Smokey and the Bandit

About Smokey and the Bandit

"Smokey and the Bandit" is a classic 1977 action comedy film directed by Hal Needham. The storyline revolves around Bo "Bandit" Darville (Burt Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed), who accept a high-stakes challenge of hauling 400 cases of illegal beer from Texas to Georgia within 28 hours. During the mission, Bandit attracts the attention of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), leading to a high-speed chase across several states.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Hal Needham and produced by Mort Engelberg. The screenplay was written by James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer, and Alan Mandel. The film was a big hit, grossing around $126 million domestically which made it the second-highest grossing film in 1977, next to Star Wars.

Actors

• Burt Reynolds as Bo "Bandit" Darville: A maverick race car driver who turns bootlegger to transport a truckload of beer, playing the role with charm and wit.
• Jerry Reed as Cledus 'Snowman' Snow: Bandit's truck-driving partner who helps in the beer smuggling, handled his role with humour and realism.
• Sally Field as Carrie/'Frog': A runaway bride who hitches a ride with Bandit, showing great chemistry with Reynolds.
• Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. Justice: A relentless sheriff who chases Bandit across states, played his role with comedic brilliance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film inspired several other trucking films during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• The black Pontiac Trans Am used in the film became an iconic symbol and its sales skyrocketed after the movie.
• Burt Reynolds and Sally Field started dating in real life during the making of the film.

Quotes

• "What we're dealing with here is a complete lack of respect for the law." - Sheriff Buford T. Justice
• "Well, son, when I get home I’m gonna punch your mama right in the mouth." - Sheriff Buford T. Justice
• "I'd like to kick his ass just once." - Bandit

Music, Soundtrack

• "East Bound and Down" by Jerry Reed: This was the film’s theme, which has become associated with trucking culture.
• "The Legend" by Jerry Reed: Another notable song in the film’s soundtrack.