The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. His automotive adventure started reporting on various motorsport events as a sports writer before moving onto a full-time auto career with various sites, including This Week In Motors and Autoevolution. Smokey & The Bandit is the greatest movie of the 20th Century! Actor Henry Corden, who voiced Fred Flintstone after original performer Alan Reed died the same year the film was released, was used to replace a considerable amount of Sheriff Justice's dialogue. you can find it on amazon.com . That is an excellent question. I also own a Etrl replica of the Pontiac Bonneville Buford T. Justice drove in Smokey and The Bandit II. 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. [4] Just two days before production was to begin, Universal sent a "hatchet man" to Atlanta to inform Needham that the budget was being trimmed by $1 million. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. The Trans Am was already pretty popular in the mid-1970s, with sales hitting 68,745 units in 1977. I was just tweaking Jason. The cop cars with the hood scoops were ex-DeKalb County (Georgia) cruisers. There definitely was a halo cast around the 2nd gen F-body from its appearance in the movie, which I believe even did extend to the Camaro, which was probably the cheapest way to at least get some of the Bandit vibe, where there other factors too, probably, the 70s, disco, cocaine, mustaches and probably a bunch others.many thought that these car would be the last hurrah for anything performance oriented. Please to note I didnt say _I_ didnt like them as I was in my 20s then (early 1970s) so I hustled my self and my Russian girlfriend right on down to the cinema every time Burt Reynolds had a new flick , I personally loved his movies even the chick flicks like The Man Who Loved Women , I just had to hear earfuls from everyone else about how awful he / those movies were.. We even bought one of those Pontiac Police Specials on auction from. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. After the movie did well, Pontiac gave Burt a free Trans Am to drive for a few years. New York, This phrase achieved a level of popularity with children and the 2007 Hot Wheels release of the 1970s Firebird Trans Am has "scum bum" emblazoned on its tail. [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. Bandit attracts more police attention across Dixie as Snowman barrels on toward Atlanta with the contraband beer, but they are helped en route by many colorful characters via CB radio. The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. [5] Reynolds revealed in his autobiography that Needham had written the first draft script on legal pads. He obtained the attention of studios and aimed the film at a more mainstream release after his friend Reynolds read the script and agreed to portray the Bandit, with Reed now portraying the Bandit's friend the Snowman. Likely this isnt any rare engine venting package, but I could be wrong. It outsold its Chevrolet Camaro counterpart for the first time. Jane Russell hawked bras on television for full-figured gals like her, a line that evoked snickers among my high-school classmates. It was something regarding distribution limits. Anyone who enjoys Colonnade sedans will love Smokey & the Bandit. In October 2020, a Smokey and the Bandit TV series was revealed to be in development, with a pilot written by David Gordon Green and Brian Sides and also executive produced with his Rough House confederates Jody Hill, Danny McBride and Brandon James, as well as Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door.[44]. [15] All four of the cars were badly damaged during production,[16] one of which was all but destroyed during the jump over the dismantled Mulberry bridge. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. Smokey and the Bandit: Behind-the-Scenes Details With - MotorTrend 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. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time. Trigger had a big impact on my taste in cars with the Trans Ams of the late 70s being my favorite. Free shipping for many products! Gleasons Justice is the stereotypical Southern sheriff, as seen in this clip. Your email address will not be published. [11] The movie was primarily filmed in Georgia, in the cities of McDonough, Jonesboro, and Lithonia. I had no idea that it was going to become a 70s classic. I was to be paid a salary plus own 7% of the profits. a custom mandrel bent dual exhaust, and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed mains. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. 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 updated version of the film features sound inaccurate for what would be produced by the Trans Am or the numerous other Pontiac vehicles in the film. . I have always loved this movie, watched it dozens and dozens of times on TV, video, DVD, laserdisc, almost any form of media. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. Despite growing up next to Cape, most of relatives are from the Mid-South. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. And the 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds versions could be made to run well. [22] It premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, where it performed badly. I prefer Buford T. Justices 1980 Pontiac Bonneville and his 1983 Pontiac Bonneville in Smokey and The Bandit III. Not everything was Pontiac, as evidenced by this 1973 Plymouth Satellite coupe (CC here). Your email address will not be published. The production team wrecked three for the four cars it received from Pontiac. According to an interview with Susie McIver Ewing on The RetroZest Podcast, she was picked to play the role of Hot Pants Hilliard after the dailies footage (shot in the Atlanta area) of the original actress playing the role was inadvertently destroyed on its way from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. Depends upon what he converted it from. . Television censorship and alternative versions, second highest-grossing domestic film of 1977, AFI's 100 Years100 Heroes and Villains, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Smokey and the Bandit at 35: A Case for the Genius of Hal Needham", "Greyhound Lakewood Park (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)", "Burt Reynolds' old Pontiac Trans Am replica sold for $317,500", "An Interview With Jim Wangers: Pontiac and the 1970's", "How the Bandit, Coors and a bunch of Makers changed the course of booze history", "Various Smokey And The Bandit (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)", "Smokey and the Bandit, Box Office Information", "Burt Reynolds at the 2015 Macon Film Festival", "Seven Quirky Lowbrow Favorite Films of Highbrow Directors", "Remembering Hal Needham and the Birth of Redneck Cinema", "Smokey and the Bandit Film from RadioTimes", "Burt Reynolds' Bandit Trans Am sells for $450,000", "See a "New" Vintage Bandit Trans Am Approved by Burt Reynolds Himself", "Diablo Sandwich Recipe from CMT's Reel Eats", "Diablo Sandwich / "Diablo & Doc" From Smokey & the Bandit, Identified! 