''The Legend of Gator Face'' is a 1996

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

comedy horror Comedy horror (also called horror comedy) is a literary, television and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as having three types: "black comedy, parody and spoof." Comedy horror can a ...

feature film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole present ...

written by David Covell, Alan Mruvka, and Sahara Riley, and directed by

Vic Sarin Victor Sarin (born 1945) is an Indian-born Canadian/ American film director, cinematographer and screenwriter who has worked in film and television for over 60 years. Sarin was the recipient of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers Kodak New ...

. The film first aired as a Showtime Original Pictures for Kids in May 1996. In 1997 it was nominated for a

Daytime Emmy The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

. ''The Legend of Gator Face'' had a theatrical and television release and is now available on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

Plot

Two friends, Danny ( John White), and Phil ( Dan Warry-Smith) live in a

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

town near a

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

. There is a local legend of a swamp-dwelling creature called "Gator Face". They construct a Gator Face costume by modifying a

wetsuit A wetsuit is a garment worn to provide thermal protection while wet. It is usually made of foamed neoprene, and is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports and other activities in or on the water. ...

.Review, After scaring most of the townsfolk, their pranks make national news, drawing the attention of the

National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...

. Danny soon discovers that Gator Face is real and friendly. After Danny, along with his friends Phil and Angel ( Charlotte Sullivan), saves Gator Face from a trap, they realize that Gator Face is protecting the swamps. Danny learns that the National Guard will kill Gator Face if he is caught, so the three friends resolve to save the monster. Danny's older brother Chip ( Gordon Michael Woolvett) shoots at Danny (while Danny is dressed as Gator Face) with a flare gun and misses when Danny flees into a nearby building. The townsfolk think Danny is the real Gator Face and burns the building with Danny in it, the real Gator Face jumps in and saves Danny but is himself shot. Yet the swamp won't let its defender die, so the fog heals Gator Face and the day is saved.

Cast

* John White as Danny * Dan Warry-Smith as Phil * Charlotte Sullivan as Angel * Gordon Michael Woolvett as Chip * C. David Johnson as Sheriff * Paul Winfield as Bob * Pam Hyatt as Mayor's Wife * Jack Newman as Porkbelly *

Gerry Quigley Gerry Quigley (3 November 1928 – 23 December 2003) was a trade unionist and political activist in Northern Ireland. Quigley grew up in the Donegall Pass area of Belfast. He studied at St Mary's University College, Belfast, St Joseph's Training ...

as Deputy Dan * Scott Wickware as Reese * Roger Dunn as Mayor * Kathleen Laskey as Danny's Mom * Sam Malkin as Lydster * Richard McMillan as Skeeter * Matt John Evans as Gator Face

Reception

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...

'' wrote that the film was a "blatant rip-off" of '' E.T.'', but was "a surprisingly effective children's movie nevertheless." They wrote that the story had the usual cliche lessons for children toward teaching tolerance, but that it was not "too preachy or heavy-handed" and that "the emphasis is on lighthearted adventure from a child's point-of-view". They noted that the film was a bit lengthy, but that "the direction is competent and the cast is likable". John J. O'Connor of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' noted that Showtime "strengthened its first-rate record" of providing "innovative, commercial-free family product at dependable times" by its release of ''The Legend of Gator Face''.

Recognition

In 1997 ''The Legend of Gator Face'' was nominated for a

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

for Paul Winfield for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special.

Release

*''Alec to the Rescue'', ''Wild Horses'', ''The Legend of Gatorface'', ''Russkies'' (4 Disc set) (Jun 7, 2005 Platinum Disc) *''Legend of Gatorface'', ''Russkies'' (2 Disc set)(Jun 7, 2005 Platinum Disc) *''Legend of Gatorface'' (Feb 8, 2005 Platinum Disc)

References

External links

*
''The Legend of Gator Face''
at

All Movie Guide AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, television series, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Gator Face 1996 films 1996 comedy horror films Canadian children's comedy films Films based on urban legends Films directed by Vic Sarin English-language Canadian films Canadian comedy horror films 1996 comedy films 1990s English-language films 1990s Canadian films Films set in Mississippi English-language documentary films English-language comedy horror films