As we prepare for the return of Prince Akeem in Coming 2 America, we present our guide to comic legend Eddie Murphy's essential films.
Take a look back at the TV series that took home Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series in the categories of Drama and Comedy.
Related lists from IMDb users
Title: Alligator (1980)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Forster | ... | David | |
| Robin Riker | ... | Marisa | |
| Michael V. Gazzo | ... | Chief Clark (as Michael Gazzo) | |
| Dean Jagger | ... | Slade | |
| Sydney Lassick | ... | Gutchel (as Sidney Lassick) | |
| Jack Carter | ... | Mayor | |
| Perry Lang | ... | Kelly | |
| Henry Silva | ... | Brock | |
| Bart Braverman | ... | Kemp | |
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John Lisbon Wood | ... | Mad Bomber |
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James Ingersoll | ... | Helms |
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Robert Doyle | ... | Bill |
|
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Patti Jerome | ... | Madeline |
| Angel Tompkins | ... | Newswoman | |
| Sue Lyon | ... | ABC Newswoman | |
Ramon the alligator is flushed down the toilet as a baby and grows into a gargantuan monster by eating the corpses of laboratory animals who have undergone dubious hormone experiments, thus providing all the ecological and social subtext that one could possibly wish for, even if one doesn't normally go for films about giant alligators eating people left, right, and center--which is the inevitable and tragic result of Ramon's decision that the outside world looks rather more interesting than the sewers.... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
Alligator is one of those films that people will either love or hate. I doubt it was supposed to be very 'A-grade' when it was released back in 1980. Now, well over thirty years old, I was hesitant to see how well it's stood up to the test of time.
I was pleased to say the answer is: pretty well.
If you can excuse the seventies haircuts (in an eighties movie!) then you'll find quite a tight little monster-munching movie. Lake Placid may have better effects, but Alligator still has its own special charm - think 'Jaws,' but with an alligator instead of a shark (oh, and in Chicago, rather than the sea, obviously).
Basically, what little plot there is revolves around a little girl having her per alligator flushed down the toilet when it was still young. Once in the sewers, over a period of twelve years, it mutates, getting much, much bigger and basically comes back for revenge. Yes, revenge. It seems to have a natural instinct as to whose fault it was, but, hey, just suspend your disbelief and enjoy it.
Alligator is played out on that fine line between 'tongue in cheek' and 'straight.' It has a foot in both camps and somehow it manages to pull both off.
If you're a fan of general animatronics monsters eating man, woman and child (yes, child - you wait and see!) then give Alligator a go. It's just a shame that with a solid movie like this, the alligator himself didn't move on to better things. He was certainly the star and I was hoping to find him in a nice indie flick or even a romantic comedy. Well... maybe.