The Gladiator (TV 1986)

A road warrior vigilante avenges his brother's death at the hands of a crazy motorist by using his souped-up pickup to apprehend drunken drivers and others who abuse their driving privileges.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

William Bleich (television story and teleplay), Tom Schulman (story),

Stars:

Ken Wahl, Nancy Allen, Robert Culp

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ken Wahl	...	Rick Benton
Nancy Allen	...	Susan Neville
Robert Culp	...	Lieutenant Frank Mason
Stan Shaw	...	Joe Barker
Rosemary Forsyth	...	Loretta Simpson
Bart Braverman	...	Dan
Brian Robbins	...	Jeff Benton
Rick Dees	...	Garth Masters
Michael Young	...	Reporter
Harry Beer	...	Franklin
Garry Goodrow	...	Cadillac Drunk
Robert Phalen	...	Dr. Maxwell
Linda Thorson	...	Woman in Class
Mary Baldwin	...	Mary
Thom Bierdz	...	Kid

Storyline

A homicidal maniac is on the loose, killing motorists at random in his "death car" - after losing his brother to the twisted assassin "Skull", Rick Benten becomes a vigilante, and takes it upon himself to hunt down the reckless drivers that fill the streets at night. Being a master mechanic, Rick spends his time converting his pickup truck into an armed and dangerous vehicle - with speed to take on the fastest car, and strength to make sure in a one-on-one situation, he will be the only survivor. The cops soon find out about the vigilante known only as the "Gladiator" and do all they can to catch him before his citizen's arrests go one step too far - but will they find the Gladiator before the Gladiator finds Skull? When the two finally meet, it's a duel to the death and maybe an end to Rick's career as the vigilante.

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Plot Keywords:

vigilante | pickup truck | road warrior | vengeance | highway | 

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Taglines:

There can only be one winner

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gladiator

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walker Brothers Productions, New World Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The five 1969 Dodge Chargers used in this film were actual "General Lee's" from The Dukes of Hazzard, sold by Warner Bros to this production. Out of the five, two survived in the hands of stunt driver George A. Sack Jr. They are now being restored for "Dukes" stunt coordinator Gary Baxley by Smith Bros. Restorations.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Phil: [finishes a pint of beer] Nick - one more. Come on Nick, just one more?
Nick: You've had enough Phil, it's time to go home.

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Connections

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004)

User Reviews

A descent awesome action flick!

The Gladiator (1986) made for TV movie really dose get a great job done and teaches us a lesson. The car that was used in this movie by the psychopath who was driving black 69 Dodge. The similar car was later used in TV movie Wheels of Terror with Joanna Cassidy in the main role. I thought The Gladiator movie used the car as maniac murder by Wheels of Terror but i was wrong. Wheels of Terror used the story of the car from this movie. I watched Abel Ferrara 's movie when i was a child and it was really good awesome movie. Haven't seen this movie for about 15.years until today, i watch it the first time on YouTube someone upload it.Ken Wahl and Nancy Allen made outstanding terrific cast as the main actor and actress in this movie. The Gladiator (1986) is a decent road action flick that made a job well done. I wish that today they would make movies like this now. The most shocking is when the psycho push and hit Rick and Jeff in the truck and Rick's younger brother dies. That could be true because so many people died like on this way on a road when accident happened, it really did shocked me, than his brother put that anger and become a vigilante and a road warrior "The Gladiator" seeking justice. Chasing the most dangerous drunk drivers that cost accidents on a road and kill so many innocent people and cops call's The Gladiator a criminal? I am lost if The Gladiator really would exist he could stop drunk criminals. 2.years ago in Slovenia second main city Maribor a young fellow drive drunk and was speeding he drove out of the road went to the plant his car jump off the grass in the air and he hit a young mother who was pregnant at the time with her second child. All what he got was 2.years and 1.month of prison and that murderer did not even apologize to the family of victims, no he didn't. After he woke up with a little injuries in his head and realizing what he did he took his plate off the car and fled the crime scene. He did not call ambulance not police officers or fireman's zero. He let the poor young mama dieing in cold blood. Slovenia is horrible you can do anything here , in my country there is no justice and if The Gladiator really would exist, he would stop this psycho murderer yes he would. I am giving this movie higher rank even for 80's action drama flick I am glad i watch this movie and i can download from torrents.

Another thing: I said before The Gladiator teach us a lesson and i am right, drunk driving is dead dangerous. I watched another movie in 80's License to Kill not a Bond film but a Drama movie with Denzel Washington who he was playing a young lawyer who was prosecuting a drunk driver murderer who caused a car accident and killed a young graduate teenage girl and who was getting away with it. They were showing us what someone who is drunk can do behind the wheels. That movie was really great i watched 2.years ago on TV i missed the beginning but i went watching it anyway. Today drunk driving nobody takes serious nobody.I watched Death Proof Quentin Tarantino's film and it is the most boring stupidest unreal movie ever made, it dose not compare to this movie. I so so so wish they would still make movies like this today. I miss the 80's The Gladiator really touched me and i will watch this movie again. 10/10