Gator Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Gator Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 10, 2025

Burt Reynolds's "Gator" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Burt Reynolds; audio commentary by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Gator McKlusky is a character Burt Reynolds played twice. However, the original version of it from Joseph Sargent’s White Lightning is not related to the second version of it from Reynolds’ directorial debut, Gator. In White Lightning, McKlusky is a moonshine runner who is released from prison after cutting a deal with the FBI to take down a very corrupt and very powerful sheriff responsible for the death of his younger brother. In Gator, McKlusky is a retired moonshine runner and a whole bunch of other things forced by the authorities to help them get rid of a ruthless criminal. Both films are set in the South and feature a lot of good old-fashioned action. However, their styles and personalities are quite different.

In Gator, McKlusky’s target is his old friend Bama McCall (Jerry Reed), who is the undisputed king of Dunston County, Georgia. McCall runs the moonshine business, the drug business, and the prostitution business there. He is the area’s biggest racketeer. When necessary, his goons take out targets, too. But when McKlusky agrees to hand McCall to the FBI, he is unaware that his old friend has grown so big and ruthless. Initially, McKlusky assumes all he would have to do is get hard evidence that McCall is a seasoned tax cheater to Yankee federal agent Irving Greenfield (Jack Weston), who would then set up his downfall. However, after joining McCall’s crew and visiting his favorite brothel where all working girls are minors, McKlusky directly confronts him, instantly compromising their relationship and initiating a series of dramatic events. Now fully convinced that there is no need to wait for the FBI to interfere, McKlusky proceeds to take out McCall alone.

Amidst all the ugly developments and fireworks, McKlusky also falls in love with Aggie Maybank (Lauren Hutton), a feisty local reporter dreaming of being a star in New York City. Their quickly evolving relationship is the biggest reason Gator, while working with very similar material, is unlike White Lightning. Indeed, McKlusky and Maybank act like high-school sweethearts who have reunited after years of living in different parts of the country, assuming that their love is a thing of the past, and everything that materializes between them infuses Gator with warmth and charm that are simply nowhere to be found in White Lightning.

Reed does not just leave a lasting impression. At times, he easily overshadows Reynolds. As the two begin working together, Reed becomes a true Southern monster, treating everyone around him, including those who are loyal to him, like his right-hand man, a giant named Bones (William Engeeser), as disposable objects. He cracks witty jokes, but it does not take long to realize that they are part of a protective facade, and that underneath it is a vicious, repulsive killer.

Reynolds did not intend for Gator to be his director debut. His initial take on William Norton’s screenplay for it was not at all positive. But when top brass inquired whether he may be interested in directing Gator, Reynolds instantly changed his mind and took advantage of the unexpected opportunity.

Gator is an outstanding directorial debut, reflecting everything that made American genre films from the 1970s special. It introduces terrific characters with unique personalities who never create the impression that what they say and do is scripted. It has a fearless sense of humor that produces many special moments. Also, it is packed with first-class realistic action that can no longer be staged and shot in contemporary films. (Gator has a legendary sequence in which Hal Needham nearly dies while doubling for Reynolds. A small portion of this sequence, with the most dangerous moment fully preserved, can be seen in the vintage theatrical trailer that was cut for Gator several decades ago).

Reynolds was able to secure the services of the great cinematographer William Fraker, who had already earned international acclaim for his contribution to Peter Yates’ cult action film Bullitt.

Gator Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gator arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

In America, Gator made its high-definition debut with this release in 2014. The original release and this recent release are sourced from the same older master supplied by MGM. However, the technical presentation of the film is different.

This recent release places the film on a dual-layer disc. Also, the encode has properly set gamma levels. I have the original release in my library and did some quick comparisons to see if the new presentation brings in meaningful improvements in quality. On my system, the best looking visuals, where I could see small but meaningful improvements, come from close-ups and tighter shots, not the wider panoramic footage. Color balance and reproduction are not affected by the change in the gamma levels, but I must mention that my player automatically does good adjustments when I play the previous release on it. Grain exposure looked good. However, both releases make it easy to conclude that the current master has limitations that only a proper new 2K or 4K master will address. I would also say that on both releases the entire film has an attractive organic appearance. It is just not an ideal organic appearance. Some nicks and small blemishes can be spotted, but there are no large distracting cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames. So, should you consider an upgrade if you already have the previous release? If you have a very large screen, and you can find this release with an attractive price tag, I think that you should. It does make some areas of the film look a tiny bit better. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Gator Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I am going to repeat what I wrote about the lossless track in our review of Imprint Films' Australian release of Gator. The lossless track is solid, so when you sit down to view the film, you will not encounter any issues. However, in a few areas, the audio becomes somewhat 'thin', and I suspect that if in the future someone properly remasters it, these areas will most likely be examined and improved. At least, this is how I feel at the moment, after revisiting the film multiple times on this and previous Blu-ray releases that are sourced from the same master.

Gator Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Back to the Bayou - Part Two - in this archival program, Burt Reynolds explains what his goals were after he agreed to do Gator and discusses its production in Georgia. Reynolds also clarifies why it was so important to get all of the film's Southern qualities right and comments on its tremendous success. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Gator. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Radio Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage U.S. radio spots for Gator. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.

Gator Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Both versions of Gator McKlusky are pretty darn good. However, in Gator, Jerry Reed is sensational, and it is awfully easy to tell that it is all because of Burt Reynolds' ability to free and encourage him to improvise before the camera. I think that Gator is an outstanding directorial debut, in some ways even better than Sharky's Machine, which many consider to be Reynolds' most mature work. This Special Edition of Gator is sourced from the same older MGM master that Kino Lorber worked with to produce their original release of the film in 2014. However, it offers a slightly better technical presentation of the film with additional bonus features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.