“For the good old American life, for the money, for the glory and for the fun. Mostly For the money.”
Smokey and the Bandit is the ultimate Burt movie and showcases Burt at his best. Smokey heralds the beginning of Burt's 'Glory Years' and marks his ascent into Hollywood legendary superstar status.
Directed by significant Burtology figure and Burt best buddy Hal Needham, Smokey is very much an unsung classic of 1970's American cinema. Totally Burt would go as far as saying that along with Stars Wars (the only movie to gross more money Smokey in the same year) was the foundation for the modern summer blockbuster and of course the heralded the ever popular Burt Reynolds car chase genre's first wide exposure to mainstream cinema.
Burt is loveable rogue Bo ‘The Bandit’ Darville who on a bet decides with his truck driver buddy Cletus ‘The Snowman’ (Jerry Reed) and his dog Fred to drive cases of Coors across state lines from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours - "we're gonna do what they say can't be done. We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there" as the iconic Jerry Reed theme song from the movie goes. Once upon a time this was also - and still is? - illegal and classed as bootlegging. In hot pursuit of Burt and his black Trans-Am is Sheriff Buford T Justice (Jackie Gleason) as on his way, as you do, The Bandit picks up runaway bride (Unbeknownst to Burt and she has just left Sheriff Justice’s son Junior (Mike Henry) at the altar) Carrie played by another significant Burtology player and in real life as well as movie love interest Sally Field.
Burt gives Sally the CB handle 'Frog' because she's "always hoppin' around" and she's "kinda cute like a frog" and he "wants to jump" her. There is a romantic interlude from all the driving and truckin' where they take a break to discuss their differences “it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in as to just how dumb you are” “ Mr Bandit you have lyrical way of cutting through the bullshit.” “And you have a unique way with the English language Miss Frog” and then Bandit take his hat off to do the "One thing and one thing only" he takes it off for.
The plot is basically Sheriff Justice chasing The Bandit and lots of cool car stunts including the famous 'bridge jump scene' but, as any Burt fan or Burtologist knows, symbolically this movie is much more than that.
For such an endlessly quotable and great movie, there is so much more to say on Smokey and the Totally Burt blog will be bringing it all back home with much more in depth analysis on this Burt classic in future updates.
