In 1991, it was arranged for orchestra by Crafton Beck and recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for their album Down on the Farm. The Smokey and the Bandit Car - Carsforsale.com Of course, we could argue that Needham could have used the engine note of a Pontiac GTO from the golden muscle car, but the 1955 Custom recordings were probably readily available, and he just didn't need the hassle. When Smokey and the Bandit first aired on American network television in the early 1980s, censors were faced with the challenge of toning down the raw language of the original film. How many cars did they wreck in Smokey and the Bandit? If you notice there are several different angled skid marks on the road in the scene where the Bandit picks up Frog, you can see that they did a couple of takes of the T/A skidding to a stop and taking off again. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? I still think its more entertaining than Star Wars. Conversely, I could go to Paducah and be asked where up north I was from. One time a friend and I drove back to Kentucky on leave rather than flying; no particular reason, we had plenty of time and wanted to see some of the country. MN12 Thunderbirds had the same appeal to me, for similar reasons. Let me get the popcorn for this one. Only one survived, and it's priceless. How Many Police Cars Were Destroyed In Blues Brothers We gonna do what they say cant be done Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. Other sources in East Texas (from whence Sheriff Justice hails) are familiar with the popular regional delicacy known as the Diablo Sandwich. What Sports Cars Are In Smokey And The Bandit - OsVehicle http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_301466-Ford-LTD-II-1977.html. Many of the film's original sounds were replaced. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds began a relationship after meeting on set. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. Burt Reynolds is originally a Georgia boy. Most of the shots that show Reynolds and Field in the car talking were filmed with the T/A being towed along on a lowboy trailer. How "Smokey and the Bandit" was born | Fortune My family did all grocery shopping in Cape. Many people believed beforehand that the film was not right for . Im east bound, just watch ol Bandit run.. Watching TV and Movies you would think that sales dropped to nil. Olds 88. [36] Another proposal, based more closely on images from the film and the shooting location of the scene (at an Old Hickory House restaurant in Georgia), is pulled pork and hot sauce on a hamburger bun. Nothing annoys him more than car electronics, and he just hates it when performance cars lack a third pedal. 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. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. Rob's Car Movie Review: Smokey and the Bandit (1977) - Street Muscle Did Jerry Reed really drive the truck in Smokey and the Bandit Whaddya expect outta a guy what drives a conversion van? Arguably the most iconic Pontiac Firebird in history. Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. As a kid that T/A, the General Lee, and KITT were largely responsible for defining my taste in cars and that carries through to today. The 403 Olds T/A was a dog, stock, but with some easily obtained parts, could be turned into a very nice low 13 second tire melter. Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. 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". Thats all true. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. Id like to hear from Mr. Needham why so many of those police cars had what look like shaker hood scoops. In my area, nearly every one listed is an ex cop car. Before Gleason was cast in the film, Richard Boone was originally considered for the role of Buford T. I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. Check out the entire video below. The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. The 1977 features rectangular quad headlamps instead of only two round lights, a unique slanted and V-shaped nose, and a center-mounted hood scoop. Amazing how a combination of desire and unobtainability can make an ordinary product special. Did I mention how much I enjoy reading all the back stories and niggly details I can only get here ? Learn how your comment data is processed. The scene where Sheriff Justice's car has the door knocked off by a passing . The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. Here's everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago or that would have been a great question to ask. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. A series of four made-for-TV spin-off films (Bandit Goes Country, Bandit Bandit, Beauty and the Bandit, and Bandit's Silver Angel) were produced in 1994 for Universal Television's Action Pack with actor Brian Bloom playing a younger version of the Bandit. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. Not all the police cars had hood scoops. It had amazing throttle response, with a hit that either scared people, or made them giggle. All pictures from the movie were acquired from www.imcdb.org, Fred Lives!!! It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. Its W.W. Smokey And The Bandit Tribute Jump Goes About As Well As You'd Expect 2-Smokey and the Bandit II-Pretty bad, still has some funny campy crap, the Dom DeLuise Italian Dr. bit is ok, Gleason is still pretty funny, the Turbo T/A is pretty weak, but still cool to see. Cause theyre thirsty in Atlanta The movie, in fact, caused sales of the . Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. Ironically I never really cared all that much for Coors, I dont think it has much flavor, but it was well received when we got to Kentucky. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. The theme music "East Bound and Down" was sung and co-written by Reed (credited under his birth name, Jerry Hubbard) and Dick Feller. Well, at least that's what you saw in the movie. Im pretty sure that the car that barks second when he takes off with Frog had to be a stick. I have to admit, thats a pretty fantastic story, and as a major movie star, Im sure Burt Reynolds was able to figure out another way to acquire a means of transportation. I think you may be confusing the movie Honky-Tonk Freeway with the filming done during I-75 construction near Sarasota. Will Walker: Independence Return For Season 2 Amid CW Shakeups? This reminds me of the classic introduction (actually written by Dick Cavett) said by Jack Paar on The Tonight Show: I was 3 years old when the original came out, and do not remember any of these details but, supposedly this was the first movie my parents ever took me to. The cashier never batted an eye as she sold us the mass quantities of suds. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . CC Cinema: The Cars of "Smokey & The Bandit - Curbside Classic 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. I certainly hope the guy hired to drive that 74 Ford Torino wagon was paid well for his work. If you watched the second clip above, this truck should look familiar. The differences between the two are major. There was a problem. 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. (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominatedSmokey & The Bandit. However, the scene and the obscured expletive were played for comedy value and written as such, with the passing truck being the gag of the scene more than a way to avoid the censors. Reed also penned and performed the song for the opening credits, entitled "The Legend", which tells of some of the Bandit's escapades before the events of the film, and the ballad "The Bandit", which is in several versions in the movie and on the soundtrack. Burt Reynolds may be 79, but he shows no signs of slowing down. There was a true concern (for some minuscule reason) about it going east of the Mississippi River. The secrets behind the cars and stunts in 'The Italian Job' - Top Gear 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. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! The Burdettes' car is a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible painted in a "Candy Red" color scheme and is seen briefly at the beginning of the movie and in the final scene as the Bandit, the Snowman, Fred the dog, and Frog use it to make their escape. 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. The scene featuring the racetrack was filmed at Lakewood Speedway at the old Lakewood Fairgrounds on Atlanta's south side. One of our favorite movies. This movie trailer gives you an taste of this provocative film, but fails to effectively capture all the subtleties and nuances it contains. For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. If they werent burning candles to an image of a cowboy hatted Burt Reynolds at Pontiac headquarters. Five-string banjo player Bobby Thompson is prominent toward the end of "East Bound and Down". The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. Jackie Gleason ad libbed a lot of his lines too. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. Set with his . 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. These new models were built off the same Camaro platform, came with the Pontiac arrowhead, flaming bird, and Bandit logos, and the instrument panels, center consoles, and hood scoops emulating their 1977 counterparts, and were signed by Reynolds. 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. Except that shes not sagging. Along the way they tussle with tough as nails Texas Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), pick up a runaway bride nicknamed Frog (Sally Field), and have all kinds of awesome times on the highway. At the time, it was illegal to transport Coors east of the Mississippi River and a series of other truckers had been apprehended for trying to accomplish this feat for the Burdettes. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. Additionally, he can give you several reasons why theres still no replacement for displacement. We stopped in that same Safeway later on the way back home from southern Cal, and they had a huge display of cases of Coors out on the floor near the checkstands. Launched on the big screen in 1977, Smokey and the Bandit revolves around two bootleggers as they attempt to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. Great write up. 