The Gauntlet [Blu-ray]

Director: Clint Eastwood

Overview

Clint Eastwood is appropriately flinty as Ben Shockley, an Arizona cop sent to safely extradite prisoner "Gus" Malley (Sondra Locke). She's to testify in a police-corruption trial, a fact that has made her the target of certain high-ranking cops. Once his superior Josephson (Pat Hingle) is killed, Eastwood is completely on his own. Set up for extermination himself by crooked police official Blakelock (William Prince), Ben is compelled to lead Gus through an unbelievable police gauntlet, protected only by an armor-plated bus and his wits. Contrary to the film's ad campaign, Sondra Locke does have some clothes on during the climactic shoot-out. Stretching credibility to the breaking point--actually that point breaks wide open halfway through--The Gauntlet is redeemed by director Eastwood's usual uncanny sense of pacing, timing and energy.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/01/2010
UPC:	0883929128112
Original Release:	1977
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	12,113

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

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
Jeff Morris	Desk Sergeant
Samantha Doane	Biker
Roy Jenson	Biker
Dan Vadis	Biker
Carver Barnes	Bus Driver
Roger Lowe	Paramedic Driver
Robert Barrett	Paramedic
Teddy Bears	Lieutenant
Mildred Brion	Old Lady on Bus
Ron Chapman	Veteran Cop
Don Circle	Bus Clerk
James W. Gavin	Helicopter Pilot
Thomas H. Friedkin	Helicopter Pilot
Darwin Lamb	Police Captain
John Quiroga	Cab Driver
Josef Rainer	Rookie Cop,Policeman,Rookie Cop
Art Rimdzius	Judge
Michael L. Cooley	Biker
Marneen Fields	Biker Chick
Fritz Manes	Helicopter Gunman
Terry D. Seago	Cop
Steve Wargo	Man in airport
Mildred J. Brion	Old Woman on Bus
Tom Friedkin	Helicopter Pilot
Al Silvani	Policeman
Jerry Fielding	Composer

Technical Credits

Michael Butler

Dennis Shryack

Robert Daley	Producer
Chuck Gaspar	Special Effects
Wayne Van Horn	Stunts,Stunts
Michael Butler	Screenwriter
Dennis Shryack	Screenwriter
Les Fresholtz	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Charles Gaspar	Special Effects
Bert Hallberg	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

In addition to working well as an Eastwood actioner, The Gauntlet should probably serve as ground zero for any study of his films' attitude toward women. Eastwood's hard-living, success-starved cop begins the film as an unrepentant sexist, but after being saddled with an antagonist/love interest Sondra Locke, who more than holds her own against him, he leaves the film with an adjusted attitude. That Locke plays a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails, world-weary prostitute only makes his progress that much more curious. It's these sort of difficult to disentangle, seemingly contradictory politics that make even Eastwood's least ambitious films -- of which Gauntlet is certainly one -- rewarding viewing. This attitude toward women in particular has caused him to be reviled as a sexist and lauded as a feminist; whichever way you choose to look at it, The Gauntlet makes for gripping, if familiar, viewing. Eastwood's character's gutter integrity may be imported from the Dirty Harry series, but his deliberately paced direction -- in addition to matching the open spaces of his Southwestern setting -- allows him to explore the details of the persona to a greater extent in a film that's as interesting as much for what's in its margins as for what happens in center stage.