Eastwood plays Ben Shockley, an alcoholic, mediocre Phoenix cop who is given a seemingly simple assignment: extradite a witness named Gus Mally (Sondra Locke) from Las Vegas to testify in a trial. Upon arrival, he discovers Mally is actually a woman (Augustina "Gus" Mally), a loudmouthed prostitute with connections to the mob. More importantly, Shockley learns that his own superiors have set him up; the "gauntlet" refers to the journey itself, where he is expected to die so the witness can be silenced.
The Gauntlet is often read as a referendum on institutional betrayal. Every authority figure—from the police chief to the governor—is in on the conspiracy. The film’s tagline says it all: “The mob wants her dead. The police want him dead. They haven’t got a chance.” The Gauntlet - Clint Eastwood 1977 Eng Subs 720...
“You’re the gauntlet,” she said, watching the desert heat shimmer on the empty highway. Eastwood plays Ben Shockley, an alcoholic, mediocre Phoenix