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Burt Reynolds, Jack Weston, Lauren Hutton, Jerry Reed, Alice Ghostley ... see more see more... , Dub Taylor , Mike Douglas , Burton Gilliam , William Engesser , John Steadman , Lori Futch , Bob Yeager , Stephanie Burchfield , Jim Burk , J. Don Ferguson , Paul Hansen , Dudley Remus , Sonny Shroyer , Charles Tamburro , Robert Urquhart , Dick Ziker , Patrick Moody , Alex Hawkins , Norman Evans , Robert Smith , John Nicholson , Robert Smith (XV)

Having created the character of Gator McKlusky in 1973's White Lightning, Burt Reynolds reprises the role in the appropriately titled Gator. Once again, ex-convict McKluskey is strong-armed into helpi... read more read more...ng the feds nab a dangerous criminal, who turns out to be an old high-school chum (Jerry Reed). He is aided and abetted by TV reporter Aggie Maybank (Lauren Hutton) and comedy-relief FBI agent Irving Greenfield (Jack Weston). Talk-show host Mike Douglas makes his film debut as a Jimmy Carter-style governor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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42% liked it

2,198 ratings

Critics

0% liked it

5 critics

PG, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Burt Reynolds

Release Date: January 1, 1976

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DVD Release Date: July 15, 2003

Stats: 82 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (82)

  • webalina
    July 6, 2009
    webalina
    I like Burt Reynolds. Sue me.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    September 3, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    Three years after the hixploitation moonshining classic "White Lightning", Burt Reynolds's again portrayed Gator McKlusky in "Gator", but this time he was behind the camera as well in his directorial debut. Anyway, this time around Gator has just been released from federal prison... read more for moonshining when he is asked to help the police nab a crooked politician.

    Although not as good as "White Lightning", "Gator" is still a fun little film none the less. First off, Reynolds's is excellent in his role, he give a cool and calm performance that makes Gator a pretty easy hero to root for while watching this film. In addition the car chases are pretty sweet and exiting. I also thought Jerry Reed gave a excellent and slimy performance as the crooked Bama McCall. Now, as I said before "Gator" is not as good as "White Lightning" and certainly has its flaws. For one thing, the run time of just under two hours was a bit much and therefore the movie drags here and there, especially towards the end. Secondly and this is a big problem for me, the DVD is in full screen until for some odd reason it switches to wide screen format for the closing credits. That's a real shame because this movie was made to be shown in widescreen as the closing credits demonstrate. Despite those flaws though, "Gator" is still none the less an enjoyable film if not essential viewing.
  • burgerstar
    April 18, 2011
    burgerstar
    I haven't even seen the original "White Lighting" and I don't think I'll bother now. There were no redeeming qualities in this film. A few great boat jumping stunts, using visible stunt doubles, was not enough.
  • BenRogers84
    August 26, 2011
    BenRogers84
    White Lightning which was the first installment of Gator McKlusky movies Starring Burt Reynolds was a good enough effort, but lacked alot of action,suspense and was very light on humor. I'm happy to say that Gator is one hell of an action packed, well paced, hilariously funny Bur... read moret Reynolds film. This was filmed during the mid 70s right before Burt's shot into super stardom with Smokey and The Bandit, and you can tell Mr.Reynolds is in his prime during this period.
    Right out the gate the movie starts off with a fantastic action scene that involves a boat chase in the bayou, showing Burt could do his own stunts back in the day. The plot centers around the fact that the local governor is using McKlusky yet again to go after a former friend... Bama McCall played by Jerry Reed because he owes some taxes and is suspected of indulging in some unsavory business practices. I made a comment in my other review for White Lightning saying that Ned Beatty the bad guy in that was very non threatening and not dangerous at all. Jerry Reed plays the total scumbag complete with southern drawl and violent temper. Reed shows off his stunt man fighting skills a couple times in this and I must say I was extremely impressed. He played the heavy just wonderfully and gave Burt a run for his money along with his creepy Henchmen, one played by a 7 foot tall monster of a man. Veteran character actor Jack Weston does a great job playing the fish outta water NYC detective, hired by the local governor to locate and blackmail McKlusky into going after his friend. Weston and Reynolds really work well as a comedic team, and I would have liked to see more movies with them together. Lauren Hutton Plays the sexy female lead back in her glory days as a leading actress and did a good enough job, but nothing super special. I really liked how the film would have these laugh out loud moments,then go to a super serious scene that usually involved some real issues such as underage prostitution,poverty and drug use. All in all this film was well balanced with the comedy,action and drama. Not to mention this was Burt Reynolds first directing gig and I would have to say this was one hell of a way to start out. Reynolds does a few creative shots, and the lighting is actually shot better here than in the previous film. The action scenes were just works of art if you're a fan of boat chases and bar fights. I'll also add that I really dug the 70s southern funk soundtrack. Jerry Reed also did the awsome theme song that starts during the opening credits.
    Pretty much If you're a fan of 70s action comedies and like your movies with a bit of a southern flavor, you can't go wrong with Gator.
  • kingmob6
    January 31, 2010
    kingmob6
    Reprising his role from the film White Lightning, Gator returns, again pressured by the law into going undercover to get the goods on an old friend of his turned criminal. The villain this time around is played by Jerry Reed, who is awesome as the criminal mastermind.

    There's ... read morebits of schtick in here that lessen the drama at times, but overall it's a fine sequel and worth a look.

    Rental.
  • jam233
    August 12, 2009
    jam233
    Typical 1970's Burt Reynolds film, "good ole boys" getting into trouble with tons of needless crashes and chases. A completely pointless film, only mildy entertaining in a stupid sort of way.

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Critic Reviews

Richard T. Jameson
December 17, 2011
Richard T. Jameson, Parallax View

Good-ol'-boy humor is my least favorite form of masculine love-antagonism in the cinema, but even a generous-minded peckerwood ought to weary rapidly of the snorting, yokking, hooting interplay... Full Review

Douglas Pratt
July 21, 2006
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

the film's pace is deadly slow and aimless

Steve Crum
June 15, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Yahoo! It's Burn (again) in a fast car!

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Richard Eder
May 9, 2005
Richard Eder, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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Gator Trivia

  • In the movie Magnolia, in the last shot of the film, one character looks directly into the camera and smiles. Which character is this?  Answer »
  • Who played Pvt. Gator Lerner in Oliver Stone's 'Platoon.'?  Answer »
  • Who played the quiz show host 'Jimmy Gator' in the film Magnolia?  Answer »
  • Burt Reynolds has his directing debut in which film?  Answer »
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