Alligator (1980)

Director:

Lewis Teague

Writers:

John Sayles (story) and
Frank Ray Perilli (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 July 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Comedy

Tagline:

Beneath Those Manholes, A Man-Eater Is Waiting ...

Plot:

A giant alligator is on the loose in Chicago. Chicago? Yup, don't go down the sewers!

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Hunter | Police | Scientist | Severed Arm

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Robert Forster	...	David Madison
Robin Riker	...	Marisa Kendall
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Chief Clark (as Michael Gazzo)
Dean Jagger	...	Slade
Sydney Lassick	...	Luke Gutchel (as Sidney Lassick)
Jack Carter	...	Mayor
Perry Lang	...	Officer Jim Kelly
Henry Silva	...	Col. Brock
Bart Braverman	...	Thomas Kemp (reporter)
John Lisbon Wood	...	Mad bomber
James Ingersoll	...	Arthur Helms
Robert Doyle	...	Bill Kendall
Patti Jerome	...	Mrs. Madeline Kendall
Angel Tompkins	...	Newswoman
Sue Lyon	...	ABC Newswoman
Leslie Brown	...	Young Marisa
Buckley Norris	...	Bob
Royce D. Applegate	...	Callan
Tom Kindle	...	Announcer
Jim Brockett	...	Bobby Purcell (gator wrestler)
Simmy Bow	...	Seedy
Jim Boeke	...	Officer Shamsky
Stan Haze	...	Officer Meyer
James Arone	...	Officer Sloan
Peter Miller	...	Sgt. Rice
Pat Petersen	...	Joey
Micole Mercurio	...	Joey's mother (as Micol)
Frederick Long	...	Sparks
Ed Brodow	...	Ross
Larry Margo	...	Stanley
Philip Luther	...	Officer Purdy
John F. Goff	...	Officer Ashe
Elizabeth Halsey	...	Policewoman
Barry Chase	...	Policeman #1
Richard Partlow	...	Policeman #2
Jerado Decordovier	...	Gator vendor #1 (as Jeradio De Cordovier)
Dick Richards	...	Gator vendor #2
Vincent De Stefano	...	Gator vendor #3
JoJo D'Amore	...	Gator vendor #4
Bella Bruck	...	Dot
Kendall Carly Browne	...	Amy (little girl)
Danny Baseda	...	Radioman
Tink Williams	...	Hector
Corkey Ford	...	Chi Chi (as Corky Ford)
Charles R. Penland	...	Tyrone
Anita Keith	...	Old lady
Mike Mazurki	...	Gatekeeper (as Michael Mazurki)
Margaret Muse	...	Society matron
Michael Misita	...	Reporter #1
Harold Greene	...	Reporter #2
Jim Alquist	...	Reporter #3
Margie Platt	...	Bride
Nike Zachmanoglou	...	Maid at party
Gloria Morrison	...	Woman at Bar-B-Que
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dana MacDuff	...	Punk (uncredited)
Amy Panter	...	Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Teague

Writing credits
John Sayles		(story) and
Frank Ray Perilli		(story)
John Sayles		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert S. Bremson	....	executive producer
Brandon Chase	....	producer
Tom Jacobson	....	associate producer
Mark L. Rosen	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Hundley

Cinematography by
Joseph Mangine

Film Editing by
Larry Bock
Ron Medico		(as Ronald Medico)

Casting by
Gino Havens		(as Geno Havens)
Lori Rabin

Art Direction by
Michael Erler

Set Decoration by
Cyd Smyllie		(as Cyd A. Smillie)

Makeup Department
Sue Dolph	....	hair stylist
Sue Dolph	....	makeup artist
Robert Short	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Marianne Chase	....	executive in charge of production
Tom Jacobson	....	production manager
Maurice Marks	....	production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Miller Drake	....	second unit director
Lisa Marmon	....	second assistant director
Paul Stader	....	second unit director
Jerram A. Swartz	....	assistant director

Art Department
Kenneth Coontz	....	assistant property master (as Ken Coontz)
Tomas DeSoto	....	set dresser
Michael Farr	....	set dresser
Richard Charles Greenbaum	....	assistant art director (as Richard Greenbaum)
Dan Morski	....	property master

Sound Department
Art Names	....	production sound (as Arthur Names)
Biff Yeager	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
David Bartholomew	....	special effects
David Beasley	....	special effects
Pete Gerard	....	special effects
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects coordinator
Jack Ramsey	....	special effects
William Shourt	....	special effects (as William F. Shourt)
Michael Douglas Middleton	....	special effects still photographer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bill Kaufman	....	miniatures

