Tim "Magnum" Matheson
May 29, 2008

It’s only occasionally that the star of a movie or TV show that’s decades old will grant an interview to discuss what was going on back then. It’s even rarer to get a co-star or supporting character of the project to step forward and speak up. So I’ve got to admit I was surprised when actor Tim Matheson made himself available to talk about his experiences making 1973’s Magnum Force, the second film in the wildly successful Dirty Harry series starring Clint Eastwood. Matheson has a small part as one of a quartet of vigilante cops who take the law into their own hands to rid their city of “undesirables.”

The Magnum Force Deluxe Edition DVD and Blu-ray disc will be available from Warner (along with

And why did Matheson make agree to speak about the film?

Clint. It was all about Clint.

“I’m one of Clint’s biggest fans—he’s an icon and a role model,” Matheson told me in a telephone interview last week. “He’s simply one of Hollywood’s greatest assets.”

Matheson, who has been directing a whole lot of episodic television over the several years (including installments of Cold Case, Bionic Woman, Criminal Minds, Las Vegas and The West Wing), is a great admirer of “Eastwood The Director,” citing Eastwood’s Unforgiven and The Bridges of Madison County a “two perfect movies.”

“If you look back on film history--you have John Ford, the great director, and John Wayne, the great star. And the two frequently worked together,” said Matheson. I think that Clint is John Ford and John Wayne rolled into one.”

Of the Magnum Force production, Matheson has positive—and enthusiastic—memories.

I clearly remember the first day on the set—getting the cast together, meeting with [director] Ted Post and getting myself together,” Matheson said.  “I remember introducing myself to Clint and offering to rehearse with him. ‘No thanks,’ he said. ‘I don’t like to over-rehearse—it takes away the freshness.

“He was the best listener—good acting is good listening. And he looks you right in the eye,” Matheson continued. After one take, I remember walking away thinking, ‘Wow, this guy is something.’”

Posted by Laurence Lerman on May 29, 2008 | Comments (2)