Gator *** (1976, Burt Reynolds, Jack Weston, Lauren Hutton, Jerry Reed, Alice Ghostley, Dub Taylor) – Classic Movie Review 7571

The always engaging Burt Reynolds stars again as former con man and black-marketeer Gator McKlusky, who is forced by agents to find some dirt on an old buddy turned politician, in the 1976 crime thriller Gator, the sequel to his 1973 popular hit White Lightning.

Gator is enjoyable, but it is just a routinely competent, typically Seventies action thriller, with Reynolds directing as well as starring for the first time. Reynolds comes on like Charles Bronson, but with a twinkle, charm and a sense of humor.

Written again by William W Norton, the story is too drawn out, with talky scenes slowing down the pace. But there are enough cars, fights, action scenes and fisticuffs to please the ever smiling Reynolds’s many fans. It helps that there are good co-stars in Jack Weston (as Irving Greenfield), Lauren Hutton (as Aggie Maybank), Jerry Reed (as Bama McCall), Alice Ghostley (as Emmeline Cavanaugh), and Dub Taylor (as Mayor Caffrey).

Also in the cast are Mike Douglas, Burton Gilliam, William Engesser, John Steadman, Lori Futch, Stephanie Burchfield, Bob Yeager, Dudley Remus and Alex Hawkins.

Gator is directed by Burt Reynolds, runs 115 minutes, is made by Levy-Gardner-Laven, is released by United Artists, is written by William W Norton, is shot by William A Fraker, is produced by Jules Levy, Arthur Gardner and Arnold Laven, and is scored by Charles Bernstein.

Reynolds directed Gator, The End, Sharky’s Machine, Stick and The Last Producer.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7571

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