The Great Alligator (1979) Feb 02, 2021

[jaws3dfan]

If you missed out on the CODE RED release of The Great Alligator in 2017 CODE RED is giving us a second chance to own this 1979 Giant Alligator flick.

Code Red, in association with Kino Lorber, will reissue on Blu-ray Sergio Martino's The Great Alligator (1979), starring Barbara Bach, Claudio Cassinelli, Mel Ferrer, Romano Puppo, and Fabrizia Castagnoli. The release will be available for purchase on February 2.

Synopsis: Meaner than Jaws... More bloodthirsty than Piranha... Here comes The Great Alligator, a blood-soaked tale of jungle greed and just desserts from cult director Sergio Martino (Torso). Barbara Bach (The Unseen, The Spy Who Loved Me) and Claudio Cassinelli (Screamers, Slave of the Cannibal God, Hands of Steel) head into the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia where construction for an exclusive resort is treading onto territory that the Kuma natives hold sacred... and their alligator god Kroona takes personally. Paradise turns into an unrelenting nightmare in this outrageous giant creature feast also starring Mel Ferrer (The Visitor, Eaten Alive), Richard Johnson (The Haunting, Beyond the Door), Bobby Rhodes (Demons, Demons 2), Romano Puppo (After the Fall of New York, Street Law) and child actress Silvia Collatina (Murderock), with a screenplay co-written by the legendary Ernesto Gastaldi (All the Colors of the Dark, The Grand Duel) and a pounding score by the great Stelvio Cipriani (Bay of Blood, Tentacles). Find out who lives and who dies in this essential '70s shocker, now remastered from the original negative for the first time in HD!

Special Features and Technical Specs:
PREVIOUSLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE (2016)
Interview with Underwater Camera Operator Gianlorenzo Battaglia
Round Table Discussion with SFX Paolo Ricci, Cinematographer Giancarlo Ferrando and Art Director Massimo Antonello Geleng
Interview with Camera Operator Claudio Morabito
In the Crocodiles Nest: Interview with Director Sergio Martino and Art Director Massimo Antonello Geleng
Theatrical Trailer

[DaylightsEnd]

I have the original pressing of this blu ray from 2017. It's a great jungle adventure/exploitation Itali-trash cinema treat. It is low budget as you'd expect, but nonetheless it is very competently produced, and fits in well with some of the better Italian jungle cannibal adventure flicks of the era, such as Jungle Holocaust and Slave of the Cannibal God. The scan is pretty solid, and colors on this remastered scan look great as well. If you like 70's Italian jungle adventure flicks set in remote, exotic tropical locations, with killer wildlife, deadly attacking native tribes, and beautiful ladies in distress, you'll probably find this one right up your alley.

[DukeTogo84]

I wonder if the scene from the 2017 release that was strangely missing will be included i this release. (probably not)

[DaylightsEnd]

Down to $19.89 on Amazon. That's what I'm talkin' about! Makes the Great Alligator even greater, especially after OOP copies of the first release floated around ebay at usually more than $50, for the last year and a half.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I wonder if the scene from the 2017 release that was strangely missing will be included i this release. (probably not)

What scene was that? I was interested in picking it up from the Kino sale.

[Mose Harper]

Part of the Kino sale now.

I still haven't watched the copy of the '17 release I bought off Ronin Flix yet.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Surge92

What scene was that? I was interested in picking it up from the Kino sale.

It's when Romano Puppo's character is murdered by the locals during the massacre scene.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

It's when Romano Puppo's character is murdered by the locals during the massacre scene.

Oh. Sounds like an essential scene. Do we know why it's missing?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Surge92

Oh. Sounds like an essential scene. Do we know why it's missing?

No idea. Nearly all HD files online have the scene, but for whatever reason the Code Red release is missing it. It's kind of odd. I wouldn't say it's essential, but just kind of odd to leave a secondary characters death out.

[DaylightsEnd]

Obviously Kino and Code Red re-released this on blu about two years back. Hopefully this title doesn't get overlooked for a 4k uhd release in the near future, with the flurry of Italian cannibal, zombie and jungle adventure flicks of the era that are beginning to drop in 4k finally. Solid cast, beautifully shot, and lots of fun. Even has good lip/audio sync for the genre. Barbara Bach was easy on the eyes too, and a hard worker. I love how she's getting her hands dirty and doing most of her own stunts! Fending off natives, jumping over spears, etc. You don't exactly expect that from a top-tier high-profile Ford Agency model and Bond Girl. At one point, it seems like they practically drowned the poor woman in the river on this shoot.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Obviously Kino and Code Red re-released this on blu about two years back. Hopefully this title doesn't get overlooked for a 4k uhd release in the near future, with the flurry of Italian cannibal, zombie and jungle adventure flicks of the era that are beginning to drop in 4k finally. Solid cast, beautifully shot, and lots of fun. Even has good lip/audio sync for the genre. Barbara Bach was easy on the eyes too, and a hard worker. I love how she's getting her hands dirty and doing most of her own stunts! Fending off natives, jumping over spears, etc. You don't exactly expect that from a top-tier high-profile Ford Agency model and Bond Girl. At one point, it seems like they practically drowned the poor woman in the river on this shoot.

You forgot to mention that she was nearly eaten by the Great Alligator as well.

Great Alligator Danish (2).jpg

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

You forgot to mention that she was nearly eaten by the Great Alligator as well.

At least in her contract, she was smart enough to refuse to have sex with the huge prosthetic caiman, despite Martino's protests......And as a result, VS has no interest in doing the 4k.

[russweiss1]

The Great Alligator (Code Red Releasing) Blu-ray Review

https://rockshockpop.com/articles/mo...blu-ray-review