The Hero Cop: Yesterday and Today (1973) *** (out of 4) This vintage featurette was originally released to promote the upcoming MAGNUM FORCE but when viewed today it's basically a nostalgia trip for one to see how movies were once sold. The the intense and over-the-top narration, we learn about vigilante justice in America and learn about a "new hero" who of course turns out to be the 'Dirty' Harry character. I've always enjoyed this promotional pieces because they often take themselves way too serious but it's easy to see how this here would help sell the picture to people watching it. Another plus is that you get to see a lot of behind-the-scenes footage that we probably wouldn't have had without these type of shorts. This one takes it a step further by talking about some of the vigilante stories that were known about at the time as well as some from the past including a couple lynchings in California. If you're a fan of MAGNUM FORCE this here is certainly worth watching.