A baby alligator is flushed down a Chicago toilet and survives by eating discarded laboratory rats injected with growth hormones. The small reptile grows gigantic, escapes the city sewers, and goes on a rampage.
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Title: Alligator (1980)
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2 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Forster | ... | David | |
| Robin Riker | ... | Marisa | |
| Michael V. Gazzo | ... | Chief Clark (as Michael Gazzo) | |
| Dean Jagger | ... | Slade | |
| Sydney Lassick | ... | Gutchel (as Sidney Lassick) | |
| Jack Carter | ... | Mayor | |
| Perry Lang | ... | Kelly | |
| Henry Silva | ... | Brock | |
| Bart Braverman | ... | Kemp | |
 |
John Lisbon Wood | ... | Mad Bomber |
|
|
James Ingersoll | ... | Helms |
|
|
Robert Doyle | ... | Bill |
|
|
Patti Jerome | ... | Madeline |
| Angel Tompkins | ... | Newswoman | |
| Sue Lyon | ... | ABC Newswoman | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Ramon the alligator is flushed down the toilet as a baby and grows into a gargantuan monster by eating the corpses of laboratory animals who have undergone dubious hormone experiments, thus providing all the ecological and social subtext that one could possibly wish for, even if one doesn't normally go for films about giant alligators eating people left, right, and center--which is the inevitable and tragic result of Ramon's decision that the outside world looks rather more interesting than the sewers.... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
Taglines:
It lives 50 feet beneath the city. It's 36 feet long. It weighs 2,000 pounds...And it's about to break out! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 November 1980 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El cocodrilo mortal See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$1,500,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (theatrical cut)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Slade: You'd be out of a job, for one thing.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Robert Forster improvised the jokes in regard to his receding hairline, which a delighted John Sayles wrote into the script during shooting for the other characters. See more »Goofs
When the alligator grabs Henry Silva, his body is horizontal, with the jaws on his midsection and his body hanging out of the sides of the jaws. A moment later, he is spun around lengthwise and sliding down the monster's throat feet first. The alligator would have needed to spit the body out and then begin devouring it feet first for that to happen. See more »Quotes
Mayor: And if they traced it back to the companySlade: You'd be out of a job, for one thing.
See more »
Alternate Versions
The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to heavily edit scenes of gore, including shots of legs being bitten off, a car being destroyed by the alligator and victims being eaten alive during the garden party attack, and to remove one instance of the word 'fuck' in order for the film to receive an 'A' (PG) certificate. The cuts were waived in 1991 when the certificate was raised to a 15, and all subsequent releases are fully uncut. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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I was informed that this is considered a classic within the genre. I'm not sure what genre that is but either way it was somewhat of an anti-climax.
A baby alligator is flushed down the toilet and twelve years later its big and it's angry!
It's one police officer & his scientist buddies job to track it and kill it while surrounded by people who simply don't believe them.
Is it wrong that I was cheering on the alligator? After all it's not some evil monster, it's just an abandoned hungry animal.
Alligator isn't bad, it's just not that exciting. It looks decent considering it's 37 tears old but it hardly grips you.
The Good:
Creature effects aren't that bad considering it's age
The Bad:
No consistency regarding the Alligators size
Robert Forster's hair
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
Alligators can be easily purchased as pets
Alligators make great jump ramps