Dirty HarrywannabeBrannigancast John Vernon as a very different kind of character from the one he played in the Clint Eastwood thriller. John Wayne famously passed on the originalDirty Harry, as did Paul Newman and George C. Scott. Eventually, Clint Eastwood was cast, with the film firmly establishing him as the next big movie star. The movie proved to be a major, if controversial, success, while Clint returned for four moreDirty Harrymovies. Wayne came to regret passing on the project too, and later opted to try out some rogue cop movies of his own.
John Wayne’sDirty HarryripoffsMcQandBranniganare entertaining thrillers in an undemanding way, but they play like pale imitators of Eastwood’s hit. Both also confirmed thatWayne was wrong forDirty Harry, due to a combination of his age and not wanting to star in films that were too violent or foul-mouthed. Of the two,Branniganis the more entertaining watch, with Wayne’s titular Chicago cop being a fish out of water when he’s sent to London to bring back a famous gangster named Larkin.
John Vernon Appears In Both Dirty Harry & Brannigan
Brannigan obviously wasn’t going to get Clint Eastwood
A good 15 years after the Eastwood film arrived in theaters, Sylvester Stallone would quietly remakeDirty HarrywithCobra. This violent thriller pit Stallone’s titular cop against a cult of serial killers, and to make the connection between the films even clearer, Stallone addedDirty Harryactors Andrew Robinson and Reni Santoni as his co-stars.Branniganwas the first homage to try this tactic, with John Vernon, who played The Mayor of San Francisco inDirty Harry, playing Larkin.
Vernon was a veteran character actor who worked almost nonstop from the start of his career in the 1950s until his passing in 2005. In between, Vernon appeared in classic movies and shows likePoint Blank,The Outlaw Josey Wales(another Clint Eastwood outing) andIronside. He often played villains or authority figures, so he was perfect casting for a character like Larkin.The fact that Vernon’s presence would remind viewers ofDirty Harrywas no doubt a bonusto the filmmakers.
John Vernon’s Brannigan Character Is Very Different To Dirty Harry’s Mayor
The Mayor is the angry chief of Dirty Harry
It’s interestingDirty Harrydoesn’t give Vernon’s Mayor a name, since he’s essentially a representative of a system. In one sense, Vernon is the angry chief of the story, often reprimanding Harry for his rough tactics and rule breaking. He’s a lot calmer than the average angry police chief, though, and knows he can rely on Harry to get a job done - especially the “dirty” ones.The Mayor is totally different fromBrannigan’sLarkin, a slimy, amoral Chicago gangsterwho is the mortal enemy of Wayne’s cop.
1971
$36 million
1973
$44.6 million
1976
$46.2 million
1983
$67.6 million
1988
Buddy Van Horn
$37.9 million
The Mayor might be under pressure throughout the film, but he still exudes authorityand rarely gets rattled. According toDirty Harry, the biggest issue with the character is that he doesn’t listen to Harry when he has the chance, leading to the climax where Eastwood’s detective takes matters into his own hands - the ones holding a .44 Magnum. Larkin, however, is a somewhat stereotypical gangster villain, though Vernon gives the role a little flavor.
Brannigan’s ending adds a fun twist to this story, but comes with the downside of sidelining Vernon for a decent chunk of the movie…
Branniganat least does something different with the character, setting him up as the big villain, only to have him kidnapped and held for ransom by other gangsters. The movie’s ending adds a fun twist to this story too, but it comes with the downside of sidelining an old pro like Vernon for a decent chunk of the runtime.
Why Brannigan Doesn’t Come Close To Dirty Harry
John Wayne’s final cop movie doesn’t quite work
There’s a lot of fun stuff aboutBrannigan. It offers a nostalgic look at 1975 London, it has a cast that includes Vernon, Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park) and Mel Ferrer and some solid setpieces, like an elaborate punch-up in a British pub. It’s just that it’s hard not to compare it toDirty Harryand find it wanting, particularly when the movie itself is inviting such comparisons. It’s a little too long,the story isn’t that gripping and Wayne feels too old for the main role.
Branniganwas one of John Wayne’s final movies, and was followed byRooster CogburnandThe Shootist.
That said, Wayne’s presence is also part of what makesBranniganwork.It’s just that the thriller is lacking inDirty Harry’sdark edge and grit, and is very tame compared to the Eastwood movie. It feels too cartoonish for its own good at times too, with Vernon’s casting being a good example. InDirty Harry, Vernon is playing it straight, but inBrannigan, he’s going much broader. The film doesn’t want to go too serious or dark, meaning it lacks the bite it needs to stand up to the movie it’s aping.
Brannigan
Cast
Brannigan (1975) features John Wayne as a tough Chicago cop assigned to extradite a notorious American gangster hiding in London. Balancing action with humor, the film navigates the cultural clash between Brannigan and the British police as they pursue justice.
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood stars in the western Dirty Harry as a no-nonsense San Francisco cop who takes the law into his own hands in pursuit of a serial killer, Scorpio. Directed by Don Siegel and featuring a memorable score by Lalo Schifrin, the film is known for its iconic catchphrases and intense action scenes, and has influenced countless films and TV shows in the years since its release.
