The Gauntlet (1977 film)

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The Gauntlet

The Gauntlet movie poster
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Produced by Robert Daley
Written by Michael Butler
Dennis Shryack
Starring Clint Eastwood
Sondra Locke
Music by Jerry Fielding
Cinematography Rexford L. Metz
Editing by Joel Cox
Ferris Webster
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) December 21, 1977
Flag of the United States United States
Running time 109 min.
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Budget $5,500,000 (Estimated)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile
For the TV show, see Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet, Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet II, or Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet III.
For other uses, see Gauntlet.

The Gauntlet is a 1977 action film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The film also stars Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney, and longtime personal friend Mara Corday who would appear with Eastwood in another three films.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

Ben Shockley (Clint Eastwood), a cop from Phoenix, is well on his way to becoming a down-and-out when he is given the task to escort witness Gus Mally (Sondra Locke) from Las Vegas. Mally soon reveals herself to be a belligerent prostitute with mob ties and is in possession of incriminating information concerning a high figure in society. Shockley's suspicions are roused when the transport vehicle is bombed and Mally's house is fired upon. The two are forced to face the truth and discover their own inner strengths as they fight their way to Phoenix (from witnessing the murder of a constable in his patrol car, motorcycle gangs, and snipers in a helicopter) finally using an armored bus to run a gauntlet of hundreds of police armed with high-powered weaponry.

References to political corruption and organized crime were depicted in the film. Although a moderate hit with the viewing public, critics were mixed about the film. Eastwood's long time nemesis Judith Keil called it "a tale varnished with foul language and garnished with violence". Roger Ebert, on the other hand, gave it three stars and called it "...classic Clint Eastwood: fast, furious, and funny." The Gauntlet is currently rated 83% ("fresh") on movie review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com.

[edit] Promotion

  • Frank Frazetta painted the super-stylized promotional billboard poster for the movie.

[edit] Trivia

  • The constable's patrol car is a 1973 Ford Torino during the road scenes; when the constable meets his demise, the car switches to a Gran Torino.
  • The 'armored' bus with all its tires exposed, travels through a hail of bullets without even one of its tires being shot until the very last moment.


[edit] Cast

  • Clint Eastwood as Ben Shockley
  • Sondra Locke as Gus Mally
  • Pat Hingle as Josephson
  • William Prince as Blakelock
  • Bill McKinney as Constable
  • Michael Cavanaugh as Feyderspiel
  • Carole Cook as Waitress
  • Mara Corday as Jail Matron
  • Doug McGrath as Bookie
  • Jeff Morris as Desk Sergeant
  • Samantha Doane as Biker
  • Roy Jenson as Biker
  • Dan Vadis as Biker
  • Carver Barnes as Bus Driver
  • Robert Barrett as Paramedic
  • Teddy Bear as Lieutenant
  • Mildren J. Brion as Old Lady On Bus
  • Ron Chapman as Veteran Cop
  • Don Circle as Bus Clerk
  • James W. Gavin as Helicopter Pilot #1
  • Tom Friedkin as Helicopter Pilot #2
  • Darwin Lamb as Police Captain
  • Roger Lowe as Paramedic Driver
  • Fritz Manes as Helicopter Gunman
  • John Quiroga as Cab Driver
  • Joe Rainer as Rookie Cop
  • Art Rimdzius as Judge
  • Al Silvani as Police Sergeant
  • Marneen Fields as Biker Chick
  • Steve Wargo as Man In Airport

