Written by Michael Butler & Dennis Shryack
Based on the 1977 film THE GAUNTLET, written by Michael Butler & Dennis Shryack and directed by Clint Eastwood. It starred Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke and Pat Hingle.
I have to admit that I've always been a fan of Clint Eastwood's 1970s films. Not all of them, mind you, but a lot of them. A lot of this is due to having seen the majority of them at the right age. I say this, understanding that most of his films from the 1970's are problematic for modern sensibilities, but I've always found most of them enjoyable. KELLY'S HEROES, the DIRTY HARRY films (DIRTY HARRY, MAGNUM FORCE and THE ENFORCER), PLAY MISTY FOR ME, THE EIGER SANCTION, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, heck even EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE are all films I find myself watching over and over again. Aside from JOSEY WALES, very few of the above could be considered 'artistic'--that isn't what Eastwood did. This is not to say there are not artistic streaks in in work--there are, but for the most part Eastwood was about selling movie tickets.
Alas, THE GAUNTLET is not one of Eastwood's 70's movie that I enjoy. I try it again every few years but every time I watch it I remember why I don't like it--it requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief to go along with the plot. In a way, it takes the morality of a Western film and transplants it to a modern-day setting, but I find it a bit too much. Your mileage may vary of course.
The novelization tells the story much better than the film does. It adds many little touches that try to keep things believable and also include two lengthy flashbacks that more fully explain the two lead characters.
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