Today, Smokey and the Bandit remains one of the most popular car action films ever made, and the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am will forever be wed to the movie. [12] The area around Helen, Georgia, was used for some locations. As deals were made for the actors and producers, the studio wanted to renegotiate my deal. While the Snowman drives the truck carrying the beer, the Bandit drives a Pontiac Trans Am to distract law enforcement (called blocking) and keep the attention off the Snowman. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. The theatrical release has a few lines deleted, including an edit in which Sheriff Justice tells a state trooper to "fuck off" after the sheriff called his vehicle "a piece of crap". [37], The first run in 2007 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie, The Bandit Run was the brainchild of Dave Hall, owner of Restore A Muscle Car. While I have read undocumented accounts of there being more than three Trans Ams, Needham stated three is all that were used. Were they dummies? Burt Reynolds himself drove the car on stage to the song "East Bound and Down" and signed it. I think you may be confusing the movie Honky-Tonk Freeway with the filming done during I-75 construction near Sarasota. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. Two units were 1974 models, as evidenced by standard silver Kenworth emblems on the truck grille, and one unit was a 1973 model, as evidenced by the gold-painted Kenworth emblem on the truck's grille, signifying Kenworth's 50 years in business. January 24, 2019 100 comments. I know that Trans Am that . While Sheriff Justice doesnt deal well with the pressures of high speed pursuit, as seen above, his Pontiac LeMans (CC here) withstands the most abuse of any car in this entire movie. It consists of any of the various Louisiana-style hot sauces on Texas toast-style bread alongside the fourth most famous product of Pittsburg, Texas (behind Pilgrim's Pride, Cavender's, and Carroll Shelby)Pittsburg Hot Links. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. 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. Wanting to promote the aesthetically modified 1977 model, but lacking cars owing to delays in production start-up, GM modified four 1976 Trans Ams with '77 spec bodywork and decals for the film. Remember that Smokey and the Bandit was the 2nd biggest movie of the year, right after Star Wars. My family did all grocery shopping in Cape. Pontiac gave Needham a total of four cars, three to use in the movie, and one as a promotional vehicle to drive around and advertise Smokey and the Bandit following its release. How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? A segment of the CMT program Reel Eats used a sloppy joe-style recipe consisting of seasoned ground beef, corn, and sour cream. Now, having only three Trans Ams to wreck for a movie is minimalist, to say the least. As Fred Flintstone was modeled off Ralph Kramden, the Jackie Gleason character from the 1950s television showThe Honeymooners, the tone and intonation of the dubbing was highly convincing. I started cruising through EBay and the next thing I knew I won the auction for a clean 400/4 speed/T-Top 78 Trans Am. Banzai! In the Reynolds portion of the interview, he stated the movie prompted Trans Am sales to jump around 700%. While they did jump, from 46,700 in 1976 to 69,000 for 1977 with another 93,300 for 1978, it wasnt exactly 700%. Olds 88. [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career.[26]. Plus , I loved those late 1960s through mid 1970s Plymouths even though Im a Bowtie Guy by default . And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. One of those things that will make my kids think Im crazy some day. Ive always loved this movie. The tow truck driver was a local garage owner, Berlin Wike. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. An effort to recreate a jump from Smokey and the Bandit doesn't go perfectly when the car takes a rough course off the ramp. [33] Reynolds was given the 1977 vehicle used during promotion of the film as a gift, though the car itself never actually appeared in the film. I drive a conversion van. The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. I never understood why dragging a truckload of beer from Colorado to Georgia was such a big deal. 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: . Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. Round and dumpy, just like the Colonnade LeMans! Mr. Reynolds elevated the dreck that he appeared in to a higher level, that is, enjoyable. I still think its more entertaining than Star Wars. [14] The Trans Ams were actually 1976-model cars with 1977 front ends (from 1970 to 1976, both the Firebird/Trans Am and Chevrolet Camaro have two round headlights and in 1977, the Firebird/Trans Am was changed to four rectangular headlights, and the Camaro remained unchanged). In the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit, a high-speed chase ensues between the police and the Bandit (Burt Reynolds). I enjoyed the hell out of my 1976 Dart Pursuit. Always a favorite. With four miles left, Bandit, discouraged by the unexpected mounting attention, is ready to give up, but Snowman, who initially thought they would fail, takes the lead and smashes through the roadblock at the fairgrounds' main entrance. Gleasons Justice is the stereotypical Southern sheriff, as seen in this clip. Free shipping for many products! and the Dixie Dance Kings, and Burts car was a 57 [56?] Musicians such as Beegie Adair and George Tidwell[20] played on the soundtrack. [35], The "diablo sandwich" ordered by Sheriff Justice in the Arkansas barbecue restaurant scene has entered popular culture as a minor reference to the film. Im still trying to get clarification on what a diablo sandwich is though. Sales jumped even higher in 1979 when Pontiac moved 117,108 Trans Ams. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. The movie is responsible for something, by 1979 Pontiac was selling 100,000 plus Trans Ams, not the whole Firebird line, JUST Trans Ams, Pontiac sold more T/As in 1979 than any of the cheaper Firebirds combined, Smokey and the Bandit had to have a hand in that. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. Alan Reed was the original voice of Fred Flintstone; Henry Corden only took over after Reeds death in 1977. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1975 Plymouth Fury Police Pursuit Arkansas State Police "Smokey and The Bandit" at the best online prices at eBay! Future President Gerald Ford, after a trip to Colorado, hid it in his luggage to take it back to Washington, D.C. