Magnum Force (1973)

Hal Holbrook: Lt. Briggs

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lieutenant Briggs : Suppose they panic and start shooting?

  Harry Callahan : Nothing wrong with shooting as long as the right people get shot!

• Lieutenant Briggs : People are guilty until proven... I mean... God damn it, you know what I mean!

• Lieutenant Briggs : You're a good cop, Harry. You had a chance to join my team, but you decided to stick with the system.

  Harry Callahan : Briggs, I hate the goddamn system! But until someone comes along with changes that make sense, I'll stick with it.

• [the phone rings, and Harry answers it] 

  Harry Callahan : Yah?

  Lieutenant Briggs : Harry, this is Briggs. Are you alone?

  Harry Callahan : No, as a matter of fact, I'm entertaining a young lady friend.

  Lieutenant Briggs : Well, put your pants back on, Callahan, and come down to the city morgue as fast as you can.

• Harry Callahan : Well, I just work for the city, Briggs!

  Lieutenant Briggs : So do I, longer than you, and I never had to take my gun out of its holster once. I'm proud of that.

  Harry Callahan : Well, you're a good man, lieutenant. A good man always knows his limitations...

• Lieutenant Briggs : [With gun pointed]  Just hold it right there, Callahan. No tricks!

  Harry Callahan : [Activates the bomb he's holding out of sight]  Your organization is through, Briggs.

  Lieutenant Briggs : [Nods slyly]  There's a lot more where they came from, believe me. Move out of the way. Move it!

  [Harry tosses the bomb in the backseat and steps away. Briggs gets in] 

  Lieutenant Briggs : Uphold the law. You just killed three police officers, Harry. And the only reason why I'm not gonna kill you, is because I'm gonna prosecute you- with your own system. It'll be my word against yours. Who's gonna believe you? You're a killer, Harry. A maniac.

  [Briggs starts to drive away when the car blows up] 

  Harry Callahan : A man's GOT to know his limitations.

  [Walks away] 

• Infirmary Doctor : [stitching up Harry's head]  Sure you don't want a local for this, Harry? Takes about seven stitches.

  Harry Callahan : No, thanks.

  Infirmary Doctor : Ok, it's your ass...

  Harry Callahan : My head, the cut's on my head.

  Infirmary Doctor : Why does everybody suddenly become a comedian in here?

  Lieutenant Briggs : [comes in with Captain Avery]  Does he have to stay in here?

  Infirmary Doctor : No, I could stop and let the man's brains run out all over his shoes.

  Captain Avery : Rogers, I don't need to have a doctor display that kind of attitude. A police officer is dead.

  Infirmary Doctor : Sorry.

  Lieutenant Briggs : I got those warrants for a search of the premises, Callahan, not for you to become judge, jury and executioner. It was supposed to be a simple arrest.

  Harry Callahan : Well arresting a killer like Palancio isn't always simple.

  Lieutenant Briggs : People are guilty until proven... I mean... goddamnit, you know what I mean. This city is on the verge of the worst criminal violence in it's history, and you have to start full scale military operations.

  Harry Callahan : I didn't start shooting at anyone that didn't start shooting at me first.

  Captain Avery : Every time you pull out that gun, my paperwork backs up for three goddamn months! The chief and I have already conferred on this matter, Callahan - a full investigation is warranted here.

  [turns and leaves] 

  Lieutenant Briggs : [nodding repeatedly, obviously upset]  What about a dead cop? I warned you against taking them.

  Harry Callahan : Sweet was killed with the first shot. Besides, they were tipped off. They knew we were coming, Briggs.

  Lieutenant Briggs : How? Don't hand me that crap.

  Harry Callahan : I'm telling you, they knew we were coming. After 200 arrests, I know the difference!

  Lieutenant Briggs : If I have my way, Callahan, you won't make another arrest as long as you live.

  Harry Callahan : [contemptous]  Is that all, lieutenant?

  Lieutenant Briggs : No, that's not all. I want that slug you showed me.

  Harry Callahan : I ran that through ballistics, it was nothing, the rifling was totally different.

  Lieutenant Briggs : It's still state's evidence, I want it anyway.

  Harry Callahan : [takes it out and throws it at Briggs]  Eat it!

  [the bullet hits Briggs in the chest and drops to the floor] 

  Harry Callahan : [Briggs bends down to get it and then slowly gets back up glaring at Harry] 

• Lieutenant Briggs : You're on loan to Stakeout, Callahan.

  Harry Callahan : That's right, Lieutenant! You saw to that.

• Harry Callahan : [someone knocks on Harry's door]  Who is it?

  [no answer and there's another knock] 

  Harry Callahan : [takes gun out and aims it at door]  Come on in.

  Lieutenant Briggs : [enters]  I don't like looking down one of those.

  [Harry reholsters his gun] 

• Lieutenant Briggs : Turn right here... get on the freeway.

  Harry Callahan : The freeway? You got a new route to City Hall, Lieutenant?

  Harry Callahan : [Briggs puts his glasses away, takes his gun out and points it at Callahan]  Your gun's out of it's holster, Briggs. First time?

  Lieutenant Briggs : You know you're not going to City Hall, Callahan. The only way you're going anywhere is in a rubber bag.

• Lieutenant Briggs : [Comparing bullets under a microscope]  Close, but no match. It has much more lines than the other. Where'd you get it from, by the way?

  Harry Callahan : Oh, just some hunch.

  Lieutenant Briggs : Tell me where.

  Harry Callahan : Look, it doesn't matter because it doesn't match up, so there's no reason for me to tell you.

  Lieutenant Briggs : Don't play any crap games with me.

• Harry Callahan : How do you figure on pulling this off, Briggs?

  Lt. Briggs : I run the investigation. With your record, I can make anything stick.

  Harry Callahan : What I can't understand is, why you, of all people?

  Lt. Briggs : A hundred years ago in this city, people did the same thing. History justified the vigilantes. We're no different. Anyone who threatens the security of the people will be executed. Evil for evil, Harry. Retribution.

  Harry Callahan : That's just fine, but how does murder fit in? You know, when police start becoming their own executioners, where's it gonna end? Huh, Briggs? Pretty soon, you'll start executing people for jaywalking, and executing people for traffic violations. Then you end up executing your neighbor 'cause his dog pisses on your lawn

  Lt. Briggs : There isn't one man we've killed who didn't deserved what was coming to him.

  Harry Callahan : Yes, there is- Charlie McCoy.

  Lt. Briggs : And what would you have done?

  Harry Callahan : I'd have upheld the law.

  Lt. Briggs : What the hell do you know about the law? You're a great cop, Harry. You had a chance to join the team, but you'd rather stick with the system.

  Harry Callahan : Briggs, I hate the goddamn system, but until someone comes along with some changes that makes sense, I'll stick with with.

  Lt. Briggs : You're about to become extinct.