The Gauntlet

Clint Eastwood's own Deconstruction of the Cowboy Cop image.

Ben Shockley (Eastwood) is a Phoenix cop whose dream of hitting "the big case" has been ruined by a few too many glasses of Jack Daniels. Which, of course, means that he's the one being chosen to escort a prostitute named Augustina "Gus" Mally across state lines to a "nothing" trial at which she is to testify. However, Mally is convinced that Shockley was only sent so they could get rid of him, and, after a few incidents involving a racehorse bet and the destruction of Mally's own house (with them in it), Shockley learns that Mally not only has mob ties, but also has incriminating evidence against a high figure in Phoenix society. And this figure has employed Shockley's own boss, the corrupt commissioner Blakelock, to ensure that neither of them return to Phoenix.


 * Action Survivor
 * All Bikers Are Hells Angels
 * Attempted Rape
 * Chase Scene: Eastwood and The Chick are pursued at some length by a helicopter containing some mafia mooks.
 * Cowboy Cop: Punctured wonderfully. Shockley's a disposable alcoholic who is sent out only so the people involved can get rid of him.
 * Hellish Copter: The mob guys' chopper flies into some powerlines.
 * How Dare You Die on Me!: Gus to Ben, near the very end.
 * More Dakka: Three times! First a mob of cops mows down a house. Then later, the Mooks fill a cop car with more lead than a Chinese toy factory. The final time, Eastwood drives a bus to city hall with heavy iron plates over the driver seat while the entire Phoenix police department gets trigger happy.
 * Show Some Leg: The Chick opens up her shirt to distract bikers from beating up Clint Eastwood. Accompanied by I Shall Taunt You to make them look.
 * Title Drop: Near the end, when it comes time to run the Gauntlet to get to the courthouse, it is refered to as such.