Almost loved it. The opening chunk of 'The Gauntlet' is promising, I liked what I was seeing and what was being crafted together. It never quite reaches the heights I thought it might have, though that doesn't stop the fact that this 1977 film is still very good. Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke team up yet again, as seen in many other productions from around this era. Of the five I've currently seen with those two, this is the most I've enjoyed them as a pair - especially Locke. Pat Hingle and William Prince are the most noteworthy of the rest. I found the two leads to be entertaining and the plot to be strong fun, there are a lot of neat practical set pieces used which are pleasing. As for things that stopped me from loving this release, one would be the ending - which is good, but could've perhaps been greater - and the villains - who are a little meh, character-wise anyway. All in all, a film that is very much worth watching in my opinion.

This isn’t Dirty Harry, and that’s probably the first hurdle for anyone watching it. Audiences expecting the confident, no-nonsense Harry Callahan instead get a washed-up, alcoholic cop who’s been written off by everyone around him. Rather than saving the world, he’s simply trying to prove that he isn’t a complete failure. The plot itself is surprisingly thin, and the first half takes its time getting where it’s going. Modern audiences raised on relentless action may find the pacing sluggish. But once the movie reaches its final act, it unleashes one of the most outrageous and entertaining action climaxes of the 1970s. The film is unmistakably a product of its era, especially in how women are treated and spoken to. Some moments feel dated today, but they also serve as a snapshot of the attitudes common in many action films of the decade. Clint Eastwood, however, remains Clint Eastwood. Even playing a broken-down cop, he still has that unmistakable stoic presence and effortless cool that made him one of the defining action stars of the era. He says more with a look than most actors do with a page of dialogue. Sondra Locke, who was Eastwood’s real-life partner at the time, shares an easy chemistry with him that helps elevate the movie beyond its simple premise. Their banter and growing trust make the long journey feel worthwhile, even when the story itself isn’t doing much. The Gauntlet isn’t among Eastwood’s best films, and it certainly doesn’t reach the heights of Dirty Harry. Still, it’s an enjoyable, old-school action movie with charismatic leads, plenty of 1970s grit, and a spectacular finale that almost makes you forget how leisurely the trip was getting there.

All in all, a solid cop-witness road movie. If it weren’t for the ending, which is so over the top that it is just ridiculous, the movie would be even better. Solid chacraters, good action and suspense. Good entertainment with Clint.

Clint on the run with his girlfriend of the moment.

Clint in a continuous flight with his girlfriend of the moment.