The area around Helen, Georgia , was used for some locations. After failing to get the outgoing governor's endorsement, Big Enos overhears him on the phone ordering a crate in Miami to be delivered in nine days to the Republican National Convention in Dallas. . He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. And back then what I wanted most of all was a highly customized Vette with exposed headlights. . The dog, Fred, was personally picked by lead actor Burt Reynolds because it refused to obey commands. My mother drove one of the E-Types, my girlfriend drove one of the Minis, everything in the film was driven down from the UK. I know, Ive owned a 75 for 23 years. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. It just wasn't working. It was a quick, quick bodge, but thats the car that went over the cliff. At the drive-in of all places. Did I mention how much I enjoy reading all the back stories and niggly details I can only get here ? I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. That was a nightmare. Some people have ripped this film as being thin on plot; others have called it a documentary about life south of the Mason-Dixon Line. [3][4] It also set a record for an opening week, with a gross of $18,108,031. Dom DeLuise, Doc, shows up in an ambulance. Then they checked the registration number, which was completely fake. The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. What happens if your car is stolen and never found? Cledus is ecstatic, but Bandit begins to miss Carrie. We could go round roundabouts and not let anyone on, just by going round and round. I mean, immediately, there wasn't a great reaction. Bandit orders Cledus to get to Dallas, but he enlists a large convoy of his trucker pals and comes to Bandit's rescue instead, wrecking nearly all of the cruisers in a giant demolition derby while Doc and Charlotte watch from the sidelines. The jump honored the late Burt Reynolds and the iconic scene from the 1970s film. We were up a mountain and had to filmthe three cars being wrecked and thrown over the cliff. Who owns the Smokey and the Bandit truck? The movie featured a number of American country and western music stars who acted in the movie as well as sung. The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. Jackie Gleasons Buford T. Justice character is a supposedly an amalgamation of a few characters, including the real Buford T. Justicethere is obviously the Dodge safety sheriff from the 1970s ads, Burt Reynolds father was chief of police of Jupiter Florida, and a friend of his fathers, a Florida Highway Patrol officer was actually the REAL Buford T. Justice. How much did Coors pay for Smokey and the Bandit? Got Greyhound cutout decals on the rear side windows. According to early media reports, salary demands and scheduling conflicts led to cuts in the main cast. 4 Max Takes On The Raiders In Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. That's true of most sequels, but it's especially true of Smokey and the Bandit II, which is basically just the original movie done again, not as well how can I say it's lazy when it has 50 trucks doing stunts in it? I developed a pretty good bootheel accent during my time in New Madrid. When I was a kid, there was an old record from the 50s around the house that was a collection of radio and tv bloopers. One was a radio ad for a movie that went something like: . Sure Smokey helped, but was not the sole reason T/A and F body sales went up. Tragically, every Trans Am used in filming was, seven: (three with burt reynolds and crew, and four without), A purely escapist movie dropped perfectly into that time and place, delivered with a black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle, The movie remains so popular that each year, Restore a Muscle, Il bandito e la madama (Italy) Mistrz kierownicy ucieka (Poland) 1971 AMC Ambassador Avco 1972 Buick Electra 225 1968 Buick Riviera 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1975 Cadillac Funeral Coach Chevrolet Advance - Design 1977 Chevrolet Bison 1971 Chevrolet Blazer. When Smokey & The Banditfirst aired on television in the early 1980s, the Gleason phrase sum bitcha regional butchering of son of a bitchhad to be dubbed out. