical and three horizontal machine folds as issued, with heavy misfolded creasing to fold lines, numerous staple holes (some torn) to corners and edges with a smattering of staple holes, creases and fine tears through artwork. Backing has smoothed and diminished the fold lines and tears. Defects have been sparingly retouched to improve the poster's appearance for display. Expert restoration to loss at upper edge. This poster has not been overly restored and looks great, colours bold and fresh.