White Lightning Blu-ray Movie

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White Lightning Blu-ray Movie United States

Kino Lorber | 1973 | 101 min | Rated PG | Nov 11, 2014

White Lightning (Blu-ray Movie), temporary cover art

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Movie rating

6.8
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users4.0 of 54.0
Reviewer3.5 of 53.5
Overall3.9 of 53.9

Overview

White Lightning (1973)

When the police pick up Gator McKlusky for running moonshine, they agree to let him out of jail if he will help them capture the key figures in his moonshine operation. Since the suspected ring leader is the man who killed Gator's little brother, he agrees to help out the cops to get himself out of prison and get his revenge.

Starring: Burt Reynolds, Jennifer Billingsley, Ned Beatty, Bo Hopkins, Matt Clark
Director: Joseph Sargent

CrimeInsignificant
DramaInsignificant
ActionInsignificant

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

  • Audio

    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

    25GB Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Playback

    Region A (C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie4.0 of 54.0
Video4.0 of 54.0
Audio4.0 of 54.0
Extras3.0 of 53.0
Overall3.5 of 53.5

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 15, 2014

Perfecting his good ol’ boy screen persona, Burt Reynolds makes a mighty fine southern hero in 1973’s “White Lightning,” a roughhouse revenge picture that makes the most out of its star’s mischievous charms and Arkansas locations. Directed by Joseph Sargent and scripted by William Norton, “White Lightning” doesn’t sustain its excitability, but the first hour packs quite a punch, setting up a suitably enraged story that gives Reynolds plenty to work with as the movie unleashes all sorts of car chases and collisions of masculinity.


Reynolds is out front, often shirtless and smirking, but the real star of “White Lightning” is second-unit director Hal Needham. The stuntman and future Reynolds co-conspirator, Needham stages a handful of rip-roaring car chases to spice up the movie, tearing through town streets and rural roads to depict Gator’s master plan of vengeance and humiliation, even periodically taking to the air as automobiles are launched skyward, only occasionally sticking their landing. It’s a welcome surge of smashmouth intensity, coupled with Reynolds’s machismo and the screenplay’s determination to turn the lead character into a backwoods James Bond, watching Gator charm the ladies and pummel his adversaries.


White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  4.0 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries "White Lightning" to BD with a good amount of fine detail, working through erratic cinematography to isolate sweaty faces and decrepit farms. Texture is also good with skin particulars, which retain their natural pinkness. Colors are satisfactory, bringing out county greenery and costuming. Contrast is challenged during low-lit scenes, but blacks remain accessible. Grain is comfortable and filmic. Print shows some speckling and debris, but no overt damage.


White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.0 of 5

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers the basics for the "White Lightning" listening experience, with emphasis on dialogue exchanges, which sound crisp and clean, only hampered by the minor presence of hiss. Scoring is pronounced and supportive, carrying the southern feel of the picture with confidence, nicely balanced with the performances. Outdoor atmospherics add to the mix, while action brings some depth, contributing a range of squealing tires and revving engines.


White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  3.0 of 5

  • "Back to the Bayou: Part 1" (9:55, HD) sits down with Burt Reynolds, who walks through the history of "White Lightning," sharing anecdotes and memories. Perhaps most significant is the revelation that Steven Spielberg was lined up to direct the picture at one point before fear of location shooting forced him to drop out. Reynolds has kind words to share about his co-stars (save for Diane Ladd), and recalls the feature's surprising box office performance in northern states. It's a brief but entertaining chat.
  • And a Theatrical Trailer (2:26, HD) is included.


White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  3.5 of 5

Carrying on for too long (halfheartedly exploring counterculture in small town U.S.A.) , "White Lightning" eventually runs out of gas, working to manage a storyline that doesn't always emphasize the charged emotions that highlight the opening of the picture. Still, "White Lightning" manages to climax with a kick, quickly reminding viewers of its capacity to tear up nature and smash cars. Who needs a plot about moonshine distribution and tax evasion when there's Burt Reynolds squealing around in a speeding car, making sure Ned Beatty pays for his crimes.


Other editions

White Lightning: Other Editions