White Lightning might not hold a candle to other Burt Reynolds gems like Smokey and the Bandit, and perhaps there is a reason this, and its sequel, Gator, aren’t fondly remembered, however outside fo a couple okay car chase sequences, there’s not a whole lot that’s memorable.
White Lightning
(1973)
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Drama
Kino Lorber| PG – 101 min. – $24.95 | November 22, 2023
Date Published: 11/24/2023 | Author: The Movieman
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Kino Lorber provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
THE MOVIE — 3/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Gator McKlusky (BURT REYNOLDS) is serving time in an Arkansas prison when he learns that a ruthless and corrupt sheriff (NED BEATTY) has framed and killed his baby brother. Swearing vengeance, Gator agrees to go undercover to expose the dirty sheriff, going to any lengths to get the goods and make him pay for the crime. Quick Hit Review: White Lightning is kind of your typical action-thriller from the 1970s. It’s got some okay car chases and stunt work on the whole, but story-wise is a bit unfocused and the focal point being more so on Burt Reynolds’s Gator character than the actual plot, as he spends a bulk of the time running moonshine and less on actually getting evidence to take down the sheriff. Of course, Gator is focused on getting revenge which does at least come to fruition in the finale, which I didn’t find completely satisfactory. That said, Burt Reynolds is as charming as usual and the film was watchable even if at times I found my mind wandering. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2½/5 |
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This release comes with a matted slip cover and the interior artwork is reversible. Not a whole lot of special features but there is an Audio Commentary with Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; Back to the Bayou: Part 1 which is an interview with Burt Reynolds; and some promotional materials including TV Spots, Radio Spots and the Theatrical Trailer. |
VIDEO – 4¾½/5 |
| Kino Lorber releases White Lightning onto Blu-ray presented in its original theatrical 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and a 1080p high-definition transfer. It doesn’t appear any restoration work was done and likely what we got was provided to KL by MGM, but even so, this is a nice looking picture that is sharp especially on close-ups and colors seem to be in keeping with that early-mid 1970s era. Now there was some scratches and specs here and there but only sporadically. |
AUDIO – 4/5 |
| The included DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track provides clear dialogue throughout and depth is adequate during the chase sequences, though don’t exactly pack a great punch compared with others from that time period. |
OVERALL – 3¼/5 |
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White Lightning might not hold a candle to other Burt Reynolds gems like Smokey and the Bandit, and perhaps there is a reason this, and its sequel, Gator, aren’t fondly remembered, however outside fo a couple okay car chase sequences, there’s not a whole lot that’s memorable. |
Check out some more 1080p screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.