The Gauntlet (1977)

Phoenix cop Ben Shockley’s dream of breaking “the big case” has faded over time. His assignment to escort from Las Vegas “a nothing witness for a nothing trial” seems like another meaningless exercise. Until the fireworks start. Clint Eastwood runs The Gauntlet into an explosive movie embodying its title with a vengeance. The witness is a hardened hooker (Sondra Locke) whom everyone – including Vegas odds makers – wants dead. Trapped between both sides of the law, the two must survive an obstacle course of raging gunfire, blazing cars, swooping helicopters, murderous ambushes, crazed bikers and crooked police. Building to a ferocious finale that shoots an armored bus to smithereens with more than 8,000 bullets, The Gauntlet is a trip you can’t miss.