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Curbside Classics. Nice job, I know its cheesy as heck but I love this movie and still tend to watch it when I see its on TV. I dont know whose idea was to replace the wicked Two Lane Blacktop Chevy sourced engine sound effects with an authentic 200 horsepower muffled smogger 400, but that sumbitch is a scumbum!!! Just before we got to the Swiss border some guy was annoying us in a big Citroen, and I thinkwe might have edged him off the road a little bit. Publicity stated that it involved sixty stunt-men and stunt-women, one hundred cars and eighteen wheeler trucks. This movie was filmed in Georgia as well. To the chagrin of the stunt crew, the Turbo Trans Ams didn't have quite the performance they were hoping for. Under the hood of the incredible Trans Ams used for the film sat a 400 ci V8 engine, which pushed out somewhere in the realm of 200 horsepower. Ill probably get told off for saying this, but the general kind of English stunt man, I could say to him get in that car and drive through that wall and hed just say how much? Rmy was different. What Are Desktop Computers Attached to a Network in a Business Setting Called Quizlet? However, the Trans Am was about more than just . The truck at the shell station is actually a 75 or 76 Toyota Hilux. Jackie Gleason (Sheriff Buford) was the first to pass away in 1987, followed by Pat McCormick (Big Enos) in 2005, then Jerry Reed (Snowman) in 2008, Dom DeLuise (Doc) in 2009, Burt Reynolds in 2018, and lastly Mike Henry (Junior) in 2021. The 1977 model wasn't out yet when filming began, so General Motors provided 1976 cars with front clips from the soon-to-be-released 1977 update. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Jane Russell hawked bras on television for full-figured gals like her, a line that evoked snickers among my high-school classmates. Im still trying to get clarification on what a diablo sandwich is though. In many of his driving scenes, Jerry Reed didnt actually drive the big vehicle. https://getjerry.com/insights/fun-facts-smokey-bandit-trans, https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0081529/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv, https://www.leithcars.com/blogs/1421/events/a-classic-pontiac-trans-am-worth-six-figures-classic-car-values-skyrocket/, https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/burt-reynolds-smokey-bandit-firebird-trans-am-sells-nearly-500k/4AG3ZHXMQJHMDO47HIFBEZ4JMU/, https://www.motorious.com/articles/features-3/heres-6-6-facts-about-smokey-bandit/, https://www.fox43.com/article/entertainment/arts/theatre/center-stage/iconic-scene-from-smokey-and-the-bandit-is-re-enacted-by-stunt-driver-in-carlisle/521-f27a443d-baeb-4b15-a944-afb6c9e7debf, https://www.hotcars.com/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am/, https://horsepowermemories.com/2018/07/17/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-smokey-and-the-bandit/, https://www.hotcars.com/this-truck-from-smokey-and-the-bandit-was-the-perfect-costar/, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086325/trivia/, https://www.guideautoweb.com/en/articles/64294/, https://www.truckersnews.com/trucks/article/15059342/california-truck-driver-climbs-aboard-movie-star-bandit-rig, https://blacktailnyc.com/when-could-you-buy-coors-beer-east-of-the-mississippi/, https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/burt-reynolds-smokey-bandit-firebird-trans-am-sells-nearly-500k/4AG3ZHXMQJHMDO47HIFBEZ4JMU/. Buford's brothers were both portrayed by Gleason; "Reggie" was a Canadian version of "Reginald Van Gleason III", a popular character from Gleason's television show. Every day there was a story, my worst memory would be with the Aston Martin though. Its amazing, you should watch it. That was pretty scary. What was your favourite stunt to be involved in? I went to police stations and got photos, all that nonsense. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Reynolds wanted Sally to express her feelings about the breakup on film because he wanted to know how she really felt about him. However, two of the principal stars of the film, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field declined to participate due to a contract dispute. I agree, despite people saying you sound cute, it seems like they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Jethro Bodean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODPt3T0cHE, We got a cage strong enough to hold you Just like the exaggeration sales went up 700%. Plus , I loved those late 1960s through mid 1970s Plymouths even though Im a Bowtie Guy by default . As if GM owes them something. They were great to drive, as a teenager you dreamed of having a Mini Cooper S. They were like a go-kart. Yet when I think of a 70s T/A, thats the one I and Im sure millions of other folks think of. How do you find the average value of a wave? I am still drawn to the shape of these cars, and others that have that long and low look about them. The 1974 Kenworth looks exactly how it should be for a big truck. Launched on the big screen in 1977, Smokey and the Bandit revolves around two bootleggers as they attempt to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. Who was driving the car in Smokey and the Bandit? Nice article Jason I was a fan of this movie when it came out I look back now and think, wow, did I really think this was entertainment?????? I prefer Buford T. Justices 1980 Pontiac Bonneville and his 1983 Pontiac Bonneville in Smokey and The Bandit III. While watching the movie (yes, I did have to diligently research this article), one shot seemed to indicate this may be a dummy scoop. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. The change was somewhat strange as most automakers were using cubic-inch numerals to advertise engines. Starring Bob Hope, that comedic star of the screen, and the lovely Jane Russell boy what a pair! I never forgot that one. How Many Electrons Does Phosphorus Have to Gain in Order to Achieve an Octet? We were given a living allowance. 10. Then, when we get into the office we realise the man who owns the 130 saloon also owns all of our Fiat 500s and has come to complain about us. It had an AM transmitter and you would tune in the sound on your AM car radio, or on my case, on a transistor radio. Wouldnt the accent give you away? This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. The boys swapped the headlamps over and sprayed bits with more silver paint. complete answer on findmeabrewery.com, View The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. Depends upon what he converted it from. I think you may be confusing the movie Honky-Tonk Freeway with the filming done during I-75 construction near Sarasota. How many cars were ruined in Smokey and the Bandit? Reynolds was the top box office draw from 1975 to 1982, then his movies really started to go downhill. Reynolds starred in the movie White Lightning (1973) (1973) where he played a moonshiner named "Gator McClusky". Nah, they survived by coming up with bras with very thin cups. These questions all need to be answered. The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac's take on the Chevrolet Camaro. Then I had these huge magnesium sump guards made and we had roll bars inside the car. Stuntman Gary Davis jumped a 1974 Dodge Monaco car for the roundup sequence in this movie. The cashier never batted an eye as she sold us the mass quantities of suds. It was due to be torn down and rebuilt after being deemed in unsafe condition so its destruction was written into this movie. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. ARRGH! Lets take a look. To give the 1976 model the look of the upcoming vehicle, the automaker installed the bumper of the 1977 Pontiac. Ask him to choose between a BMW M4 and an Audi RS5, and hell gladly trade both for a beat-up Cuda. I distinctly remember my mother buying Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the cashier. Her groom? Web. Jana, another oddity was that I could go to Carbondale and be asked where down south I was from. Stroker Ace is after S&B, 1983, and features the then new for 83 aero Fox Body Thunderbird. The final scene is a nod to his Honeymooners character. All I know is, at the time, if you lived in the east, Coors was some really special beer not unlike microbrews are now. Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. It was ultimately closed down in 1992 due to constant flooding from its proximity to the Trinity River. So lets explore this car (and truck) heavy flick, all while giving those who have not seen it a glimpse into a movie whose complexity and intellect remains unparalleled within the history of cinema. Two of the trucks pull away, resulting in Gaylord and Reggie's cruisers crashing in the ensuing gap before they can cross, but Buford is still in pursuit, though his cruiser is barely functioning. Davis unfortunately was injured during the stunt, receiving a compressed vertebra from a hard landing. Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. What happened to the original Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit? It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. He then tells her that he has not yet taken Charlotte to Dallas, but they can still make it. 2 The Mini Cooper Chase In The Italian Job. That's because the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit didn't sound like a Trans Am. BBC Studios is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just the BBC). Did Jerry Reed drive the truck in Smokey and the Bandit 2? Both the 1976 and '77 models had a similar body except for a few bumper and grille modifications. Probably the most interesting thing about this movie and Burt Reynolds is that he is not originally a Southern boy at all he was actually born in the Wolverine State Lansing, Michigan to be precise. I thought at the time that it was a newer version of White Lightning (also with Burt Reynolds) and that Smokey would be forgotten just as soon. The truck in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) that Cledus 'Snowman' Snow drove was a black and gold 1974 Kenworth W900 Model. These Furys, as well as some of the LeMans units, have hood scoops. Although he's into just about any type of vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast. You might think that seeing their cars routinely destroyed on movie screens across the country would give the manufacturer pause, but that is not the case at all. Soon as I get home, first thing Im gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. complete answer on villains.fandom.com, View For the 1980 film's main chase, 60 police cars