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IMDbPro

The Gauntlet

  • 19771977
  • RR
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:35
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Thriller
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... Read allA 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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writers
    • Michael Butler
    • Dennis Shryack
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Sondra Locke
    • Pat Hingle
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writers
    • Michael Butler
    • Dennis Shryack
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Sondra Locke
    • Pat Hingle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 136User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Gauntlet
    Trailer 2:35
    The Gauntlet

    Photos200

    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)
    Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clint Eastwood
    Clint Eastwood
    • Ben Shockleyas Ben Shockley
    Sondra Locke
    Sondra Locke
    • Gus Mallyas Gus Mally
    Pat Hingle
    Pat Hingle
    • Josephsonas Josephson
    William Prince
    William Prince
    • Blakelockas Blakelock
    Bill McKinney
    Bill McKinney
    • Constableas Constable
    Michael Cavanaugh
    Michael Cavanaugh
    • Feyderspielas Feyderspiel
    Carole Cook
    Carole Cook
    • Waitressas Waitress
    Mara Corday
    Mara Corday
    • Jail Matronas Jail Matron
    Doug McGrath
    Doug McGrath
    • Bookieas Bookie
    • (as Douglas McGrath)
    Jeff Morris
    • Desk Sergeantas Desk Sergeant
    Samantha Doane
    • Bikeras Biker
    Roy Jenson
    Roy Jenson
    • Bikeras Biker
    Dan Vadis
    Dan Vadis
    • Bikeras Biker
    Carver Barnes
    • Bus Driveras Bus Driver
    Robert Barrett
    • Paramedicas Paramedic
    Teddy Bear
    • Lieutenantas Lieutenant
    Mildred Brion
    • Old Lady on Busas Old Lady on Bus
    • (as Mildren J. Brion)
    Ron Chapman
    • Veteran Copas Veteran Cop
    • Director
      • Clint Eastwood
    • Writers
      • Michael Butler
      • Dennis Shryack
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steve McQueen and Barbra Streisand were tentatively cast in the lead roles, but the two did not get along due to a clash of egos.
    • Goofs
      In Las Vegas the odds for a horse called "Mally No Show" keep increasing. It is revealed that there is no such horse and it gambling device to show that the mob is betting that Shockley will fail to get the witness to court. However, horse racing uses parimutuel betting. Therefore, you cannot bet that a horse will lose. In parimutuel betting the odds of one horse goes up because more money is bet on other horses to win.
    • Quotes

      Ben Shockley: On a scale of one to ten, I'd have to give her a two, and that's because I haven't seen a one before.

    • 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."
    • Alternate versions
      Back in 1978 Norwegian cinema version was cut to get an 16 rating, later video rental version and DVD version are uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Gauntlet: Behind the Scenes (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Just A Closer Walk with Thee
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

    User reviews136

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A chaotic road trip to justice!
    A rundown cop who's always on the drink named Ben Shockley is assigned to accompany a foul-mouthed prostitute in Las Vegas to a protection program across the country in Phoenix to testify against highly placed authority figure, although first they have to get through a gauntlet of bad cops and the mob who actually want them both dead. So now the odds aren't in their favour, but Shockley is determine to do his job, no matter how big the odds are against them.

    Classic Eastwood is on show here people. Although, it's not one of his greatest nor particularly original. But this reasonably familiar cop / action film delivers what it intended to do by giving us a taut little road movie across baron landscapes with a tremendous amount of brutally fast-paced shootouts and grand chase scenes. I mean a lot! To sum it up, shootouts, shootouts and even more shootouts. Watch things go boom with a lot going on at such a furious pace! What more could you want?

    So you ask, why is this nothing out of the ordinary? Because this kind of thing wasn't particularly new within this era of films. There were definite shades of Dirty Harry; Eastwood's character Shockley was the exact opposite to Harry though. The one thing you'll notice is that there is no real excuse or depth behind the plot, but to stage one chaotic and stretched out shootout after another. Sometimes they feel like they go on forever! Nonetheless, they might be far-fetched and fail logic, but they're rather well set-up by director Eastwood. Giving us a sudden burst around each corner and because of that there's hardly a mundane moment… uh, maybe Eastwood did overkill certain shootouts, but it did get the blood pumping! So, when the "exaggerated" climax hits the screen - at least the film was consistent in that aspect.

    The performances were top-notch, with Eastwood's persona making any film his in watchable. He gives a stellar performance. Sondra Locke as Gus Mally was perfect. The chemistry between the leads was outstanding. The scathing and rough dialogue amongst them was a treat with great use of sarcasm and offbeat humour. The biting conversations truly built on the paranoia at hand with many top one-liners. This gives the film a buddy type of feel. Other key factors are the soothing blues soundtrack, well established camera shots that capture a beautiful landscape, but also the panic of the situation they face. While, there might be underlining themes running throughout the plot, I just didn't read too much into it.

    Just leave your brain at the door and enjoy the total chaos and destruction that follows with your screen being sprayed with bullets! Definitely recommended for fans of Eastwood and gritty action films.
    helpful•39
    12
    • lost-in-limbo
    • Nov 5, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gauntlet
    • Filming locations
      • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • The Malpaso Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,414,658
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,414,658
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • 4-Track Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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