ActionAdventureComedy

Smokey and the Bandit

- What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!

A race car driver tries to transport an illegal beer shipment from Texas to Atlanta in under 28 hours, picking up a reluctant bride-to-be on the way.

Release Date : 1977-05-26

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Smokey and the Bandit I

Cast

Character Name : Bo 'Bandit' Darville

Original Name : Burt Reynolds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carrie 'Frog'

Original Name : Sally Field

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cledus 'Snowman' Snow

Original Name : Jerry Reed

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Buford T. Justice

Original Name : Jackie Gleason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Junior Justice

Original Name : Mike Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Enos

Original Name : Paul Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Big Enos

Original Name : Pat McCormick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waynette

Original Name : Linda McClure

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hot Pants

Original Name : Susan McIver

Gender : Female

Character Name : Little Beaver

Original Name : Laura Lizer Sommers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Branford's Deputy

Original Name : Michael Mann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sugar Bear

Original Name : Lamar Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Georgia Trooper

Original Name : Ronnie Gay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alabama Trooper

Original Name : Quinnon Sheffield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Foxy Lady (uncredited)

Original Name : Ingeborg Kjeldsen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trucker with the redhead (uncredited)

Original Name : Ben Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cowboy Extra in Crowd Scene (uncredited)

Original Name : John Schneider

Gender : Male

Character Name : Truck Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Saito

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Victoria Lynn Johnson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Trucker (uncredited)

Original Name : Hank Worden

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Pedal to the metal in this ripper of a good time. Smokey and the Bandit is directed by Hal Needham and the screenplay is collectively written by James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer and Alan Mandel; from a story by Needham and Robert L. Levy. It stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed and Mike Henry. Music is by Bill Justis and Jerry Reed and cinematography by Bobby Byrne. He does what he does best-shows off. Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) accepts a, illegal job/bet offer of delivering a truck load of Coors Beer from Texas across the states to Georgia. The job must be completed within 28 hours or he will not pick up the $80,000 payment for his services. Enlisting his buddy Snowman (Reed) to drive the truck, while he acts as a decoy in his Pontiac Trans Am, the Bandit must avoid capture by the Smokey (police). When he stops to pick up runaway bride Carrie (Fields), this makes him the target for one particularly vindictive laws enforcer, Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason), whose son Junior Justice (Henry) is the jilted intended of Carrie. You sumbitches couldn't close an umbrella! The best of the "CB Radio" movies, Smokey and the Bandit makes up for what little it has in plot, with unadulterated fun via car pursuits, stunts and wonderfully colourful characters. Essentially one long chase movie, it was a massive box office success on it release, becoming the second biggest earner in 77 behind a certain Space Opera from George Lucas. Cashing in on Burt Reynolds popularity, and the new found interest in CB radio on the highways, film went on to influence similar films and TV shows further down the line. The memory of the poor sequels and the inferior similar films of its type has somewhat led to many people forgetting just what an entertaining movie it is. There is no way, no way, that you could come from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch your momma in the mouth. Hal Needham uses his knowledge as an ex-stuntman to great effect, setting up a number of inspired sequences that sees cars jumping, crashing or going for a swim! Wisely letting his actors ad-lib where possible, film has a natural flow that's hard to dislike. The chemistry between Reynolds and Fields is warming, due to the fact that it was off screen real, while Gleason steals the movie with a hilarious portray as the manic, cussing and determined Buford. The bumpkin based music is perfectly in keeping with the mood, and the various locations used make for an appealing backdrop to the carnage and speedster thrills. Not quite as Punk Rock anti-establishment now as it seemed back then, but still utterly delightful courtesy of a damn fine cast and some special motor vehicle mayhem. 8.5/10