Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

Hal Needham (story) &
Robert L. Levy (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 May 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

Time to take to the road, for a quiet little drive in the country...or not.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Georgia | Sheriff | Police | Trucker

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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
Quinnon Sheffield	...	Alabama Trooper
Jackie Gleason	...	Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Portague County
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Atkins	...	Man Little Enos pays off (uncredited)
Warde Q. Butler	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Darin Chambers	...	State Police Tidwell (uncredited)
Curtis Credel	...	Country (uncredited)
David Donovan	...	Teen Car Thief (uncredited)
Pat Hustis	...	Tow Truck Driver (uncredited)
Ben Jones	...	Trucker with the redhead (uncredited)
Ingeborg Kjeldsen	...	Foxy Lady (uncredited)
Joe Klecko	...	Trucker (uncredited)
Fred Lerner	...	Member of M.C. Gang (uncredited)
Michael McManus	...	Trucker 'Silver Tongued Devil' (uncredited)
Mel Pape	...	Nude 'Smokey' (uncredited)
Bill Rampley	...	Policeman / Bodyguard (uncredited)
Bill Saito	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
John Schneider	...	Cowboy Extra in Crowd Scene (uncredited)
Sonny Shroyer	...	Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Paul Sorensen	...	DOT Inspector (uncredited)
Gene Witham	...	Leader of the Gang (uncredited)
Hank Worden	...	Trucker (uncredited)

Directed by
Hal Needham

Writing credits
Hal Needham		(story) &
Robert L. Levy		(story)
James Lee Barrett		(screenplay) and
Charles Shyer		(screenplay) &
Alan Mandel		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mort Engelberg	....	producer
Robert L. Levy	....	executive producer
Jules V. Levy	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bill Justis
Jerry Reed

Cinematography by
Bobby Byrne		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Hannemann
Angelo Ross

Art Direction by
Mark W. Mansbridge		(as Mark Mansbridge)

Set Decoration by
Anthony C. Montenaro		(as Tony Montenaro)

Makeup Department
Guy Del Russo	....	makeup artist
Tom Ellingwood	....	makeup artist
Bren Plaistowe	....	hair stylist
Jim Gillespie	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
James A. Westman	....	unit production manager (as James Westman)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Gibbs	....	second unit director
David Hamburger	....	first assistant director
Toby Lovallo	....	second assistant director
James Quinn	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Anthony Magro	....	sound editor
John Speak	....	sound
Ray West	....	sound
Jerry Whittington	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Arthur Brewer	....	special effects (as Art Brewer)

Stunts
Michael Barnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stan Barrett	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bobby Bass	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pamela Bebermeyer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Janet Brady	....	stunt double: Sally Field (uncredited)
Janet Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alan Gibbs	....	stunt double: Burt Reynolds (uncredited)
Alan Gibbs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Scott Hamilton	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Lerner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bennie Moore	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mark Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
J.N. Roberts	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Sargent	....	stunt double: Burt Reynolds (uncredited)
Bobby Sargent	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gene Witham	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
George Bouillet	....	director of photography: second unit
Robert C. Jessup	....	director of photography: second unit (as Bob Jessup)
William D. Barber	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Lou Noto	....	assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: shared "a" camera (uncredited)
Ted T. Sugura	....	assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Shull	....	casting

Music Department
Al Teeter	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ken Peterson	....	transportation captain
Jack Carpenter	....	driver: insert car (uncredited)
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Betsy Norton	....	script supervisor
Stanley Brossette	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Dale Echols	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Michael Parkhurst	....	equipment supplier (uncredited)
Michael Parkhurst	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Rich Sephton	....	car modifications (uncredited)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Jerry Whittington	....	location projectionist: Dailies (uncredited)

Thanks
George Busbee	....	our thanks to: for their cooperation in making this film (as Governor George Busbee)
Ed Spivia	....	our thanks to: for their cooperation in making this film

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Rastar Pictures (as A Rastar Production)
• Pat Hustis Camera Cars (uncredited)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• DiscoVision (USA) (laserdisc)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Georgia Department of Industry and Trade, The  our thanks to: for their cooperation in making this film
• Georgia Department of Public Safety, The  our thanks to: for their cooperation in making this film
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Kaleidoscope Films  title design
• State of Georgia  our thanks to: for their cooperation in making this film
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars (uncredited)
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:11 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:PG (Approved No. 24818) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Canada:PA (Ontario) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Jackie Gleason said the cafe scene with himself and Burt Reynolds was not in the original story, it was Gleason's idea.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: After picking Carrie up when they were in Descent County Arkansas, while they were driving, Bandit passes a Georgia State road sign clearly showing as GA 92 with the GA state outline on the sign. Other GA State road signs are seen in Mississippi and Alabama, including GA 85 and GA 138.

Quotes:

Bandit:[commenting on Carrie's legs] Well, Cowboys love fat calves.
Carrie:They're not fat!
Bandit:Well, they're bigger then mine.
Carrie:Do we really wanna talk about legs?
Bandit:Well, one of us does. Otherwise we...
Carrie:Smart ass.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Conan: Hickory Dickory Danger (#1.5)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

East Bound And Down

Burt, Sally, and a truckload of beer

One of the first films to tap into the anti-authoritarian aspects of the Citizen's Band (CB) radio craze, "Smokey" is basically a movie-length car chase and a pleasantly insipid slice of late-'70's Americana.

The tissue-thin plot has good ole boy pals The Bandit (Reynolds) and Cletus (a surprisingly good Jerry Reed) running a load of Coors cross-country on a tight deadline while trying to avoid an assortment of less-than-bright cops, led by pompous blowhard Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason). Sally Field, as a runaway bride who thumbs her way into Reynolds' car, brings charm and a welcome sense of irony to the macho proceedings.

Stunt coordinator-turned-director Hal Needham stages the action competently, and the actors, who supposedly improvised much of the dialogue, obviously enjoy themselves. A good choice for those who want to relive the glory days of CB rebels, long sideburns, plaid western shirts, and black Trans-Ams with "screaming chicken" decals on the hood. Avoid the two vastly inferior sequels.