Smokey and the Bandit
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| Smokey and the Bandit | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Smokey and the Bandit |
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| Directed by | Hal Needham |
| Produced by | Mort Engelberg |
| Written by | Hal Needham Robert L. Levy (story) James Lee Barrett Charles Shyer Alan Mandel (screenplay) |
| Starring | Burt Reynolds Sally Field Jackie Gleason Jerry Reed Mike Henry |
| Music by | Bill Justis Jerry Reed |
| Cinematography | Bobby Byrne |
| Editing by | Walter Hannemann Angelo Ross |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | May 19, 1977 (New York City) May 27, 1977 (United States) August 25, 1977 (Australia) December 21, 1977 (France) January 20, 1978 (Finland) February 10, 1978 (West Germany) February 13, 1978 (Sweden) |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Gross revenue | $126,737,428 (USA) |
| Followed by | Smokey and the Bandit II |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 movie starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II (originally known as Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again in the U.K.), and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3. There were also a series of 1994 television movies (Bandit Goes Country, Bandit Bandit, Beauty and the Bandit and Bandit's Silver Angel) from original director/writer Hal Needham loosely based on the earlier version, with Emmy-winning actor Brian Bloom now playing Bandit [1]. The three original movies introduced two generations of the Pontiac Trans Am. The film was the second highest grossing film of 1977, beaten only by Star Wars.
The movie was filmed primarily in Georgia in the cities of McDonough and Jonesboro. The scenes in Texarkana were filmed in Jonesboro and the surrounding area, and many of the chase scenes were filmed in the surrounding areas and in McDonough. The scene at the race track was filmed at Lakewood Speedway at the old Lakewood Fairgrounds on the south side of Atlanta. The roller coaster seen in the movie was the Greyhound. It had not been used for some time and was repainted for the first Smokey and the Bandit film. It was destroyed in the second film and a flash back scene used in the third. [1]
The film made use of five modified 1977 Pontiac Trans Ams that were each built according to the required stuntwork. All were damaged during the rigors of filming the stunts. The particular car used to jump over the river towards the middle of the movie was reportedly totaled doing the stunt.
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[edit] Plot
As the movie begins, rich Texan Big Enos Burdette (Pat McCormick) and his son, Little Enos (Paul Williams), are trying to find a truck driver willing to haul Coors beer to Georgia for their refreshment. Unfortunately, due to state liquor regulations of the time, shipping Coors east of Texas is considered bootlegging, and the truck drivers who had taken the bet previously had been discovered and arrested. At a local truck rodeo, the Texans locate legendary truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Burt Reynolds) and offer him US$80,000 (US$270,000 in 2007 dollars) to haul 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas to the "Southern Classic" stock car race in Georgia - in 28 hours. Bandit accepts the bet and recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed) to drive the truck (Snow brings along his dog, a Basset Hound named "Fred", for company). Bandit purchases a black Pontiac Trans Am, which he will drive himself as a "blocker" car to deflect attention away from the truck and its cargo.
The duo reach Texas ahead of schedule, load their truck with Coors, and immediately head back towards Georgia. Shortly thereafter, Bandit picks up professional dancer and apparent runaway bride Carrie (Sally Field), whom he nicknames "Frog" because "you're always hopping around". However, by picking up Carrie, Bo becomes the target of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason), whose handsome yet very simple-minded son Junior (Henry) was to have been Carrie's groom.
The remainder of the film is essentially one big high-speed chase, as Bandit and Frog attract continuous attention from local and state police while Snowman barrels eastward with the Coors beer. Despite leaving his home jurisdiction, Sheriff Justice and his son continue to pursue Bandit, even as various mishaps cause their squad car to disintegrate around them. Bandit and Snowman are greatly assisted by a number of colorful characters met along the way, many of whom they contact through their CB radios; these acquaintances allow them to escape police pursuit on numerous occasions. Interestingly, neither Justice nor any of the other police officers are ever aware of Snowman's illegal cargo of Coors.
Despite near-constant police pursuit and several roadblocks, Bandit, Snowman, and Frog arrive at the Southern Classic with a full trailer of Coors and ten minutes to spare, underscored by "Marching Through Georgia" as their vehicles roar into the grounds. Instead of taking their payoff, they accept the Texans' new offer to drive to Boston and bring back clam chowder in 18 hours, double or nothing. As they are leaving for Boston in one of Big Enos' Cadillacs (leaving him an even dozen), they see Justice's badly damaged car on the roadside. Bandit calls Justice over the radio and describes himself as Big Enos in order to put him on a false lead, but then decides that Justice is "too good a man" and tells him "look over your left shoulder." As Bandit and his friends drive off, Justice shouts defiantly that he isn't finished yet and resumes his pursuit while his son runs behind him, begging his father not to leave him behind.
