THE ENFORCER: Acting 2: Tyne Daly's Performance

[Brendan]

“I wanted to cast her very much.” “ To me she looked like a cop, not like a starlet popping in to give a performance.”

Clint Eastwood, from Neil Sinyard’s book, Clint Eastwood, p. 40.

Tyne Daly told reporter Todd Coleman she turned the role down three times: “I thought the woman was just there to be made fun of, to be the butt of all the jokes.”

Quoted in Todd Coleman, “Clint’s Women,” unpublished article, January 1996.
From Richard Schickel’s book, Clint Eastwood: A Biography, p. 343.

What do you think of Tyne Daly’s performance in the film? Was she a good choice for the role?

[Aline]

"I wanted to cast her very much.” “ To me she looked like a cop, not like a starlet popping in to give a performance"

Wow, I didnt know Clint had said that.....I must agree. She looked like a cop. I thought Tyne gave a great and very believable performance. Try picture an all groomed, airbrushed female partner... it wouldn't have worked the same effect.

[The Schofield Kid]

Tyne Daley's performance in this is the reason I enjoy this sequel to Dirty Harry more than Magnum Force.

She worked so well with Clint, it looked like they had a lot of fun on the set and you can see it in some of their scenes together. Especially the Coit Tower scene where the dialogue turned a little sexual. I mentioned during the movie night that I'm sure they did a few retakes during those scenes.

I love the little double takes Harry does during this film as well, when it comes to Kate. When they first come across one another at the review board. The look on Harry's face when McKay opens the door to his office to reveal Harry's new partner and what Harry says when he sees who standing there.

I know it's been done to death in films where the new partner doesn't get along with the veteran and it takes the whole film for them to finally warm to one another, but it works so well and I love how Kate does it in this film. It was a great performance.

[Christopher]

I like Tyne Daly a lot in this film too. I don't know much about the rest of her career, but her performance is really good here. And I think a female partner adds something special to this Harry film. Like SK said, it is a plot that has been done many times, but Eastwood and Daly pulled it off well here.

Tyne Daly told reporter Todd Coleman she turned the role down three times: “I thought the woman was just there to be made fun of, to be the butt of all the jokes.”

That's really interesting. Does anyone know why she decided to take the role then?

[Lin Sunderland]

I feel this is Tyne Daly's best performance.   She is believeable and funny.   Like Christopher I am sure they had a great deal of fun doing some of the scenes.  Especially the one at Coit Tower.   They both looked ready to collapse in laughter.   That was the closest they came to a romance and a kiss then would have spoilt the scene and taken away some of Tyne's believeability.

[Zebra 3]

It's unfortunate that her improvised deleted scene with Clint Eastwood drinking beer is not available. That said, I think she was robbed of an Oscar nomination.

[D'Ambrosia]

Thanks to everyone for participating in this discussion. This topic is now closed, please post any additional thoughts in the Dirty Harry forum.