White Lightning (1973)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer:

William W. Norton (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 1973 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

If You Haven't Seen "White Lightning" You Haven't Seen Burt Reynolds

Plot:

An ex con teams up with federal agents to help them with breaking up a moonshine ring. |

Plot Keywords:

Moonshine | Bare Chested Male | Rowboat | Prison Escape | Crooked Sheriff

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Gator McKlusky
Jennifer Billingsley	...	Lou
Ned Beatty	...	Sheriff J.C. Connors
Bo Hopkins	...	Roy Boone
Matt Clark	...	Dude Watson
Louise Latham	...	Martha Culpepper
Diane Ladd	...	Maggie (as Diane Lad)
R.G. Armstrong	...	Big Bear
Conlan Carter	...	Deputy
Dabbs Greer	...	Pa McKlusky
Lincoln Demyan	...	Warden
John Steadman	...	Skeeter
Iris Korn	...	Ma McKlusky
Stephanie Burchfield	...	Jenny
Barbara Muller	...	Louella

Also Known As:

McKlusky

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Benton, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Levy-Gardner-Laven

Trivia:

This was originally slated to be Steven Spielberg's first theatrical feature and he spent months on pre-production.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Feds give Gator his brown '71 Custom, they are driving a silver with black vinyl roof '71 Ford LTD with the small lug cover hub caps. This same car is used when Roy drives Dude's wife to the funeral.

Quotes:

Gator McKlusky: Only two things in the world I'm scared of
Sheriff Connors: Only scared of two things, what's that?
Gator McKlusky: Women and the police.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The South in the 70's from a Hollywood Perspective

As a 15 year old I watched parts of this movie being made. It was partly filmed in Benton Arkansas (30 miles S of LR). Benton was also the location for Sling Blade. My mom's Volkswagen and my bicycle show up in this movie.

It really is a somewhat accurate view of the South in the 70's from the rejection of hippies by "Good ole boys" to the Corrupt Sheriff, to the home for unwed mothers to the interaction of the races while still staying "respectfully apart". The movie was not intended to be an Oscar contender it was intended to capitalize on Reynolds immense popularity at the time. It did this well. Ned Beaty shaved his head to give himself the proper receding hairline for a Southern sheriff, and many locals were cast. If you like car chases, and "good ole boys" you'll love this. Otherwise you can watch it for it's historical value as a peek at the South through Hollywood colored eyes.

In an interview with Larry King, Ned Beaty said this was the most important role of his career because it kept him from being typecast as a wimp after Deliverance. Diane Ladd and her daughter, Laura Dern are both in this film.