Road Rage: The 45th Anniversary of "Smokey and the Bandit"

By Michael Lyons 

"The film I had the most fun on was Smokey and the Bandit," - Burt Reynolds in a 2015 interview.

That fun had by Reynolds seems to be reflected by everyone involved in Smokey and the Bandit, and audiences who have watched it enjoyed it and become fans in the forty-five years since it was released.

The story is simple, a hotshot, local legend driver, named Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds in his most iconic role) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed, as the perfect, amiable sidekick) accept a bet from a rich father-and-son Big Enos and Little Enos (Pat McCormick and Paul Williams).

Bandit and Snowman must drive from Atlanta to Texarkana and back again in 28 hours to bring back 400 cases of Coors beer (at the time, transporting Coors east of the Mississippi was still considered bootlegging and was illegal).

While en route, the two pick up a runaway bride named Carrie (Sally Field, who was so great with Reynolds, it's no wonder they had chemistry on screen and off) in Bandit's sleek, black Trans Am. They are all pursued by Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason, in a role that became as iconic for him as Bandit did for Reynolds).  Along with Justice is his dim-witted son, Junior (a hysterical Mike Henry).

All of this is directed by Hal Needham, a veteran stuntman who made his debut with this film and brought his skills to the proceedings.  After all these years, the speeding, chasing, and destructive automobile choreography is still a marvel to watch.

Smokey and the Bandit is easy to take as a warm summer afternoon.  It hit squarely upon the CB craze of the time but also hits squarely with its laughs, thanks to its stars.

Reynolds has never been more charming, with his trademark smirk and high-pitched laugh.  This film was at the height of his box-office ascension, and it's easy to see what audiences responded to.  Field proves to be the perfect contrast: an outsider bemused by all that's going on as the world speeds by.

And Gleason created one of the most memorable characters of the decade and, many say, in comedy history.  Sheriff Justice also brought with him endlessly quotable, profanity-laden lines ("You someb****!" "I'm gonna bar-b-q your a** in molasses!" and "What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!").

Initially, Needham's movie had a modest budget and generated little interest until Reynolds signed on.  With a script that was constantly being revised, most of the scenes in the final film were improvised.  This included a now-famous meet-up between Justice and the Bandit at a diner (the "Diablo Sandwich" that Justice orders here has become such a curiosity among fans that recipes have surfaced online).

Released on May 19, 1977 (at Radio City Music Hall!), this low-budget, mostly improvised car chase movie made $126 million in the states, coming in as the second highest-grossing film of the year - behind Star Wars!

The popularity of Smokey and the Bandit inspired several copycats, such as the film Convoy (1978) and TV's The Dukes of Hazzard.  

It was a moment in time that was short-lived, and even by the time the sequel Smokey and the Bandit II hit theaters in 1980 (and definitely by the time the strange Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 came along in 1983), the car chase/car crash comedy seemed to be fading as a genre.

But, Smokey and the Bandit still stands out as an immensely enjoyable and, as Reynolds said, fun film

As the film celebrates its 45th anniversary this summer, it's always an entertaining ride for audiences to hop in Bandit's Trans-Am with Sheriff justice in high-speed pursuit!

Sources: Cheatsheet.com

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