Burt Lancaster’s filmography ranks among the greatest of all time, and when it comes to range across different roles and genres, he was a master.
However, like many great actors, Lancaster turned down several films throughout his career that went on to become all-time classics.
One of those was Don Siegel’s 1971 crime thriller Dirty Harry, which starred Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan.
Siegel initially wanted Lancaster for the lead role, but he rejected the film, along with several other prominent actors, before Siegel ultimately landed on Eastwood.
The IMDb plot description reads, “When a killer calling himself “Scorpio” menaces San Francisco, tough-as-nails Police Inspector ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan is assigned to track down the crazed psychopath.”
Why Did Lancaster Turn Down Dirty Harry?
Lancaster simply didn’t like the script. He believed it carried a right-wing political message and featured too much extreme violence for him to play the lead role and become the face of the film.
According to AuthorsDen, the film contradicted his belief in “the responsibility for criminal and social justice and the protection of individual rights.”
Who Else Turned Down the Film?
Lancaster wasn’t Siegel’s first choice, and he was one of several high-profile Hollywood actors who turned down Dirty Harry.
Other notable names included Frank Sinatra, who was the first choice for the role. John Wayne also declined after Sinatra turned it down, citing other issues with the film and Harry Callahan’s character. Robert Mitchum objected to the film’s violent themes, while Steve McQueen and Paul Newman also rejected the role.
Dirty Harry Ranked Among the Best Thrillers Ever Made
The film was a massive box office success, earning $36 million worldwide on a $4 million budget.
It has also stood the test of time, holding an impressive 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Time Out ranked it No. 69 on its list of the best thriller movies of all time, while the American Film Institute placed it No. 41 on its list of the 100 most heart-pounding American movies.
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