The 70s film airs on ITV tonight and features an iconic inspector character.

Transport yourself back to the golden era of 1970s cinema this evening as ITV broadcasts a classic action flick from a beloved series featuring one of Hollywood’s most legendary stars.

Hitting cinemas in 1976, this American neo-noir thriller forms part of the cherished Dirty Harry franchise. With Clint Eastwood reprising his role as Inspector Harry Callahan, The Enforcer marks the third instalment in the series and is widely regarded as the most humorous.

Under the direction of James Fargo, the picture proved an immediate box office success, raking in $8,851,288 during its opening week – a record-breaking figure for the leading man at that stage of his career. However, The Enforcer ventured into uncharted territory compared to its predecessors by weaving in more comedic moments, a decision that split opinion amongst cinema-goers.

One fan posted on Rotten Tomatoes: “Another great sequel to an outstanding series.” Meanwhile, another viewer commented: “Very good film! Not as great as the first two, but it is still a quality film worth seeing.”

A fresh addition this time round sees the franchise introducing a formidable female character into its roster – police inspector Kate Moore, portrayed by Tyne Daly. Callahan finds himself partnered with the city’s inaugural female inspector as they hunt down a merciless Vietnam veteran terrorist cell engaged in bank heists and the abduction of government figures.

They’re keeping these individuals as hostages, leading to a dramatic confrontation as Callahan battles to prevent their most devastating assault on San Francisco yet. Meanwhile, he’s attempting to undermine his new colleague’s credibility, though he reluctantly comes to admire her skills and professionalism, despite the era’s unfamiliarity with female officers.

This element of the movie certainly draws criticism from contemporary viewers, with many labelling it a “outdated” cliché. One critic commented: “Ok Dirty Harry flick in which he is partnered with, gasp, a woman, much to his chagrin, to take on hippie extremists. Dated and predictable, but some great sequences, including a rooftop chase and a shootout on Alcatraz.”

Another fan remarked: “Yet another really good addition to the Dirty Harry franchise with Clint Eastwood pulling off a great performance.”

Whilst someone else noted: “Pretty good sequel to the sequel. Clint Eastwood at the height of his powers and kicking some serious butt as Harry Callahan again.”

Yet another person wrote: “…the 3rd and { last } excellent dirty harry adventure. Clint has to deal with a girl as partner and terrorists. Lots of action, fast pace and perfect amount of laughs. Two more films followed, but were more for laughs.”

One enthusiast was eager to highlight how the Dirty Harry series pioneered the “buddy cop” format, now a staple of blockbuster action films. They observed: “Harry Callihan is back in his third outing, this time as the original mismatched buddy cop film.

“Clint is paired with a female partner, Tyne Daly, and let the chauvinism begin! It’s the original cop buddy story, so it now seems quite clichéd, but Clint and Daly are so good that you can’t help but get into it.”

The franchise comprises five films altogether, with The Enforcer serving as the third instalment, following the original Dirty Harry and its sequel, Magnum Force. According to Rotten Tomatoes enthusiasts, the inaugural film ranks highest, yet audiences keep returning for more of Eastwood’s iconic action hero performance.

You can catch The Enforcer this evening on ITV4 at 9:00pm. It’s also available for streaming on ITVX whenever suits you.