Magnum Force was the first of the sequels to the film Dirty Harry starring Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan. The film was released in 1973 and was directed by Ted Post , who also directed Clint in TV's Rawhide and the feature film Hang 'Em High . The screenplay was written by John Milius and Michael Cimino.

The film was based on a real life incident involving police in Brazil. Inspector Callahan investigates a serial murder case in which all of the victims were criminals who had been released on technicalities. Veteran actor Hal Holbrook co-starred as Harry's superior Lieutenant Briggs who turns out was the villain.

There is one dark footnote associated with the film. There is one scene where a pimp kills a prostitute by forcing a can of drain cleaner down her throat. On April 22, 1974 in Ogden, Utah there occurred one of the most horrible murder cases imaginable. Two men held up a Hi-Fi Shop and took five people hostage. They shot each one after first making them drink drain cleaner. It was later revealed that the criminals had gotten the idea from watching Magnum Force.

Features Robert Urich, David Soul, Tim Matheson, John Mitchum , Felton Perry , and a brief appearance by a topless Suzanne Somers.