To anyone who has a rural working class background, this movie is a great. It has everything- including a huge souped up car and moonshine. I've been living in NYC for 6 years now and I can tell you that city folk can't really appreciate a redneck classic such as this. If they do- it is only to be ironic, or because they find it kitchy(sic).
shareYep its true City folk have no appriciation of redneck classics, and all country folk really want to be running moonshine in 70's muscle cars or outwitting some slow southern Sheriff! Lets face facts we all want to be 70's Burt Reynolds dont we? (I'm from Wales does that count as country?)
shareYeah, everything that Gator does is what you'd do yourself if you were a good old boy. You'd be in prison, wouldn't you? Yeah. You'd try to escape, wouldn't you? Of course. You'd get a hot car from the Feds, wouldn't you? Sure. You'd make black marks on the highway, wouldn't you? Yeah, you bet. You'd go to the pool hall, wouldn't you? Durn tootin'! ... See what I mean? One thing, though: is White Lightning supposed to be set in A. Arkansas where it was filmed, B. south Georgia where Gator was set, or C. a generic Southern location?
shareForgot two places lightninboy...
east texas and louisiana bayou...can't get much more redneck than those two places...I live in texas and visit the bayou as much as I can..
as far as where it was supposed to be set...I would give a vote to either Mississipi or Louisiana.
MTCW
Darrell
Oh Yeah, its taken me a couple of months, but I've finished my hot Camaro, and I've just been down to the pool hall, and I layed some rubber on the highway!!!
now if only I could get the still to work properly I'd be in Business :)
I come in peace, Shoot to kill!!!
I'd say it was set in a generic southern locale, but then you see the highway patrol as definitely Arkansas.
Teresa
http://MermaidLady.com
This movie was filmed in Saline County. In and around towns of Benton, Bauxite and Bryant Arkansas. How do I know this? Because I was there. They made up the name Bogan County. To set the record straight: Arkansas has swamps, bayous and gators. They just don't get the PR that LA, GA and FL get in that department. I really don't think that the movie was Arkansas-specific though, just more South-centric. The story line could have played out in any of the southern states.
Regardless Burt Reynolds was very gracious to the people when he was there filming.
In one of the first scenes when Gator is blocking you can see the Razorback stickers in the rear window of the shine-hauling car. Obviously, a dead giveaway for Arkansas.
Incidentally, I drive past Banks Lake almost every day (where "Gator" was filmed) Residents of the area maintain that Burt was very nice during filming of Gator as well, although it was before my time
What are other good redneck classics?
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Burt Reynolds is great in this movie and it has an authentic southern feel you just can't get filming in southern California. "Gator", the sequel, is not that great, and you really see the change in Reynolds during those years from a great dramatic actor to a mediocre comedic one.
It looks like eastern Arkansas, near the Mississippi River, and all of the oxbow lakes they have around there, with lots of swamps. We used to fish there when I was a kid.
Thunder Road
Southern Comfort
"Poetry don't work on whores" - Dick Liddil
Lets not forget that Burt had a sitcom on televison back in the 80's called Evening Shade...it was about a small town in Arkansas, Burt had a thing for Aarkansas and the south.
This is a great movie...one of my favorites from BR.
Another southern fried classic, Sling Blade, was filmed in the same area 22 or so years later.
"Poetry don't work on whores" - Dick Liddil
There's an Arkansas State Patrol car at some point so I guess that implies Arkansas.
shareOne thing, though: is White Lightning supposed to be set in A. Arkansas where it was filmed, B. south Georgia where Gator was set, or C. a generic Southern location?
Just watched this movie. It is probably one of the most underrated movies I can think of. It was actually really well done, had great pace, action, story and dialogue. I have lived in the South and out West, and I reckon you have to be a little redneck to like this movie in the true sense. BURT was the MAN
the easiest way is never the best way.
I'd rate this Burt's best film after Deliverance and The Longest Yard. First saw it as a kid and have always loved it.
shareGator McKlusky. That’s all you need to know.
A great one.
Much better than Deliverance which took itself way to seriously.
But that’s more to do with James Dickey’s ego.
I think it’s pretty solid as well.
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