[edit] Production
Director Hal Needham originally planned the film as a low budget B movie, with Jerry Reed as the Bandit. It wasn't until Needham's old friend Burt Reynolds read the script and said he'd do it that the movie was aimed at a more mainstream release, with Reed now playing Bandit's friend Snowman. (Reed would eventually play the Bandit in Smokey and the Bandit Part III).
"Buford T. Justice" was the name of a real Florida Highway Patrolman known to Burt Reynolds' father, who himself was once Chief of Police of Riviera Beach, Florida. His father was also the inspiration for the word "sumbitch" used in the movie, a phrase he reportedly uttered quite often, according to Reynolds.
Jackie Gleason was given quite free rein over ad-libbing dialogue and making suggestions. In particular, the cafe scene with himself and Burt Reynolds was not in the original story, it was Gleason's idea.
Reportedly, director Hal Needham had great difficulty in getting any studios or producers to take his project seriously (he was better known in the film industry as a stuntman). He managed to get studio attention after his friend, Burt Reynolds, agreed to star in the film.
The movie made use of five black Trans Ams, and two Pontiac LeMans cars, all donated by Pontiac. All five cars were more or less destroyed by the end of shooting, with only one model of each car barely running by then, mostly due to cannibalizing the other three cars. Year One, an aftermarket auto parts supplier has an original 1977 movie Trans Am signed by Burt Reynolds. Plans are in development to make an updated version of the Bandit Trans Am. The idea is how would Burt order his Trans Am with today's technology.
The film also made use of three Kenworth W900A short-frame semi trucks which Jerry Reed's character "Snowman" can be seen driving, each equipped with 38" sleepers. Two units were 1974 models, as evidenced by standard silver Kenworth emblems on the truck grille, and one unit was a 1973 model, as evidenced by the gold-painted Kenworth emblem on the truck's grille signifying Kenworth's 50 years in business. The paint code for each truck was coffee brown with gold trim, and the 48-foot mural trailer used was manufactured by Hobbs Trailers in Texas with a Thermo King Refrigeration unit. [2]
[edit] Soundtrack
The theme music "Eastbound and Down" is sung by Jerry Reed (who plays Snowman). It became his signature song and is found on multiple albums, including Country Legends and his new live album Jerry Reed: Live Still.
[edit] Reaction
Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film a good rating (3 stars out of a possible 4) and characterized the film this way in his Movie Guide annual: "About as subtle as The Three Stooges, but a classic compared to the sequels and countless rip-offs which followed."
[edit] Television censorship and alternate versions
- When Smokey and the Bandit first aired on American network television in the early 1980s, censors were faced with the challenge of toning down the raw language of the original film. For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was (and remains, to an extent) common practice. The most noted change made for network broadcast was the replacing of Buford's often-spoken phrase "Sumbitch" (a contraction of "Son of a Bitch"; usually in reference to the Bandit) with the nonsense phrase "Scum Bum". This phrase achieved a level of popularity with children, and the 2007 Hot Wheels release of the 1970 Firebird Trans Am has "Scum Bum" emblazoned on its tail. The TV prints of the first two Bandit films are still shown regularly on television, although a few TV stations aired the unedited version in recent years as some of the phraseology (i.e. "(son of a) bitch", "ass", etc.) became more acceptable on TV.
- The original actors mostly redubbed their own lines for the television version except for Jackie Gleason. Actor Henry Corden, who voiced Fred Flintstone after original performer Alan Reed died, was used to replace a considerable amount of Sheriff Justice's dialogue. This creates an interesting series of connections, as The Flintstones was very much based upon the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, starring Jackie Gleason, with Fred Flintstone being based upon Gleason's character, Ralph Kramden.
- In the United Kingdom, the heavily dubbed version was shown for a number of years, particularly by the BBC. However, in more recent years, the original version has been shown, usually with the stronger language edited out (often quite awkwardly).
- The theatrical release of the movie itself had a few lines deleted, including a creative edit in which Sheriff Justice tells a sheriff's deputy to "fuck off." His expletive is obscured when a passing big rig sounds its horn (although it is quite probable that this was done for comedic effect as much as actual censorship).
