Smokey and the Bandit: An Action Comedy That Defined the 70s Car Chase Film

The Origins of Smokey and the Bandit

Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, and country music legend Jerry Reed. It follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) as they transport a truckload of illegal Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia within 28 hours while trying to avoid detection from Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason).

The film was directed by Hal Needham, who was a former stuntman and had previously worked with Reynolds. It was loosely inspired by trucker music and culture, which was popular at the time. Reynolds and Needham had originally conceived of it as a low-budget B movie but it ended up becoming a surprise box office hit, grossing over $300 million worldwide. This success sparked several sequels and helped cement Reynolds' status as a major movie star in the late 1970s.

Development and Writing

The script for Smokey and the Bandit was written by James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer, and Alan Mandel. Barrett had previously written White Lightning, another Reynolds action movie with a similar Southern drive-in movie vibe. The writers were inspired by songs like C.W. McCall's hit "Convoy", which mythologized truck drivers evading police on the radio. They set out to capture the rebellious spirit and fun of these kinds of good ol' boy stories.

The movie's plot essentially serves as a framework to string together a series of car chase scenes and stunts. Barrett was brought on to add more comedy to the script, developing the banter between Reynolds' Bandit and Field's runaway bride Carrie, aka "Frog". Much of their dialogue was improvised on set, adding to the film's freewheeling tone.

Casting the Lead Roles

Burt Reynolds reportedly turned down the role of Bandit at first, but eventually relented. He was at the peak of his career in the late 70s following hits like Deliverance, The Longest Yard, and Semi-Tough. Reynolds brought his natural charisma and charm to the wise-cracking Bandit character.

Sally Field was known for more wholesome roles in TV and films like Gidget and The Flying Nun. Starring opposite Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit helped show she could break out of this stereotype and hold her own in an action comedy. The pairing of Field and Reynolds proved so popular that they went on to star in several more movies together.

Jerry Reed was selected to play Snowman because of his established country and western music career. Reed brought authenticity to the role and also performed several of the movie's songs including the memorable "East Bound and Down". Jackie Gleason hammed it up as the blustery Sheriff Buford T. Justice, who uses increasingly outrageous tactics in his vain pursuit of Bandit and Snowman.

Filming on Location

Principal photography for Smokey and the Bandit took place in Georgia in 1977. Much of the movie was shot in rural areas around Atlanta. Additional scenes were filmed in Jonesboro and McDonough. Filming on location and the use of real roads and landscapes helped give the movie an authentic feel.

Several key scenes were filmed along Highway 75, which allowed Smokey and the Bandit to showcase some thrilling stunt driving. Bridge stunts were coordinated by legendary Hollywood stuntman Hal Needham and performed along the Chattahoochee River. Needham had worked on many of Reynolds' films and the two were good friends.

Additional stunt driving took place around Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia. All of the chase scenes were filmed without permits or alerting local authorities. The production team essentially just went out and did all the wild driving illegally and very dangerously.

Iconic Car Stunts

The car stunts and chases are one of the things Smokey and the Bandit is most remembered for. Hal Needham coordinated breath-taking jumps, high-speed pursuits, and clever evasive driving maneuvers.

Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition, which became immensely popular after the movie's release. It appears in some of the most famous scenes, including the jump over a broken bridge near the end. Snowman pilots his Kenworth W900A truck with gleaming chrome and a mural of a snowman on the side.

Sheriff Justice pursues them in multiple Ford LTD Crown Victorias, which he amusingly wrecks and destroys one after another in his zeal to catch Bandit and Snowman. More than 150 vehicles were used during production for all the crashes, jumps, and wrecks.

Country Western Soundtrack

In keeping with its Southern themes and characters, Smokey and the Bandit featured prominent country western music throughout the film. The soundtrack included songs performed by Jerry Reed, Bill Justis, and Roy Clark.

Reed's "East Bound and Down" became one of the most memorable tunes associated with the movie. It plays during the opening credits as Bandit and Snowman begin their epic run. The song captures the carefree, fun-loving spirit the film tries to convey.

Other notable tracks include Reed's "The Legend", the instrumental "The Snowman" by Bill Justis, and Roy Clark's "The Alabama Jubilee." Clark and other artists also contributed original songs like "Smokey and the Bandit" and "The Bronco Busters" specifically for the soundtrack.

Box Office Success and Popularity

With a budget of only $4.3 million, Smokey and the Bandit became a surprise summer box office hit in 1977. It ended up grossing over $126 million in North America, beating out Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind to become the second highest-grossing movie that year after Star Wars.

Smokey and the Bandit was firmly embedded in the popular culture of the late 70s. It helped spark renewed interest in CB radio, trucker culture, and citizens band music. Fans loved the rebelliousness of Bandit and Snowman as they thumbed their nose at authority and got away with it.

The film's huge success led Universal to quickly green light multiple sequels and inspired numerous other trucking and CB movies. However, none managed to recapture the irreverent fun of the original Smokey and the Bandit.

Impact on Cast and Crew

Smokey and the Bandit had an influential impact on the careers of its cast and crew. It cemented Burt Reynolds as the number one movie star in the world. His popularity reached new heights in the late 70s following this film's massive success.

Sally Field also gained new recognition and credibility as a talented comedic actress who could break away from her earlier wholesome image. Director Hal Needham went on to helm more action comedies with Reynolds including Hooper and The Cannonball Run.

The film was also Jackie Gleason's most successful movie performance and exposed the veteran TV actor to a whole new audience. Jerry Reed's prominent musical contributions helped further popularize country and western music in mainstream film.

Lasting Cultural Legacy

More than 40 years after its release, Smokey and the Bandit still occupies a special place in pop culture history. Elements like Bandit's black Trans Am, Sheriff Justice's buffoonery, and that infectious Jerry Reed theme song all linger in the public consciousness.

The film is widely remembered as one of the preeminent automotive chase movies of the 70s and 80s. It set the template for similar road trip comedies like The Cannonball Run and Smokey and the Bandit 3. Audiences can't resist rooting for Bandit and Snowman as they outrun incompetent authorities in stylish cars.

Smokey and the Bandit has also become a quintessential representation of America's enduring love affair with outlaw country culture. Few films embodied this quite as joyfully and rebelliously as Bandit and Snowman's race for the road against all odds.

FAQs

What is the plot of Smokey and the Bandit?

Smokey and the Bandit follows Bo "Bandit" Darville and Cledus "Snowman" Snow as they transport a truckload of illegal Coors beer from Texas to Georgia within 28 hours, while trying to outrun Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

Who were the main stars of Smokey and the Bandit?

The main stars were Burt Reynolds as Bo "Bandit" Darville, Sally Field as runaway bride Carrie/Frog, Jerry Reed as Snowman, and Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

How was Burt Reynolds cast as Bandit?

Reynolds was initially reluctant to take the role but eventually agreed. He was at the peak of his career in the late 1970s following hits like Deliverance, The Longest Yard, and Semi-Tough.

Where was Smokey and the Bandit filmed?

Principal photography took place in Georgia in 1977, with many scenes shot on location in rural areas and along highways around Atlanta, Jonesboro, and McDonough.

Why was Smokey and the Bandit such a hit?

Smokey and the Bandit became a surprise box office smash due to its thrilling car stunts, lighthearted tone, rebellious spirit, star power of Reynolds and Field, and Jerry Reed's memorable theme song.