Home > Drama >

Gator

Watch Now

Gator (1976)

August. 25,1976
|
5.8
|
PG
| Drama Action Crime
Watch Now

After his release from prison, notorious ex-con and moonshine distiller Gator McKlusky moves in with his father in a cabin in the Okefenokee Swamp. His bootlegging plans are cut short, however, when a federal agent tells McKlusky that he will lose custody of his 9-year-old daughter unless he helps bring down local crime lord Bama McCall. McKlusky enlists the help of reporter Aggie Maybank and a few local eccentrics to bring down McCall's empire.

...

Watch Trailer

Cast

Similar titles

Reviews

Stellead
1976/08/25

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

More
Tayyab Torres
1976/08/26

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

More
Fatma Suarez
1976/08/27

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

More
Mathilde the Guild
1976/08/28

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

More
stones78
1976/08/29

The film starts out with a great song, sung by Jerry Reed, who also plays the villain perfectly as a foil to Gator McClusky, portrayed by Burt Reynolds. Reed is the best character in Gator, as his scenes are over the top and fun, especially the scene when he collects money owed him from one of the ghetto bars. There's a few cool boat chasing scenes, chased by helicopter in the dark swamplands, which is where Gator resides and is "hired" to help nab Reed's character, Bama McCall. He eventually joins McCall's gang and notices things he doesn't care for; soon after, he leaves the gang and trouble ensues. You can just about guess the rest. Up to this point, I thought there was decent tension and a serious war was about to take place between Gator and McCall; unfortunately, the film took a silly romantic/funny twist, as we meet Lauren Hutton's character, and soon after, her and Gator meet via a corny eye-catching moment at a public rally and shortly after, there's a forced moment at the local beach. Next up is Alice Ghostly and her cats(too much humor by now), and finally all get together to try and prove Bama's guilty past by breaking in the court house and stealing records.Anyhow, the film rescues itself after some of Gator's crew are killed and some real tension builds up again, and the humor is ditched for good.

More
magellan333
1976/08/30

What a disappointment this film was. I was pleasantly surprised with the film's predecessor, White Lightning. While no master piece in film, White Lightning was an enjoyable film set in the deep south. Gator on the other hand leaves so much to be desired. The film opens with one of the most ridiculous chase scenes I have ever seen. There is little improvement as the film goes on. Jerry Reed plays a kingpin and does not do it very convincingly. Burt Reynolds, as Gator, does not seem nearly as tough this time around. Perhaps his second stint in prison made him soft? It seems Gator is not as confident this time around. The remaining cast members are most forgettable. Most forgettable was the slob/federal agent that Gator is in cahoots with. There was one good shot the entire movie. Gator visits with a 15 and a half year old prostitute and the part of the scene is shot in the reflection of a music box mirror. Somebody else must have suggested this to Burt Reynolds as the rest of his directing in this movie is deplorable. The film's failings can't lie solely on bad directing, most every film making element of "Gator" falls short. What a shame, Burt Reynolds seemed to be such a promising talent in White Lightning.

More
garyldibert
1976/08/31

Burt Reynolds returns as Gator McKlusky in the motion picture Gator which was released in 1976. Starring in this picture along with Reynolds was Jack Weston as Irving Greenfield, Lauren Hutton as Aggie Maybank and Jerry reed as Bama McCall. Gator is released from prison after serving 26 months for making homemade whiskey. Enters Irving Greenfield who's with the justice department from the Big Apple, New York City. Greenfield hunts down McKlusky in the swamps to offer him a deal. Either Gator goes undercover to bring down his boyhood pal bring Bama McCall or his daughter gets moved around from foster to foster home, and his dad does time for making moonshine. Bama McCall runs Dunston County with his hand in everything from extortion, prostitution to murder. Enters Aggie Maybank who's a local reporter trying to a documentary on crime in Dunston County that McCall pulls the plug on. However, things start to change when Gator starts to realize just how ruthless McCall is. Therefore, when Gator tells McCall he wants out, Bama decides that him and Gator are going to sit and talk about. However, what Gator gets is a strong mix drink and finds himself in his car sitting outside the Dunston County line. Therefore, along with Greenfield, and Aggie Maybank, Gator sets out to destroy McCall. This was your typical Burt Reynolds picture with lots of suspense and action. The problem I have this picture it has no leading lady in it. Based on that fact I give this movie 8 weasel stars for the action alone.

More
Brian Ellis
1976/09/01

Why oh why do people make films that start off with a light-hearted attitude but in the end become grim and depressing. "Hickey and Boggs" and "Shout at the Devil" also come to mind in this respect. The only things saving this film from being lumped in with "Hustle" (the worst '70's Reynolds film in my opinion) is Jack Weston as a bumbling federal investigator and Jerry Reed as the icy evil villain. Of course, with the acting talents of Lauren Hutton on display, a lot more is needed than just a couple of good character actors. Add an exploitative ending that feels like it was tacked on for a sense of serious "drama" and you get one bad movie.

More