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. . UNIVERSAL CUT THE BUDGET JUST AS PRODUCTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. There's one black Trans Am left from 'Smokey and The Bandit.' It's The 1978 Trans Am is an exact duplicate of the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie car, finished in black and gold with a screaming chicken on the hood. Apparently the engine sounds were lifted from another movie, I think two lane blacktop? Just after re-entering Georgia, Snowman is rescued by Bandit after being stopped by a Georgia State Patrol motorcycle trooper, and state and local police intensely pursue Bandit with roadblocks and a helicopter to track his movement. The hood scoop on these cars says "6.6 LITRE", which, in 1977, would have denoted an Oldsmobile 403-equipped car or a non-W-72, 180 hp version of the 400 Pontiac engine. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. Over many viewings I noticed some scenes the car would skate around and take off like an animal while in others there were one-tire-fires and it would struggle to get going. It is now sold in all states as Coors ships it in refrigerated train cars and bottled locally and sold in different parts of the country including the eastern US states. This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. 46,000 in 1976, 68,000 in 1977, 93,000 in 1978, 117,000 in 1979. Burt Reynolds plays truck driver Bo Bandit Darville. [original research?] As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 78% rating based on 32 reviews. The cashier never batted an eye as she sold us the mass quantities of suds. How did any bra manufacturers survive the 70s? 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. IMCDb.org: 1977 Pontiac LeMans in "Smokey and the Bandit, 1977" He claimed that the Bandit is never made aware of Frog's leaving Junior at the altar, which is why the Bandit continually asks why a Texas sheriff is chasing him. 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. "Smokey and the Bandit Pursuit Pack" is formatted as a box set that in presented in full color in widescreen. Smokey & The Bandit was the first of three movies in that franchise. I recall a big smokey burnout right after they left Snowmans house that looked 455-worthy and also after Bandit picked up Fields he left two strips after nailing second (right before the tire thieves crossed the road), which makes me think there was also a 4 speed car used. Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. Due to his financial difficulties in 2014, Reynolds put his vast collection of artwork and memorabilia up for auction, including the Trans Am. 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. Florida Trans Am Shop Burns - Motorious Dont let his grumpiness fool you though; hes more than excited to provide the latest news and reviews on the most interesting cars in the industry. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? Even when the 2nd gen was already coasting on fumes, and defanged, and after the reasonably shitty Smokey and the Bandit sequel, Pontiac managed to pump out 107,000 Trans Ams in 1980 and 70,000 for the 2nd gen Trans Ams swan song in 1981. Smokey and the Bandit was the second highest-grossing domestic film of 1977 in the United States. The owner restored it and sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson. But that doesnt make for an interesting movie premise. A movie for the people, "Smokey and the Bandit" is more - Hagerty CC Cinema: The Cars of "Smokey & The Bandit - Curbside Classic Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. Nah, they survived by coming up with bras with very thin cups. I did help a friend rebuild a late 60s 400 to replace the anemic 301 in his 79, Trans Am. It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. It wasnt distributed in Washington in those days either. As a publicity stunt, the Trans Ams used in the movie had different decals on the hood scoop. I am still drawn to the shape of these cars, and others that have that long and low look about them. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. 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. While made to take advantage of the ongoing 1970s CB radio fad, the film added to the craze. 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. Most of the dialogue was improvised on set. The site's consensus states: "Not much in the head but plenty beneath the hood, Smokey and the Bandit is infectious fun with plenty of car wrecks to keep your eyes glued". And lets not forget the Trans Am rental car Steve McQueen drove in his very last movie, The Hunter from 1980. [6] It would become one of Reed's biggest hits and his signature song.[7]. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! I just dont like car novices that assume the Pontiac T/A was soley a movie tie in car and the it started in 1977.. The film features the custom clothing and costuming of Niver Western Wear of Fort Worth, Texas. [5] Sally Field only accepted the part after her agent advised her that she needed a big movie role on her rsum. It cornered amazingly well for such a large car, but the posi rear end emitted ominous sounds so I passed on it (I was in college and didnt have any place to do major repairs). "Smokey and the Bandit" stars Burt Reynolds, Sally . I still regret selling mine almost 30 years ago. The area around Helen, Georgia, was used for some locations. A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? As I did Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. The cars were 1976 models, the engines fitted to them were 455ci powerplants, the last year these engines were offered for sale before withdrawal. January 24, 2019 100 comments. Because of the popularity of the film and the sales success of the Trans Am, the president of Pontiac Alex Mair promised to supply Reynolds with a Trans Am each year.