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a steady supply airlifted by the Air Force to Washington. It became Reed's signature song and is on multiple albums, including Country Legends and his live album Jerry Reed "Live!" Please refresh the page and try again. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). I know, Ive owned a 75 for 23 years. With the Smokey and the Bandit actor gone, and the impact the actor had on the Trans Am community, having one of the few connections to him destroyed is too much. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The scenes set in Texarkana were filmed in Jonesboro and the surrounding area and many of the chase scenes were filmed in the surrounding areas on Highway 54 between Fayetteville and Jonesboro for a majority of the driving scenes, Mundy's Mill Road, Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia State Route 400, I-85 (Pleasant Hill exit) and in McDonough. With Reynolds agreement to do the movie, and his insistence upon casting Gleason as Sheriff Justice, the movie became a larger venture. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. Supposedly there was a stick car for the burnouts and an automatic car for other shots. Ask him to choose between a BMW M4 and an Audi RS5, and hell gladly trade both for a beat-up Cuda. I did help a friend rebuild a late 60s 400 to replace the anemic 301 in his 79, Trans Am. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. The secrets behind the cars and stunts in 'The Italian Job'. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He enlists the help of fellow truck driver Cletus The Snowman Snow, played by country music singer Jerry Reed. My favorite would have been an ex-WSP 1970 Plymouth they were all Fury IIIs, white on blue with factory air and 440s under the hood; but none ever turned up when I was buying. Burt Reynolds may be 79, but he shows no signs of slowing down. Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! If they werent burning candles to an image of a cowboy hatted Burt Reynolds at Pontiac headquarters. I developed a pretty good bootheel accent during my time in New Madrid. I imagine that they borrowed some of the character from Sheriff JW Pepper from the 1973 and 1974 James Bond movies, Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun. During this time, the Firebird also surpassed sales figures of the Chevrolet Camaro. There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. I remember reading somewhere that one of the cars was equipped with a 455 for some of the higher speed scenes. . Upon showing it to his friend, Reynolds told Needham that it was the worst script he had ever read, but that he would still make the movie. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thats all well and good, and it worked smooth as silk for a good while. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. Some of the original sound effects (such as Cledus's dog Fred barking) and music (such as the final chase to the Southern Classic) were removed and not replaced. The Trans Am was already pretty popular in the mid-1970s, with sales hitting 68,745 units in 1977. Ive always wanted some sort of de-commission/ex unmarked cop car, something from the 70s preferably. Check out the entire video below. Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit, 10 Most Potentially Unreliable Electric Vehicles According To Consumer Reports, 10 Reasons Why It's Time You Should Buy A Bagger, Here's How Solid-State Batteries Will Change EVs Forever. Only one survived, and it's priceless. In particular, the scene where Sheriff Justice unknowingly encounters the Bandit in the "choke and puke" (a roadside diner) was not in the original story but was rather Gleason's idea. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. In 2006, a DVD re-release was issued of Smokey and the Bandit featuring a digitally remastered audio track with 5.1 Dolby-compatible surround sound. I was in West Plains the other day and there is yet another variation of it there. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. Hes fodder enough for his own article at some point. Another one is, Theres no way youre from my loins.. Smokey and the Bandit was all realistic and non fictional, and it still was a big hit that brought a lot of money to Hal Needham and the actors, to pay Pontiac back. The Trans Am used for said jump was equipped with a booster rocket, the same type that was used by Evel Knievel during his failed Snake River Canyon jump. For instance, the diesel engine start and run-up sequence in the opening sequence of the film were completely dubbed over with a new sound. (it did taste a lot better than Bud as I recall). How many smokey and the bandit movies are there? Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. This is obvious, because there is no fuel tank on the underside of the trailer to power the refrigeration unit, and the unit is never heard running. ", "The Bandit Run Brought to you by Restore A Muscle Car", "Stewart plays off 'Smokey and the Bandit in Mobil 1 ad", "Smokey and the Bandit: 40th Anniversary Edition", "Smokey and the Bandit II, Box Office Information", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokey_and_the_Bandit&oldid=1142751918, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from April 2022, Articles needing additional references from September 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] Jackie Gleason), George Reynolds as Sheriff George Branford, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 04:45. However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. radio to help him out. We also learn that every launched satellite will eventually fall back to Earth, such as this 1972 Plymouth Satellite (CC here). When I was a kid I thought they were the same person. Needham saw an advertisement for the soon-to-be-released 1977 Pontiac Trans Am and knew right away that would be the Bandit's car, or, as Needham referred to it, a character in the movie. But would the black and gold T/As be as desirable today without the movie? I beg to differ Mr -Nate. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. Needham had great difficulty getting any studios or producers to take his project seriously, being better known in the film industry as a stuntman. He is hired by Big Enos Burdette and his son Little Enos to transport a truck load of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas, back to Georgia in 28 hours. I have since moved on from them, mainly because in stock form, they were not particularly great cars (though good enough for the times). The Bandit Run quickly became a fixture, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie with a special 2017 screening of the film attended by Reynolds and a recreation of the jump undertaken by the Bandit and Frog across a river.