Grab Some Classic 70’s Sideburns And Buckle Up For Fun!
“You two are more fun than going to an all-night dentist!”
Thanks to our good buddy Burt Reynolds, it’s time for some of the greatest action “hicksploitation” films of the 70’s!
Weeeeeee-Haaaahhhhhh!
Yes, when you see a car flying out over a whole bunch of nothing, you can only think of one person:
That’s right, when it comes to fun loving, hard drinking, hard charging entertainment, there was no one having more fun that Burt Reynolds!
Here are two of his greatest “hicksploitation” films of the 70’s!
“If You Haven’t Seen ‘White Lightning’, You Haven’t Seen Burt Reynolds!”
And with that, you need to check out the legendary Burt Reynolds “good ol’ boy” double feature of “White Lightning” and “Gator!”
First, let’s watch the trailer for the fun login’ majesty that is “White Lightning!”
Yes, there is a plot: An ex con teams up with federal agents to help them with breaking up a moonshine ring.
Cue The “Moonshine!”
That’s all you need to know: Burt is having a ball brewing up some action, and so you know, “White Lightning” means “moonshine”…and it leads to a hard-charging ball of fun! Or as Gator McClusky says:
“You two are more fun than going to an all-night dentist!”
Here is some great trivia, thanks to IMDB: this was originally slated to be Steven Spielberg’s first theatrical feature and he spent months on pre-production!
Spielberg went on to make “The Sugarland Express” instead and that’s a terrific movie, but he would have brought an interesting sensibility to this, and the huge success of “White Lightning” led to more Burt in the Bayou!
Having created the character of Gator McKlusky in 1973’s “White Lightning”, Burt Reynolds reprises the role in the appropriately titled “Gator!”
And this time, Burt directed the film as well!
Once again, ex-convict McKluskey is strong-armed into helping the feds nab a dangerous criminal, who turns out to be an old high-school chum (Jerry Reed).
Check out the “Gator” trailer:
How can you NOT love a movie with dialogue like this!
Bama McCall: [Bama is introducing Gator to his seven-foot-tall bodyguard] Ask him why they call him “Bones.”
Gator McKlusky: Why they call you “Bones?”
Bones: Because I TELL them to!
Burt Reynolds was arguably the biggest star of the 70’s, and these movies are proof why…the best part is that both films are now on blu-ray!
And of course, this should just wet your whistle for Burt…there are SO many great Burt Reynolds films to watch!
He was brilliant in the classic film “Deliverance”, and he was the coolest guy in the 70’s in such films as “The Longest Yard”:
You can read about all of his greatest films by clicking here:
And if you want to hear more about what it’s like to work with Burt, here is my story about the “oral” history of “Boogie Nights!”
Click on the entire fascinating story here:
And of course, don’t forget he made some great action comedies as well, such as this neglected classic:
Oh, and don’t forget that Raquel Welch HATED working with him…find out why by clicking on my story about this legendary sex symbol:
Stand up for yourself, Raquel!