- Some television versions contain an extra scene. In the original version, there is a scene where Fred swims into the middle of a pond, and Snowman has to wade in after him to get him. The television version contains a longer sequence, which cuts back to Bandit and Frog and she asks him "What's the matter, your foot fall asleep?" as the Bandit has spied a "plain wrapper" (unmarked police cruiser) and takes his foot off the accelerator in an attempt to slow down, and then he attempts to call Snowman to warn him about the "smokey" about to pass Snowman. But Snowman doesn't hear him because he's in the pond trying to catch Fred. By the time Snowman gets back to the truck, the unmarked cruiser can be spotted as passing the pond, but somehow Snowman doesn't see it. Bandit then remarks "When you get that damn dog in the truck... you can put the hammer down, 'cause by that time, that smokey would have gone by you." Snowman then asks, apparently to himself, "How did he know that?"
- In 2005, a DVD re-release was issued of Smokey and the Bandit featuring a digitally-remastered audio track with 5.1 Dolby-compatible surround sound. It should be noted however that many of the film's original sounds were replaced. For instance, the diesel engine start and run up sequence in the opening sequence of the film was completely dubbed over with a totally new sound. A few other examples of "sound effect replacement" occur when Bandit takes off after managing to get a reluctant Cletus involved in the bet, and after he comes to a screeching halt on a roadway moments before picking up Carrie. (Note: earlier DVD releases of the film have the original soundtrack intact.)
- A brief scene in which Sally Field crawls from the front to back seat of Bandit's Trans Am has been cut from at least one TV version of the film. In the scene, Field is wearing very tight jeans which accent her buttocks.
[edit] Cultural references
- In "Cadillac Ranch", a song on his 1980 album The River, Bruce Springsteen sang that: "James Dean in that Mercury '49 / Junior Johnson runnin' thru the woods of Caroline / Even Burt Reynolds in that black Trans-Am / All gonna meet down at the Cadillac Ranch"
- In the 1981 film, The Cannonball Run, when Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise were deciding what car to choose for their journey, one of the suggestions was a black Trans Am. This idea was then shrugged off as "nah, that's been done".
- In 1982, on the Knight Rider episode "Good Day at White Rock" the female passenger of Michael Knight's car 'KITT' answers on his question if she really wants to stay in the car, that Sally Field also stayed in the car in 'Smokey and the Bandit'. After a short break she supplemented that she actually does not feel safer regarding that. Later in the episode, Michael commented, that Sally Field did trust Burt Reynolds.
- In Mallrats, T.S. and Brodie drive back to the Mall at such speed that Brodie comments "You know you drive like the fucking Bandit?"
- In 1996, the Belgian band Hooverphonic sampled the quote "Breaker one niner, are there any Smokeys with ears on?" in the song "Revolver" on their album A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular.
- In 1998, rock star Kid Rock loosely emulated the movie in the music video of his second single Cowboy. He is followed by some of his band in a tractor trailer and he picks up a bride from a casino, whom is married to a sheriff. His route ends on Hollywood Boulevard.
- In 2000, the rapper Nelly released an album called Country Grammar. The video of the seventh song on the album, "Ride Wit Me", features Nelly playing the part of Bandit. It featured trucks filled with beautiful women and Nelly picking up a bride off the side of the road in a Pontiac Trans Am.
- In 2004, on the fake Cops-parody show Reno 911!, Deputy Jim Dangle offers to rescind the 8 hours of required traffic school to the perpetrators, if they watch Smokey and The Bandit instead.
- In 2005, on the auto TV show Automaniac aired by The History Channel, Bill Goldberg is treated to a ride in the original Trans Am by Burt Reynolds at Irwindale Speedway. Burt comments on the show that the Trans Am was the "most important lady in the film."
- In a 2006 episode of the series My Name Is Earl, Earl gives his brother a ride in the Smokey And The Bandit car to cheer him up after they were unable to attend a fair at which the car was on display, although, in the story, this was likely a fake car, due to comments about previous displays at the fair earlier on in the episode, and due to the fact that four out of the five real cars were destroyed beyond working capacity. Earl star Jason Lee is a known Burt Reynolds fan and Reynolds himself later guested as local businessman Chubby in the second season.
- In one of the Still Game episodes the film is mentioned.
- Punk cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes did a cover of East Bound and Down, the movie's theme song, on their 2006 album Love Their Country.
