Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

The Bandit is hired on to run a tractor trailer full of beer over state 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 at Traffic Jam
George Reynolds	...	Branford
Macon McCalman	...	Mr. B
Linda McClure	...	Waynette
Susie Ewing	...	Hot Pants (as Susan McIver)
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:

sheriff | coors beer | trucker | eighteen wheeler | convoy | 

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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

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bandit

Filming Locations:

Phillips Rd and S. Stone Mountain Lithonia Rd, Lithonia, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,728,060, 30 May 1977, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$126,737,428

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$300,000,000, 31 December 1977

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is about 1,100 miles from Atlanta to Boston (one-way). To get there and back in 18 hours would require an average speed of about 120 mph.

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Goofs

Before Buford and Junior wait because of the funeral procession, Junior's hat is missing and when they stop, his hat is on his head. Then it get blown off a few moments later.

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Quotes

Bandit: Well, go girl, go!
Carrie: [She is driving] I'm goin' I'm goin! I got the metal to the petal and the thing to the floor!

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Connections

Referenced in Looking Back at 'The Hills Have Eyes' (2003)

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Soundtracks

West Bound And Down
(uncredited)
Written by Dick Feller and Jerry Reed
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.