The film was a sleeper hit, and following a poor initial performance, it went on to gross $126.7 million in North America, versus a budget of only $4.3 million. With Reynolds' salary at $1 million, Needham was left with only $3.3 million to make the film. 46,000 in 1976, 68,000 in 1977, 93,000 in 1978, 117,000 in 1979. That song often pops into my head at the start of long drives. The Bandit's car was a second-generation Trans Am and the prize for completing the run was a new truck rather than $80,000. The secrets behind the cars and stunts in 'The Italian Job'. The change was somewhat strange as most automakers were using cubic-inch numerals to advertise engines. The most noted change made for network broadcast was the replacing of Buford's often-spoken phrase "sumbitch" (a contraction of "son of a bitch"; usually in reference to the Bandit) with the phrase "scum bum". I think you may be confusing the movie Honky-Tonk Freeway with the filming done during I-75 construction near Sarasota. Gleason was given free rein to ad-lib dialogue and make suggestions. Smokey & The Bandit Police Cars. While it's sad that the other two cars were destroyed . Sure Smokey helped, but was not the sole reason T/A and F body sales went up. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. I was a junior high school age kid when this film came out. In the movie . 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?????? Gotta love that guy! Gleason probably wanted too much money to provide the dubbing, which is a shame because it ruins the TV version. 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. As such, it took a lot of sweet talking by former stuntman Needham for Pontiac to cough up three Trans Ams and three LeManses. And Coors itself limited its distribution to west of the Mississippi. That's because Pontiac almost canceled the Firebird in the early 1970s. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. [27] In his review in the Chicago Tribune, Gene Siskel gave the film two stars and complained that the film failed to tell the audience when the clock started on the beer run, thus reducing suspense. The advertisements lampoon the film and feature a Pontiac Trans Am and a cover version of the song East Bound and Down. A 1977 special-edition model once owned by the late actor Burt Reynolds recently wound up on the car auction website Bring a Trailer. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville, seen toward the end of the movie. Cape was far enough north that it was watered down and there was so much cross-pollination with the Illinois side you really didnt discern much difference. Well, at least that's what you saw in the movie. But the true standout of Smokey and the Bandit is the car driven by The Bandit, the iconic black and gold 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. 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. 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. 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. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. 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. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds began a relationship after meeting on set. 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. In its place was the nonsensical scum bum. The voice over actor? 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. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. Starring Bob Hope, that comedic star of the screen, and the lovely Jane Russell boy what a pair! I never forgot that one. Reynolds actively pushed for her casting after Universal initially resisted, claiming Field was not attractive enough. 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. I grew up in Illinois, within eyeshot of the banks of the MIssissippi River, and ten miles from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 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. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . Gas was a buck a gallon at the time so fuel economy wasnt a major issue. So many classic quotes in this movie. I own all three films on a dvd called the Smokey and The Bandit Pursuit Pack. 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. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. The decals were changed to 1977-style units, as evidenced by the engine size callouts on the hood scoop being in liters rather than cubic inches, as had been the case in 1976. Thanks for this, Jason. The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. It was his idea to have Junior alongside him throughout the film. Let us dissect this flick to better examine it. Called Smoke is the Bandit and playing on Stewart's nickname, the commercials featured him as the Bandit opposite commentators Darrell Waltrip as the Snowman and Jeff Hammond as Buford T. Justice. Probably the most famous TV edit of all time is I have had it with these monkey-fightin snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!. When Im driving the Bandit Trans Am while playing one of my many Forza Motorsport games I always put that song on. (Still). It had not been used for some time and was repainted for the film. The truck at the shell station is actually a 75 or 76 Toyota Hilux. Of the many cars saved from the fire was the only surviving Knight Rider KITT Super Pursuit Mode car created by Jay Orberg. Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. 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. How many smokey and the bandit movies are there? 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. Before Gleason was cast in the film, Richard Boone was originally considered for the role of Buford T. Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film a good rating (3 stars out of a possible 4) and characterized it as "about as subtle as The Three Stooges, but a classic compared to the sequels and countless rip-offs which followed". I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! A paper on Cognitive psychology was published in the 1990 issue of Computers in Human Perception. Now, having only three Trans Ams to wreck for a movie is minimalist, to say the least. I was to be paid a salary plus own 7% of the profits. By the end of June, it had played in major Southern markets, including Charlotte, Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, grossing $11.9 million. Mines never gone away, especially now that I spend every thee month in Memphis. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. But that doesnt make for an interesting movie premise. A black Trans Am is parked in my garage because of this movie. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? With this, the Sheriff begins his pursuit of the Mann Act-violating Banditall the way to Georgia. Soon as I get home, first thing Im gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!. Great fun! Movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and Furious 7 may ruin a lot of cars, but they were far from the first. Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. That parking lot was full of Trans Ams! Plus , I loved those late 1960s through mid 1970s Plymouths even though Im a Bowtie Guy by default . The $%&#* Germans got nuthin to do with it!, Such a great movie I grew up in the 80s, so it was comforting to watch this, Blues Brothers, or Animal House once a week on TBS/TNT. Actually, there were 2 future Dukes stars in the movie: Ben Jones (Cooter) was in an early scene helping Big Enos find Bandit. Further, as Pontiac has deliciously obvious product placement, anyone who delights in 70s era Pontiac iron will experience visual ecstasy.
A few other examples of sound effect replacement occur when the Bandit takes off after getting the reluctant Cledus involved in the bet, the Bandit comes to a screeching halt on a roadway moments before picking up Carrie, and when Buford's car top comes off. And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. Great article! It outsold its Chevrolet Camaro counterpart for the first time. He contacted Pontiac and an agreement was made that four 1977 Trans Ams and two Pontiac LeMans four-door sedans would be provided for the movie. [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. The differences between the two are major.