Alligator is a film that I consider to be staple of my childhood. I can't recall the exact details from the first time I saw it at this point, but do know that it was via a rented video while staying the night at someone's house back in the late 80's. I do recall quite vividly though that the movie was pretty scary to an under 8 year-old me.
It wouldn't be until we got cable in 1993 that I saw it again. By that time, it was being shown quite regularly on the Sci-Fi channel, and would continue to be for the next few years. It was no longer scary at that point, but even so, if you had asked a then 11 year-old Jon, he would've listed it as one of his ten favorite movies (it has since dropped down the ladder a bit, but not as far as you might think).
The films practical effects probably don't hold up to a generation that's been raised on CGI, the shoestring budget is visible in places, and some of the acting is a bit over the top (Henry Silva clearly had fun with his role), but this particular cranky old man wouldn't change a thing. I love everything about the film.
Jaws is often credited with "scaring a nation out of the water". Well, along similar lines, Alligator could be credited with scaring 80's kids away from jumping (or pushing someone else) into unlit swimming pools at night 💀
Robert Forster has many fine credits to his name, but to me he'll always be Detective David Madison, the balding anti-hero that tried, mostly in vain, to warn everyone about the giant Alligator roaming around underneath the streets of Chicago.
I had bid, and lost out on, many copies of this card before finally winning one early last year. I think mine was around $18 shipped, which was a bit of money, but not anywhere near the $30-50 that all of the previous copies ended at that I had bid on. If memory serves, this one ended on a Sunday night, so that may've played a role in my getting it for much less than it had been going for at the time.
To me he's the patriarch of the Petrelli family on Heroes. Don't remember Alligator at all, but a nice auto nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI never watched Heroes. I meant to give it a go at some point, but obviously that point hasn't come yet.
DeleteHe was a hoot in "Last Man Standing"
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen it. I do like Tim Allen though.
Deletethat's great that you finally got one! i remember seeing him on a magnum pi episode back in the 80s, but i will now and forever think of him as ed - the guy who ran a vacuum cleaner store in the breaking bad universe.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Breaking Bad, but do remember that Magnum episode.
DeleteDon't think I ever saw Alligator... but Forster's face was familiar. Looked him up on IMDB and remembered him from Breaking Bad.
ReplyDeleteI think that he did lot more than most people remember.
DeleteThat's a familiar looking face, I'm sure I've seen him in something.
ReplyDeleteI would have to think so.
DeleteOnly thing I remember him from is "Jackie Brown".
ReplyDeleteOf all the people here, you're the one that I would've thought most likely to have seen Alligator.
DeleteI haven't seen Alligator and it probably would have scared the crap out of me as a kid. I did like him in Jackie Brown and Breaking Bad though, great actor. I was sad when he passed a way.
ReplyDeleteI saw Jackie Brown back when it first came out on video, but only really remember that Pam Grier and Robert were in it. I've since developed quite a disliking for all things Tarantino, so despite liking some of the cast, I'm not sure that I could ever bring myself to watch it again.
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