burt reynolds smokey and the bandit plot

#BURT REYNOLDS SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PLOT MOVIE#
#BURT REYNOLDS SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PLOT SERIES#

He was simultaneously making movies, starting with 'Armored Command' and 'Angel Baby' in 1961. He appeared for three seasons as a Native American on the long-running 'Gunsmoke' in the mid-'60s, then moved over to the cop/detective genre as the lead in 'Hawk' (1966) and 'Dan August' (1970-71).

#BURT REYNOLDS SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PLOT SERIES#

Reynolds landed several series starring roles, mostly in Westerns, starting with 'Riverboat' in 1959. He made his Broadway debut in the short-lived 'Look We've Come Through' and began accumulating guest shots on television in programs such as 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents,' 'Zane Grey Theater,' 'Route 66,' 'Perry Mason' and 'The Twilight Zone.' Roberts' starring Charlton Heston in 1956. Reynolds turned his attention to acting, moving to New York, where he struggled for several years until he landed a role in a revival of 'Mr. But his promising career as a running back was cut short by a knee injury suffered in a car accident. was born in Waycross, Ga., and attended Florida State U. What I am saying is, it’s a blockbuster with little brain but a lot of heart, and that has earned it merit among many- including someone who is venerated like Hal Needham would probably never get venerated.Actor Burt Reynolds in 2000. It was also the second highest grossing film of its year of release after ‘Star Wars.’

This was apparently Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite movie, and also the film that he watched last before his death. For modern audiences, this mix may be a little jarring.But once you get attuned to, it’s an enjoyable watch. The thrilling chase sequences are always tempered with comedy which often border on the slapstick. It’s for the fun of watching Reynolds getting the better of the seemingly endless trail of cops that’s after him, time after time, occasionally with the help of his trucker friends on the road. It’s a set of reductive characterizations for sure.īut it’s not for depth of characters or realism that you should watch ‘Smokey and bandits’- if at all you choose to watch it. Carrie represents the enduring innocence which you could still find amidst life’s travesties. ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ was the directorial debut of Hal Needham- a leading film stunt director.Īs you may expect with someone like that at the helm, there are some pretty exciting action and chase scenes to be found in the 90 minute run time.īandit embodies the road-is-my-first-home spirit of Americana while the racist, profanity-spewing sheriff embodies the worst of America. This is literally the entire plot of the film. For this reason, they are now after Bandit(and also because Bandit is wreaking havoc on the road). The groom-to-be she ran away from is played by Mike Henry- the offspring of the sheriff played by Jackie Gleason. In fact, Snowman actually rides the truck in which the Coors are transported while Bandit himself drives a Pontiac Trans Am.Īlong the way, he happens to pick up Carrie- a runaway bride who is played by Sally Fields who exudes a quirky charm in the role.

)īandit brings his buddy, Snowman(Jerry Reeds) along for the ride.

(Since Coors didn’t use preservatives and so got spoiled in a few days, it wasn’t available anywhere outside of Texas- its state of manufacture- at that time. But, here’s the thing: Bandit should finish the up-and-down trip in 28 hours, covering a distance of 1,800 miles in that time period. You may wonder what’s the big deal in that. The story, for what it’s worth, is about Bandit(Burt Reynolds)- a trucker with exceptional driving skills accepting a bet that sends him to Texas where he should get 400 cases of Coors beer and get back to Georgia’s Atlanta.

For another, there’s that cocky laugh, which gives you an undefinable glee every time you hear it.

#BURT REYNOLDS SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PLOT MOVIE#

If you don’t like fast cars(and there is no reason why you shouldn’t), you still have reasons to like this film.įor one thing, it’s as charming as this kind of a movie could get. Essentially comprised of sequences involving high car chases, ‘Smokey and the Bandit’(1977) is strung together like a garland of fire crackers which emit the sound of Burt Reynold’s cocky laugh. If you like fast cars, you will love this movie.

Burt reynolds smokey and the bandit plot