IMDb > The Gauntlet (1977)
The Gauntlet
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The Gauntlet (1977) More at IMDbPro »

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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.
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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   6,212 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Clint Eastwood
Writers:
Michael Butler (written by) and
Dennis Shryack (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Gauntlet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 December 1977 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Crime | Thriller more
Tagline:
Clint Eastwood is the man in the middle of The Gauntlet
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Which was the best year for movies: 1977, 1994, or 1999?
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 5 August 2009, 5:00 AM, PDT)
Which was the best year for movies: 1977, 1994, or 1999?
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 5 August 2009, 5:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Once again, Clint shows you why he's the best in the business. more (74 total)

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
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo
Certification:
Spain:13 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 (1978) (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (video rating) | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Argentina:Atp (re-rating) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (DVD rating) (1999) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (video rating) (1988) (cut) | France:-12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:16 (1978) | Spain:(Banned) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA more
Company:
Malpaso Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The yellow passenger jet at McCarran Airport is from the now-defunct airline Hughes Airwest, a.k.a. "The Flying Banana". more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the constable's car, there is a can of Tab sitting on the dash with the bar code side visible in all the head on shots. After Shockley and the constable return to the car from making the phone call the can of Tab is turned around to the front; easy to tell because the bar code box is missing and the Tab lettering is larger. more
Quotes:
Constable: I got this here buddy, he had the idea one time we'd open up a string of whorehouses and advertise them like them fried chicken places. "Finger lickin' good!"
[laughs hysterically]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Remington Steele: Blood Is Thicker Than Steele (#2.14)" (1984) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
15 out of 23 people found the following comment useful.
Once again, Clint shows you why he's the best in the business., 23 March 2006
9/10
Author: TOMASBBloodhound from Lincoln, NE USA

How many rounds of ammunition can you fire into a house before it will collapse? Or maybe you'd like to see how many rounds you can fire into a bus before it will stop running. If you're interested, or if you just like Clint Eastwood, then The Gauntlet is for you! Our film centers around Clint playing a sloppy policeman from Phoenix who is assigned to transport a sassy hooker (Sondra Locke) from Las Vegas back to his jurisdiction. This will not be an easy task. First of all, this Eastwood character is no Dirty Harry. His Ben Shocklee is an alcoholic, and barely capable of doing his job. The hooker's testimony could potentially bring down some important figures, so the cops and mafia also don't want them to return to Phoenix. In addition to all that, the woman is such a bitch that even a trip across town with her would be almost too much to bear. The two are put in one harrowing situation after another as Clint proves that he has the moxy to simply "get the job done".

This film, if made by or starring inferior talent, would be nothing short of ridiculous. Several situations that arise in this film seem improbable at best, and often ludicrous. Eastwood's charm, and the razor-sharp dialog keep it moving along. You end up almost believing it could happen. Clint Eastwood is that talented. His acting and direction are as good as ever.

The film has plenty of memorable scenes. Along with the shootouts, we get some very amusing and often very funny situations. One of my favorites is when Eastwood single-handedly talks an entire motorcycle gang into surrendering one of their bikes or facing the consequences of his pistol. And what would an Eastwood/Locke film be without a scene where she is sexually assaulted? Though disturbing, the scene has a hilarious conclusion. Another scene belongs to Locke, herself. In it, she puts a foul-mouthed police flunky in his place using some very sexually explicit words.

That a film which would seemingly be quite ridiculous on paper is made into such a fine product is a testimony to the genius of Clint Eastwood. He is without a doubt my favorite actor of all time.

9 of 10 stars for The Gauntlet.

The Hound.

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Why didn't anybody.... Zeddmore
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