Gator (1976)

Agents force a former con man to help them nab a corrupt politician.

Director:

Burt Reynolds

Writer:

William W. Norton

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Jack Weston, Lauren Hutton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Gator McKlusky
Jack Weston	...	Irving Greenfield
Lauren Hutton	...	Aggie Maybank
Jerry Reed	...	Bama McCall
Alice Ghostley	...	Emmeline Cavanaugh
Dub Taylor	...	Mayor Caffrey
Mike Douglas	...	The Governor
Burton Gilliam	...	Smiley
William Engesser	...	Bones
John Steadman	...	Ned McKlusky
Lori Futch	...	Suzie McKlusky
Stephanie Burchfield	...	Young Girl
Dudley Remus	...	Deputy Pogie, Dunston PD
Alex Hawkins	...	Police Chief
J. Don Ferguson	...	Bartender (as Don Ferguson)

Storyline

Agents force a former con man to help them nab a corrupt politician.

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Plot Keywords:

hairy chest | bare chested male | one word title | sawed off shotgun | directed by star | 

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Taglines:

Meet the Bayou's baddest good ol' boy.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Crime

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1976 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Gator el implacable

Filming Locations:

River Street, Savannah, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Levy-Gardner-Laven

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Kiel said in his autobiography that he was supposed to be in this movie. Burt Reynolds had, as a favor, made sure that there was a part written specially for him. In the end Kiel was not available for the part as Bones when they where shooting this movie. Kiel did, however, recommend his friend William Engesser for the part instead.

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Goofs

When Gator ties the twine around the green lamp at the Ocean Plaza Motel, he ties a simple double slip knot. Then when they show a close-up of the lamp as they are closing the front door, the knot is a completely different one with a loop dangling from it.

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Quotes

Bama McCall: [Bama is introducing Gator to his seven-foot-tall bodyguard] Ask him why they call him "Bones."
Gator McKlusky: Why they call you "Bones?"
Bones: Because I TELL them to!

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Connections

Featured in Burt Reynolds: Back to the Bayou - Part II (2014)

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Soundtracks

For a Little While
Written & Performed by Bobby Goldsboro

User Reviews

Mostly fun, dark toward end

When I saw this, I was not aware it was a sequel. It just so happens I saw "White Lightning" on the same TV station a week later, after I had found out this was a sequel. So now I can compare the two movies.

If I hadn't known Gator was a character from "White Lightning", I wouldn't have believed it. Gator in this movie was more like Burt Reynolds' "Smokey and the Bandit" character. In other words, Reynolds just being Reynolds, a smart aleck, though intelligent and charming.

This movie was more fun but not as high quality as "White Lightning". Nevertheless, it did have its dark side. Although it started out with a "Dukes of Hazzard" style chase but with boats, and it was mostly a comedy, the final scenes were not funny at all. It was a real shame.

Jerry Reed did a very good job; Bama did come across almost like J. R. in most of his scenes with Gator, though in a lot of his scenes Bama was hardly a J. R. Ewing type. He was just plain nasty, and that one scene that nearly spoiled the movie for me was the real proof of just how evil he was.

The standout performance came from Alice Ghostley as a woman who loved cats and once worked in the courthouse. Her former job meant she knew where to find information that could put Bama away--but because it was her former job, illegal tactics had to be employed. Of course they did! What fun would a movie like this be otherwise?

It's mostly a movie for the type people who enjoyed "Smokey and the Bandit". Too silly for Oscar, but entertaining.