Review: White Lightning


Burt Reynolds is good ‘ol boy Gator McKlusky, released early from prison to help nail some moonshiners. Gator reluctantly agrees to help the FBI out, but is mostly motivated by revenge, hoping to take down the crooked sheriff (Ned Beatty, with thick glasses) who got his brother killed. Bo Hopkins plays the dopey moonshiner, whilst Matt Clark plays a nervy contact of Gator’s. Jennifer Billingsley is the sultry love interest, with R.G. Armstrong her sour husband.

 

Although I think the sequel, “Gator” is more entertaining (and its title song is awesome!), this 1973 Joseph Sargent (“The Taking of Pelham One, Two Three”, “Jaws: The Revenge”) crime-actioner is enjoyable stuff. That is, if your idea of entertainment is films like “Convoy” and TV shows like “The Dukes of Hazzard”.

 

Burt is Burt, whilst Billingsley, and especially Clark (one of his best roles) and well-cast Hopkins are terrific in support. Beatty is fine, but a bit subdued and underused as the main villain. Nice car stunts for those who are into that sort of thing, though the ending was a bit anti-climactic for me. With a screenplay by William W. Norton (“Big Bad Mama”, “Brannigan”, “Gator”, “The Scalphunters”), it’s a fun B-movie for those who can take it, especially Burt Reynolds fans.

 

Rating: B-

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