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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.

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   5,833 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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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:
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Actor Pat Hingle Dead At Age 84
 (From CinemaRetro. 5 January 2009, 6:45 AM, PST)

Batman’s Commissioner Gordon is Dead
 (From /Film. 4 January 2009, 9:16 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Best of the 1970s action movies more

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
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Additional Details

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

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The police officers shooting at the bus in Downtown Phoenix were actual Active and Reserve Phoenix Police Officers. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When the helicopter crashes into the power lines, the copter is obviously a shell. The lack of an engine, and the mechanism where it is tied to the power lines is clearly visible. more
Quotes:
Ben Shockley: Exactly. Reasonable suspicion. I can go anywhere I please if I have reasonable suspicion. Now if I have suspicion a felony's been committed, I can just walk right in here anytime I feel like it, 'cause I got this badge, I got this gun, and I got the love of Jesus right here in my pretty green eyes. more
Movie Connections:
References Every Which Way But Loose (1978) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 9 people found the following comment useful:-
Best of the 1970s action movies, 28 May 2006
9/10
Author: charlessmith702210 from United States

The big part for Sondra Locke, who plays Augustina "Gus" Malley, was dealing with a very tough cop, Clint Eastwood (who plays Ben Shockley). Both have to deal with a Phoenix police commissioner who thinks he is going to be good on the outside---but very sneaky and nasty on the inside.

Throughout the movie, it seems like Sondra is almost like an "Annie Oakley" of some kind especially when she carries a gun...and it was scary to find out that Gus was targeted for death by several parties around Arizona and Phoenix if she tries to testify in a wasteful trial.

This "Gauntlet" flick may not be "Mission Impossible", but Ben accepts an assignment from the commissioner that cannot be revealed at all except by him and the commissioner. Then, as soon as he picks up Gus, they face a maze of attempts on their lives.

The camera-work during the helicopter gunman/motorcycle chase scene was actually the best. You see the chase on a variety of angles--close up, panoramic, cutting away, and zooming in.

The fight scene on the freight train between the crazed bikers, Ben, and Gus reminds me of the phrase "Throw Momma Off The Train"---but even more than that---it reminds me of Clint Eastwood's appearances in spaghetti westerns like "A Fistful of Dollars."

The soundtrack in the flick reminded me of Charles Mingus's jazz style.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Gauntlet (1977)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why didn't anybody.... Zeddmore
plot for every A-Team? rickert
Why is this movie banned in Spain? actionpro
Gus Mally and Blakelock duNamisT
Is this why we got Every Which Way but Loose? justincward
16 blocks gwhutton
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