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RETROFANTASMA FILM SERIES Select Wednesdays at 7pm in Cinema One | $10 per person.
May 13, 2026
Clint Eastwood’s THE GAUNTLET
(R, 1977, 125 min)
A box office smash in 1977 but now tragically overlooked, The Gauntlet is one of the wildest action rides of the 1970s. Ben Shockley (Clint Eastwood) is a washed-up Phoenix cop tasked with escorting Gus Mally (Sondra Locke), a key court witness, from Las Vegas to Phoenix. Simple in theory, impossible in practice—mob hitmen, corrupt cops, flaming vehicles, exploding buses, and biker gangs turn the journey into a battlefield. Unlike his hard-edged Harry Callahan persona, Shockley relies on sarcasm, grit, and survival instinct to navigate the chaos. Imagine John Wick crossed with Baby Driver—with 70s grit. The film builds to a spectacular, over-the-top climax as Shockley and Mally approach the Phoenix courthouse. With over 8,000 rounds fired, real police on set, and stunts that defy belief, the action never stops. Equal parts dark comedy, high-octane crime thriller, and stunt spectacle, The Gauntlet is a forgotten adrenaline masterpiece begging to be rediscovered.
Viewer’s Guide: Attempted sexual assault, partial nudity, and adult language.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W Morgan St,Durham, North Carolina, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