were bought for $400 a piece, and outfitted. This is one of the plot lines in Smokey and the Bandit Part 3. " Jackie Gleason's brief appearance as Reginald Van Justice was a reference to Reginald Van Gleason III, a character he played throughout his TV career. My drivers ed driving range car was an ex-patrol colonnade Pontiac LeMans Enforcer. Theres really nothing like an old cop car. The rub? Jackie Gleason plays three characters in this movie: Sheriff Buford T. Justice, Gaylord Justice and Reginald Van Justice. I fondly remember lots and lots of terrible B grade movies @ the drive in in the early to mid 1970s all featuring cars racing , smashing and so on . The man does get around. So we've got them in our homes this is mad. One of those things that will make my kids think Im crazy some day. Il bandito e la madama (Italy) Mistrz kierownicy ucieka (Poland) 1971 AMC Ambassador Avco 1972 Buick Electra 225 1968 Buick Riviera 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1975 Cadillac Funeral Coach Chevrolet Advance - Design 1977 Chevrolet Bison 1971 Chevrolet Blazer. There was a case of real beer in the shot though, and gradually as the day went on everyone was getting drunk and falling about so that probably helped with the sense that we were on the edge of the cliff. I looked at a Bluesmobile worthy 1977 Plymouth Grand Fury, the big ones, it was an ex Florida Highway Patrol car, but it had a pretty good amount of rust and it was pretty beat. It made no sense to me as it was fifty miles north and fifty miles south. Olds 88. In the original screenplay, Bandit's last name is LaRoue (first name never mentioned), Carrie's name was Kate, Cledus' handle was simply just Bandit II, Big Enos and Little Enos' names were Kyle and Dickey, Junior was not a character, Buford's name was different, Bandit's car was not a Trans Am, and the reward for making the run was a new truck . By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. And then we drove them all back again afterwards. The film was originally released in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and several other, mainly Commonwealth, countries as Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again. Jackie Gleason played Ralph Kramden in the Honeymooners, Ralph worked as a bus driver. After the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but the Trans Am was now the most popular one. But for instance, the DB4 was blown up on the side of the road and left there. I remember I'd obviously done a load of handbrake turns in my time, but suddenly Rmy was telling me to get it in reverse halfway through and to roar out of them. I remember that it had a bunch of trim badges on the center of the dashboard. Despite the hiccups, the movie still promoted the 1977 model so well. However, as our heroes were successful in delivering their truckload of Coors, the writers effectively poised themselves for a sequel. The production office was in a big square, but he went screaming by, couldnt stop and smashed into a big Fiat 130 saloon. We were allowed to rent Fiat 500s at a very good price, I think they were 1,000 Lira per day, so instead of being sensible and renting a couple of them for the gang, we got 10 of them one each. The car was not used in the making of Smokey and the Bandit but was given to the actor as a thank you for his role in the film, the company said. That song often pops into my head at the start of long drives. Web. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The three Mini drivers in the film myself, Barry Cox and Richard Essame drove three Minis back from Turin, all in a line, all racing along, all 20-year-old boys being stupid. This movie is one of a handful of pictures that Burt Reynolds made with his 1970s girlfriend Sally Field. While it is doubtful Pontiac sold very many LeMans police packages, if one views this show as realistic, it would seem nearly every county and highway patrol in five states purchased one of Pontiacs heavy duty offerings. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. Behind Sheriff Justices Pontiac, there is a nice looking 1965 or 1966 Ford Mustang fastback and a Toyota pickup. Learn how your comment data is processed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A number of records were broken at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale in Arizona, which ended last weekend. Two of the most high-octane films of 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road and Furious 7, each burned through hundreds ( Furious 7 alone. No, the T/A was selling fine before the movie, and the black/gold package dates to 1976, a full year before the movie was out in summer 77. Smokey and the Bandit II " was the eighth most popular 1980 movie at the U.S.A. and Canada box office. As luck and script writing would have it, Frog has left her groom at the altar. Yet, the set used a 1976 model, as the 1977 vehicle was not ready.
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