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Michael Cassidy	....	stunts
Dottie Catching	....	stunts
Tom Clardy	....	stunts
Roger Creed	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Hill Farnsworth	....	stunts
Dale E. House	....	stunts (as Dale House)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator (as Conrad Palmisano)
Bobby Sargent	....	stunts
Richard Seaman	....	stunts (as Richard D. Seaman)
Peter Stader	....	stunts
Tom Steele	....	stunts
Jack Tyree	....	stunts
Cindy Wills	....	stunts (as Cindy L. Wil)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Assaf Amir	....	electrician
Hanania Baer	....	director of photography: second unit
Jack Cooperman	....	underwater cinematographer
Tony Cunha	....	still photographer
Doug Curtis	....	electrician
Sam Gart	....	first assistant camera
Dwight Joseph Lavers	....	grip (as Dwight La Vers)
Ray Maichen	....	grip
Ron McCausland	....	key grip
Udi Riemer	....	electrician (as Udi Rimer)
David Schmier	....	camera operator
Gary Shore	....	electrician
Mark Simon	....	assistant camera
Peter Smokler	....	director of photography: second unit
Thomas Vanghele	....	second assistant camera
Terry Wimmer	....	grip (as Terrance Wimmer)
Moshe Yakobovesky	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Charlie Messenger	....	extras casting (as Charles Messenger)
Chris Trainer	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Audrey Kasof	....	second assistant wardrobe
Michael Rouse	....	first assistant wardrobe
Constance Sech	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Patricia Summers	....	assistant editor (as Pat Summers)
Bill Williams	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Duncan Brine	....	transportation coordinator
David De Carlo	....	transportation captain
John Panzarella	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Larry Ackerman	....	production accountant
Dale Baer	....	production assistant
Kevin Blackton	....	gator operator
Jim Brockett	....	animal provider
Richard Casey	....	production assistant
Laurie Cohn	....	script supervisor (as Laurie M. Cohn)
Grace Dennis	....	production accountant
Dominic Ferlan	....	craft service
Thomas Goeken	....	gator operator (as Tom Goeken)
John Hungerford	....	production assistant
Stephen Jerrom	....	production assistant
Dana MacDuff	....	production assistant
Randi Maurer	....	production coordinator
Steven McMillin	....	production assistant (as Stephen McMillin)
Pete Robinson	....	production assistant
Van Spaulding	....	production assistant
Jacqueline Zambrano	....	location manager
Gale Anne Hurd	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ben Stansbury	....	alligator effects (uncredited)

Thanks
Mike Brenner	....	grateful appreciation
Tom Hicks	....	grateful appreciation
Leslie Morson	....	grateful appreciation

Production Companies

• Alligator Inc.

Distributors

• Group 1 International Distribution Organization Ltd. (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Atlas International Film (1980) (Germany) (all media)
• British Lion-Columbia (BLC) Distributors (theatrical)
• Future Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Lightning Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (North America)
• Live Video (video)
• Roadshow Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Saguenay Films (Canada)

Other Companies

• Neiman-Tillar Associates  music post-production
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  creative sound
• Martin Roberts & Associates Inc.  public relations
• Jack Rabin & Associates Inc.  titles
• Film Effects of Hollywood  special effect opticals
• Gentle Jungle  animals
• Production Service Consultants  location equipment
• Motion Picture Marine  yachts and marine coordination
• Roscoe Food Service Inc.  catering
• Film Train  extras casting
• The Stansbury Co.  original alligator created by
• Glastron Carlson Boat Company  grateful appreciation
• Mazda Motors of America  grateful appreciation
• Schlitz Brewing Company  grateful appreciation

Runtime:

89 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12

Company:

Alligator Inc.

Trivia:

The proceeds that John Sayles earned from his screenwriting duties were used to finance Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the first shot of the alligators eye, the whole crew is reflected in it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lake Placid (1999)

Be careful of what you flush!

I remember seeing this movie as a kid, but I must have been desensitized to violence, because I cannot remember it being so scary. I recently had a chance to see it again and it really had me on the edge of my seat. What really makes the film frightening is that most of it takes place in a dark sewer system below Chicago. Darkness is a horror films best friend and it works well here. If you have not seen it and are wondering if a 1980 film is worth watching or if you just want a good scare give `Alligator' a try. Some of the acting is overdone a bit, but it is still quite entertaining.