Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

The Bandit is hired on to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

Hal Needham (story), Robert L. Levy (story),

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Bandit
Sally Field	...	Carrie
Jerry Reed	...	Cledus
Mike Henry	...	Junior
Paul Williams	...	Little Enos
Pat McCormick	...	Big Enos
Alfie Wise	...	Patrolman - Traffic Jam
George Reynolds	...	Branford
Macon McCalman	...	Mr. B
Linda McClure	...	Waynette
Susan McIver	...	Hot Pants
Laura Lizer Sommers	...	Little Beaver (as Laura Lizer)
Michael Mann	...	Branford's Deputy
Lamar Jackson	...	Sugar Bear
Ronnie Gay	...	Georgia Trooper

Storyline

Bandit and Cledus are two truck-driving southerners who accept a dare from big-shots Big and Little Enos to pick up a truckload of beer from Texas and return it to them within a specified amount of time. Picking it up is simple enough, but as they are leaving Texas, Bandit unwittingly picks up Carrie, a hitchhiking bride-to-be who just left her groom, Junior, at the altar. Junior, however, is the son of Sheriff Buford T. Justice. And when Buford and Junior discover what has happened, they go on a "high-speed pursuit" across the Southeast to catch the bandit.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | georgia | sheriff | police | trucker | 

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Taglines:

It's Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason, in high gear and hot water!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dos pícaros con suerte

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$126,737,428 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Rastar Pictures, Pat Hustis Camera Cars

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Hal Needham in the DVD Documentary, Pontiac gave them two Trans-Ams and three Bonnevilles (Sheriff Justice's patrol car) for the film. Needham says that one of the Trans-Ams was completely destroyed during the famous bridge jump scene and that with all the damages the Lemans sustained, they eventually had to piece all three bodies together to make one Bonneville.

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Goofs

In every shot of the Trans Am's speedometer, the odometer always shows effectively the same mileage, and the ignition is in the "off" position.

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Quotes

Buford T. Justice: [to his son] There's no way, *no* way that you came from *my* loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!

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Connections

References The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Bandit"
By Dick Feller
Sung by Jerry Reed

User Reviews

Best of the good old boy movies

I guess one reason I love this movie is because it doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is. It doesn't aspire to great movie-making. It was just supposed to be 90 minutes of entertainment on the big screen, and it's still entertaining. Take your brain off for a while and have fun with it.

There are hilarious lines, some funny pratfalls and even a bit of home-grown wisdom: "How ignorant you are depends a lot on which part of the United States you're standing on." Or something like that. I get a kick out of watching the convoy/rocking-chair scene every time. Makes me wonder how in the world they got around Birmingham, but that's suspension of disbelief for you. LOL.

Wish director Hal Needham had remembered that Alabama State Troopers drive Fords, not Pontiacs, but that's a small thing. My dad remarked on it every time, though.

It's just cornball entertainment, rare enough these days. Pop some popcorn and have a blast watching it.