White Lightning is a 1973 American action film directed by Joseph Sargent, written by William W. Norton, and starring Burt Reynolds, Jennifer Billingsley, Ned Beatty, Bo Hopkins, R. G. Armstrong and Diane Ladd.

A man imprisoned for running moonshine agrees to work for the United States Department of the Treasury in investigating the financial crimes of a county sheriff.

When he learns that his younger brother, Donny, was killed by Bogan County Sheriff J. C. Connors (Beatty), he attempts to escape but is re-captured after a short time.

The Feds give him a high-performance 1971 Ford Custom 500 and direct him to contact Dude Watson (Clark), a local stock car racer and low-level whiskey runner, who has no choice but to cooperate because he is already on probation.

Gator starts an affair with Boone's girlfriend, Lou (Billingsley), and earns the trust of Roy and Big Bear as he slowly plots his revenge against the sheriff.

Barely escaping with his life, Gator hides with Lou at Sister Linda Fay's Home for Unwed Mothers, located deep in the woods.

With Connors dead and no evidence against any of the moonshiners, the disappointed Feds escort Gator and Lou out of Bogan County as the sheriff's funeral procession passes nearby.

So he quit White Lightning and went to do Sugarland Express, which he found more challenging for three reasons, "the changing relationships among the trio in the car, the nature of 'the chase,' and how to handle the digressions.

[10] Roger Greenspun of The New York Times called it "a fairly awful movie" with "endless car chases, which are a crushing bore.

"[11] Variety characterized the film as "hit-and-miss," adding, "Reynolds is quite up to all the demands of his smashing role, as he forges toward his goal.

"[13] Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times called it "that scarce commodity, a stirring, satisfying summer-weight entertainment ... Reynolds delivers a varied, screen-commanding star turn which is a pleasure to watch.

"[15] Clyde Jeavons of The Monthly Film Bulletin declared, "Moonshine melodrama with a veneer of serious intent which is rapidly planed away by Burt Reynold's frivolous acting and Joseph Sargent's weakness for car chases.

"[17] The movie's title "White Lightning" denotes chiefly in Midland and the Southern US a very high proof of moonshine or homemade whiskey.