The Gauntlet (1977)

A hard but mediocre cop is assigned to escort a prostitute into custody from Las Vegas to Phoenix, so that she can testify in a mob trial. But a lot of people are literally betting that they won't make it into town alive.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Ben Shockley
Sondra Locke	...	Gus Mally
Pat Hingle	...	Josephson
William Prince	...	Blakelock
Bill McKinney	...	Constable
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Feyderspiel
Carole Cook	...	Waitress
Mara Corday	...	Jail Matron
Doug McGrath	...	Bookie (as Douglas McGrath)
Jeff Morris	...	Desk Sergeant
Samantha Doane	...	Biker
Roy Jenson	...	Biker
Dan Vadis	...	Biker
Carver Barnes	...	Bus Driver
Robert Barrett	...	Paramedic

Storyline

In Phoenix, the alcoholic and mediocre detective Ben Shockley is assigned by the Chief Commissary Blakelock to bring the witness Gus Mally from Las Vegas for a minor trial. Shockley travels to Vegas and finds that Gus Malley is an aggressive and intelligent prostitute with college degree and she tells him that the odds are against her showing up in court. Shockley learns that she will actually testify against a powerful mobster and the mafia is chasing them trying to kill them both. He calls Blakelock and request a police escort from Phoenix to protect them. But soon he discovers that someone is betraying him in the police department. Now, Shockley and Malley hijack a bus and Shockley welds thick steel plates and transforms the cabin in an armored bus trying to reach the Forum. But they will need to drive through a gauntlet of police officers armed with heavy weapons.

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Plot Keywords:

police | prostitute | trial | bus | gauntlet | 

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Taglines:

Clint Eastwood is the man in the middle of The Gauntlet

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ruta suicida

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Malpaso Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The illustration on the film's original theatrical release poster was by Frank Frazetta.

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Goofs

Upon learning that Shockley has hijacked a bus in Wickenburg Arizona and is en route, Blakelock announces that it will be three hours before the bus arrives in Phoenix, 150 miles away. Actually, the two cities are only about 50 miles apart - a distance that can easily be traveled in an hour or so.

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Quotes

Ben Shockley: How's our Assistant D.A. these days?
Josephson: Shit! He couldn't convict Hitler.

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Crazy Credits

A disclaimer at the end reads: "Law enforcement procedures depicted in this film do not necessarily represent those of any law enforcement agency mentioned herein."

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Connections

Referenced in 16 Blocks (2006)

User Reviews

70's masterpiece from Eastwood. Feast for Clint fans.

Everyone has a number one favorite actor, I'm quite sure about it. I just simply love legendary Mr. Clint Eastwood and every work he has ever done. I don't know why, there's something so peculiar about him, something different. I wonder what would've the 70's been like without Clint and his roles as a for example Dave Garver in his directing debut "Play Misty for me", Harry Callahan, Joe Kidd, John "Thunderbolt" Doherty in "Thunderbolt and lightfoot", Josey Wales, Philo Beddoe (yes, even him) and the mysterious stranger in "High plains drifter"? He's done so much for the audience and I'm thankful for everything we've got from him over the years. I can't help of admitting I love his flicks even if they aren't as good as they normally are or should be.

I'm not referring to this movie, I'm just saying that if I love those much poorer films (Firefox, Pink Cadillac, Any which way you can...) it goes without saying I adore "The Gauntlet" because it's unconditionally one of the best movies from him ever and there isn't a real movie freak in the world who can possibly deny it. It's the 6th motion picture he directed and Clint's role as a drunken cop Ben Shockley is one of the coolest in his long and successful career and one my personal favorites. They don't make movies like this anymore. Plot is so fast, funny and ridiculously amazing it brings me into a total ecstacy. I'll promise when you've seen the crazy end sequence of "The Gauntlet" you'll never forget this film. One of the most memorable Eastwood classics of the 70's and a much better than for example many of the "Dirty Harry" sequels. I also think that this is Sondra Locke's best performance in Eastwood's movie. From Clint's own directions, this is by far his very best police film. Definitely 10 out of 10.