Did You Know Classic Burt Reynolds Movie Filmed in Arkansas?
Remember the movie, White Lightning that starred Burt Reynolds as the fictional character Gator McKlusky? Did you know that movie was filmed in parts of Central Arkansas?
The Movie - White Lightning
According to Fun in Arkansas, the movie White Lightning had some of the most memorable scenes including the opening scene with Sheriff J.C. Connors played by Ned Beatty who was rowing a boat out to the middle of a swampy lake in Benton in the East End of Springlake in Saline County. The sheriff was going to murder Gator's younger brother Donny by shooting the boat and then sinking him into the water tied up while Gator was serving time in an Arkansas prison for illegally running moonshine.
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The filming took place in the middle of the summer of 1972 as it was evidenced in the movie many scenes showed the actors pouring sweat during a typical hot summer in Arkansas.
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Gator gets out of prison and goes undercover as a federal agent to expose the sheriff and his misdeeds that led to the murder. Numerous times in the movie was pursued by local law enforcement officials including the Arkansas State Police.
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Gator is told to meet up with a bootlegger at the original Benton Speedbowl a dirt racing track, formerly known as I-30 Speedway. Some of the racing scenes were shot there with a great view of the grandstand.
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Another iconic scene of the movie was filmed at the Saline County Quorum Courthouse in Benton but in the movie, the courthouse was known as the Bogan County Courthouse. In one of the scenes, you may notice an old Razorback schedule on the wall inside the courthouse.
Other Scenes Shot in Arkansas
- Dude Watson's Garage in the movie was shot in Little Rock
- Royal Theater and the former Gingles Department Store shot in Benton
- Filming of the highway as part of the beginning was shot in Scott, Arkansas as well as the former Cothan's Mercantile which burned down in 2017 due to a fire.
Gator opened in theaters to mixed reviews but three years later a sequel was released aptly called "Gator." Reynolds went on to film the classic Smokey and the Bandit in 1977 putting Texarkana on the map for where the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and The Snowman(Jerry Reed) made a run to Texarkana to pick up some beer and deliver it back to Atlanta, GA without getting caught. However, the town you see in the movie was not Texarkana
I have to admit I liked all these Burt Reynolds movies regardless of what the critics said about them.
Reynolds passed away in Jupiter, Florida at 82 in September 2018.
Last week Jim did a story on Actresses who are from Arkansas take a look you might be surprised.
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