- Popular TV series That '70s Show has made many references to Smokey and the Bandit in their first and second season.
- A first season episode of Pimp My Ride made several references to Smokey and the Bandit where a 1981 Trans Am was being pimped.
- The 1996 Kevin Smith film Mallrats features a story about a couple dressed as Smokey and the Bandit fornicating at a Halloween party. Jason Lee's character utters the line "How many times do you get to see Smokey fuck the Bandit?"
- In the TV show Ed, Edd n Eddy, Ed references this movie by saying "Smokey's on my tail!" while driving an imaginary truck.
- This film was the inspiration for TV's B. J. and the Bear.
- In the movie Delta Farce, the crew of a hummvee make an attack on a village, while blaring East Bound and Down.
- In a Family Guy episode Stewie and Brian get a ride from Bandit.
- In the Family Guy movie, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, Stewie is talking on a C.B. and speaks a long strand of trucker lingo, then East Bound and Down plays.
- In the 2007 film, Death Proof, when Dov (Eli Roth) and Omar are making fun of Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) in the Texas Chili Parlor, Dov sings the opening line of "East Bound and Down".
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The selection of Coors as the contraband of choice centered on the limited distribution of that brand across the country in the 1970s. The resulting inability to legally purchase Coors beer in many states resulted in a minor bootlegging fad, and many cross-country vacationers travelling by car were asked by friends and neighbors to bring back six-packs and cases of the beverage. The fad died out in the early 1980s when state and local issues that had previously prevented Coors distributorships from opening in and/or shipping to those regions were loosened and/or repealed.
- After the first movie came out in 1977, sales of the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am (in particular, those with the black and gold color scheme featured in the film) skyrocketed over 100% from 1976 sales levels due to the movie's popularity. Pontiac readily acknowledges the power of the film. Although Pontiac never produced a "Bandit Edition," it did release several Special Edition cars featuring the Black and Gold paint scheme. These cars trace their origins back to the 1974 Chicago Auto Show where a special one-off Black and Gold Trans Am was featured. In 1981, a company called "Trans Am Specialties" of Cherry Hill NJ, paid Universal Studios for the rights to use the Bandit name. Trans Am Specialties converted a limited run of black Trans Ams to "Bandit" Trans Ams. In the late 1980s, a company named "Choo Choo Customs" created a "Bandit II" package for the Firebird. This was a cosmetic package for the Third Generation Firebirds and they were NOT Trans Ams.
- Several people who would later star in the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard (which is very much in the same vein as Smokey and the Bandit) had cameos in this movie. Sonny Shroyer (who played Deputy Enos Strate in the The Dukes of Hazzard) has several lines of dialogue as a Georgia State Trooper on a motorcycle who pulls over Jerry Reed. Ben Jones who played Cooter is seen very early on in the movie: when Big Enos asks where he might find the Bandit, Jones' only line is, "I ain't seen 'im." John Schneider (who played Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard) also had a cameo in a crowd scene towards the end of the movie, where he can be seen wearing a large cowboy hat. Incidentally, Burt Reynolds would go on to star in the film version of The Dukes of Hazzard as Boss Hogg.
- In a 2000 University of Southern California class on director Alfred Hitchcock, guest speaker Patricia Hitchcock, the director's daughter, revealed that two guilty pleasures of his were Smokey and the Bandit and Benji. [3]
- Sheriff Justice's line "Let me have a Diablo sandwich, a Dr Pepper, and make it fast, I'm in a goddamn hurry." has inspired the name of a music group, the Diablo Sandwich Band [4], a hot sandwich maker [5] and a recipe [6].
- Reynolds breaks the fourth wall in the movie as The Bandit & The Snowman pass through Mississippi, something he also does in the sequel, Smokey and the Bandit II.
- When the camera looks at the speedometer at 20:09 into the movie, it shows 70 mph/110 km/h and Sally Field's character looks and yells "are we really going 110, we're going 110".
- The tractor-trailer that Jerry Reed's character drives in the movie is a period Kenworth W900 with a Hobbs van trailer.
- In a recent pre-race interview where he was asked about his favorite comedy movie, NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart said it was Smokey and the Bandit.
[edit] References
- ^ Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
[edit] External links
- Smokey and the Bandit at the Internet Movie Database
- Then and Now tour of Smokey And The Bandit's shooting locations.
- Website of actor Paul Williams - Little Enos