[edit] Quotes

  • Next turkey that tries that, I'm gonna shoot him, stuff him, and stick an apple in his ass. - Shockley
  • I got this badge, I got this gun, and I got the love of Jesus right here in my pretty green eyes. - Shockley
  • With all due respect, sir, this is a well-traveled highway. We don't want blood and tennis rackets all over the asphalt. - Feyderspiel
  • 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. - Shockley
  • Does your wife know you masturbate? - Gus Mally
  • Now drive! - Ben Shockley
  • Nag, nag, nag! (Passengers hijacked A train, as she is holding A gun) - Ben Shockley
  • Please be sure to take your belongings. Arrangements will be made for your continued journey as quickly as possible. Well? Haul ass! (waves gun And shouts) - Gus Mally
  • You cheap-shot, gutless bastard! You really get off roughing up girls, do you? Big man! Big 45-caliber fruit! - Gus Mally
  • That's me. - Ben Shockley
  • Macho mentality. You're gonna get us both killed before we get out of here! - Gus Mally
  • All I've got, it is your fucking job! - Gus Mally
  • I just do what I'm told. - Ben Shockley
  • Yeah. So does An imbecile. (dials telephone) - Gus Mally
  • Information. - Josephson
  • You got the number for Airwest. - Ben Shockley
  • Stay there. - Ben Shockley
  • On A scale of 10, I'd have to give her A 2. And that's only because I've never seen A 6 before. - Ben Shockley
  • He gave me his entire route. He also said some very strange things about Commissioner Blakelock And I didn't know how to approach. - Feyderspiel
  • I'll leave your gun by the road. You guys can pick it up later. Damn bet I will! You have some fast talking to do, Colonel. Them little fellas are gonna wonder, you choose sides, what you bailed out. You choose sides, Colonel. Get yourself A little nookie And choose sides. - Constable
  • Shit! Better get A move on. - Ben Shockley
  • I've heard about you, Shockley. As Commissioner of the police department, considerable responsibility. Watchdog of the department, so to speak. Policing the police. So that the need for absolute secrecy is... I understand. Plane tickets. Extradite And subpoena. You're flying to Las Vegas coming back with A prisoner for us, for you will remand to custody at County. And then you report, you know, back here. (to Ben Shockley) - Blakelock
  • You mind if A country boy picks up A little education? I got this buddy, he had the idea we'd open A string of whorehouses And advertise like fried-chicken places. Finger-lickin good! - Constable
  • Pull over. 50 miles An hour all the way, I'm headed to the airport. - Ben Shockley
  • I mean it. I swear to Christ, if you do drive this thing, if you do stop, I'll shoot you. - Gus Mally
  • What's that? - Ben Shockley
  • They're shooting! - Gus Mally
  • Shoot at them! - Ben Shockley
  • Stop! It's the police! - Gus Mally
  • It is the police! Shoot at them! - Ben Shockley
  • I can! - Gus Mally
  • You were ready to shoot at me, damn it! (raging gunfire) - Ben Shockley
  • Oh, my God! - Ben Shockley
  • Oh, my God! - Gus Mally
  • Wait A minute now! When you get back to Phoenix empty-handed, all I said was, I ain't got no guy named Gus Mally. Augustina Mally I got over in women's detention. Ohh, ohh, ohh, Augustina! - Helicopter Pilot #2
  • Asshole. - Ben Shockley
  • She's been spitting up since morning. I don't know. She might have A fever or something. We called the prison doctor, but he hasn't shown up yet. - Jail Matron
  • Hit the deck, Mally. Has she have anything to get eaten? - Ben Shockley
  • Just A cup of coffee this morning. - Jail Matron
  • (hands cup) Yeah. Looks like she smoked A few cigarettes And put the ashes in the coffee. Old Army trick. She wanted to look sick. - Ben Shockley
  • Let me go! They're going to kill me! I want A fucking lawyer! Terrific! My life on the line And they send me An on-the-ropes bum! - Gus Mally
  • Josephson? Josephson? It's me, Shockley. - Smith
  • For Christ's sakes, Ben! Ben, there's An APB out on you. - Josephson
  • I've got extraditional papers for one, Gus Mally. And the address is this building. You better check again. - Ben Shockley
  • I've got all kinds of fellas in here. I got A Smith. I got A Gonzales. I got A McNaughton. Take your pick. - Blakelock
  • But we do have A fella named Gus Mally. - Helicopter Pilot #2
  • He was to have been picked up yesterday, held for An extradition. Somebody screwed up. - Ben Shockley
  • Do that, Feyderspiel. Before the whole bucket kills up under our face. You get that trial postponed. Have A heart attack. Perjure yourself. Shockley's gonna be stopped. Stopped hard! (to Feyderspiel And Ben Shockley) - Blakelock
  • Look, go back home. Leave me be. Call it off. Please! - Gus Mally
  • We're splitting right now! Look, one of you call Hertz or Avis. I do care which one. (calls Hertz) Get me A car. Have them leave me somewhere between here And the airport. Now leave the keys. I'll pay for it when I get her on the plane. If And I say if, what you're saying is true that somebody is betting I can do my job. Well, they're full of shit! - Ben Shockley
  • You are? These people laying these odds will chew you up And spit you out. You're fucking crazy. I'm not going anyplace with you. - Gus Mally


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[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Clint Eastwood
1970s
Play Misty for Me (1971) • High Plains Drifter (1973) • Breezy (1973) • The Eiger Sanction (1975) • The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) • The Gauntlet (1977)
1980s
Bronco Billy (1980) • Firefox (1982) • Honkytonk Man (1982) • Sudden Impact (1983) • Pale Rider (1985) • Heartbreak Ridge (1986) • Bird (1988)
1990s
2000s
Space Cowboys (2000) • Blood Work (2002) • Mystic River (2003) • The Blues: Piano Blues (2003) • Million Dollar Baby (2004) • Flags of Our Fathers (2006) • Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) • Changeling (2008) • Gran Torino (2008)
v • d • e
American films of the 1970s
1970 •1971 •1972 •1973 •1974 •1975 •1976 •1977 •1978 •1979