This 49-Year-Old Thriller Is Clint Eastwood's Most Underrated Movie You Probably Missed

At the height of his popularity in 1977, Clint Eastwood directed one of the most underrated films of his career, The Gauntlet. It's a socially conscious drama about corruption, honor, and human dignity.

Having already established himself as a director of serious dramas, Eastwood created a movie that tapped into the New Hollywood era's zeitgeist, challenging conventional myths about the law enforcement system.

What Is 'The Gauntlet' About?

Police Detective Ben Shockley is assigned to escort a witness in a criminal case, a sex worker named Gus Mally, from Las Vegas to Phoenix.

Initially, he views the assignment as routine, but he soon realizes that the situation is deadly – someone is trying to kill the woman in his care.

It's no secret that Shockley is kept on the force out of pity alone. Yet, this assignment becomes a matter of honor for him, and his last chance to break the cycle of his personal decline.

'The Gauntlet' Is a Blend of Action & Social Drama With an Unconventional Protagonist

Ben Shockley's character differs strikingly from Eastwood's usual roles – he doesn't resemble the characters of Westerns or Dirty Harry. Shockley is a washed-up, heavy-drinking cop whom those around him view as a failure.

Eastwood created a character who feels more at home in a social drama than a police action movie. The film raises complex questions about the relationship between justice and morality, illustrating the utter degradation of the law enforcement system.

The only law-abiding figures are social outcasts: the heavy-drinking Shockley and the sex worker Gus Mally.

Typical genre scenes serve not so much to showcase the protagonist's professional competence as to highlight his desperate attempt to prove his own worth.

'The Gauntlet' Is a Product of New Hollywood That Went on to Influence the Genre Itself

Clint Eastwood's directorial style was influenced by Sergio Leone and Don Siegel. Like them, Eastwood maintained control over every stage of production after founding Malpaso Company in 1967.

In The Gauntlet, Eastwood adopts a measured pace, interspersing action sequences with dramatic scenes – the numerous shootouts never overshadow the dialogue-driven moments that reveal the characters' personalities.

A scene involving bikers, which might initially seem to disrupt the narrative, alludes to Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider. Eastwood picks up on that film's central topic but shifts the focus to the social aspect.

Shockley and Mally ride their motorcycle along dusty roads. They are not distancing themselves from civilization, however, they dream of reaching the big city to expose a corrupt official.

Echoes of The Gauntlet can be seen in Tony Scott's cult action film The Last Boy Scout and the Lethal Weapon franchise.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Gauntlet'?

• The Gauntlet has 75% from critics and 54% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Gauntlet scored 3.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Gauntlet'?

The Gauntlet is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.