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. Neither Buford nor any other lawmen know of Snowman's illegal manifest, while Bandit is likewise unaware that Buford is chasing him because of Carrie, whose jumpiness inspires Bandit to give her the CB handle "Frog". Ive always wanted some sort of de-commission/ex unmarked cop car, something from the 70s preferably. [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. A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. [9] Though the film Moonrunners (1975) is the precursor to the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (19791985), from the same creator and with many identical settings and concepts, the popularity of Smokey and the Bandit and similar films helped get the Dukes series on the air. Well, the Corvettes success is clearly due to Corvette Summer, @Jim I remember that movie! [17], In 1977, Coors was unavailable for sale east of Oklahoma. 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. Out of four Trans Ams used for the filming of Smokey And The Bandit, three were completely totaled in the process. The three movie cars were destroyed during various stunts, so the promo car is the only surviving Trans Am connected to this film. IMCDb.org: 1977 Pontiac LeMans in "Smokey and the Bandit, 1977" One of those things that will make my kids think Im crazy some day. The original uncut sumbitch version. In addition to the four Trans Ams, Needham also received two Pontiac LeMans models to serve as patrol cars in the movie. Since mentioning the Kenworth, it must be noted it was a redecorator of the highest fashion. Got Greyhound cutout decals on the rear side windows. That said, an uncomplimentary accent does exist. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. S/E T/A with the round headlights. As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. Anyone who enjoys Colonnade sedans will love Smokey & the Bandit. Gleason has a treasure trove of hilarious lines and it was this movie that started my love affair of cars back in the early 1980s. The change was somewhat strange as most automakers were using cubic-inch numerals to advertise engines. Many hardcore fans of Burt Reynolds' most iconic movie, 1977's "Smokey and The Bandit," know that none of those cool black Pontiac Trans Ams with gold trim survived the stunts in the film. It airs on cable tv all the time. Reynolds and Needham owned the Skoal Bandit team at the time, so getting these other drivers to appear probably would not taken much more than a six pack of beer and a hug from co-star Loni Anderson . I never understood why dragging a truckload of beer from Colorado to Georgia was such a big deal. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. Coors wasnt pasteurized. While it's sad that the other two cars were destroyed . Sales almost doubled in two years, which is a very big deal given that the Trans Ams 1978 facelift was rather minor save for the front fascia. How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? 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%. The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed), two bootleggers attempting to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. [23] It then opened in just the South of the United States over the Memorial Day weekend and grossed $2,689,851 in 386 theaters. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. This gives rise to various continuity errors with Justice's patrol car, which during some chase sequences is shown with a black rear fender, which then reverts to the car's bronze color again in later scenes. 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. The roller coaster in the movie was the Greyhound. Gleason probably wanted too much money to provide the dubbing, which is a shame because it ruins the TV version. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. It follows the adventures of a couple of truck drivers bootlegging Coors, which couldnt legally be sold East of the Mississippi River at the time. 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. Burt Reynolds recently revealed the ridiculous number of Pontiac Trans Ams they went through filming 1977s Smokey and the Bandit. UNIVERSAL CUT THE BUDGET JUST AS PRODUCTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. Due to his financial difficulties in 2014, Reynolds put his vast collection of artwork and memorabilia up for auction, including the Trans Am. Frederick Amon smuggled it from Colorado to North Carolina and sold it for four times the retail price.[19]. The uncut version is the best. how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 - onlytows.com.au [34] In 2015 a Florida-based automobile customization company built 77 Trans Ams modeled after the car that Reynolds drove in the film. Producers of Smokey and the Bandit wrecked 26 cars while filming the movie in 1977. 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. About two seconds after this picture was taken, these motorcycles were doing their best imitation of a stack of pancakes. 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. Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time. Trio of Burt Reynolds movie cars fetch $330,000 at auction, including 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]. Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The Although 1977 models also featured 6.6-liter engines, they were rated at only 200 horses. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). . Burt Reynolds as the Bandit can always count on the truckers on the other end of his C.B. Coors is still brewed just outside Denver, Colorado. 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. Somehow this store had a regular supply. Anyway, on the trip east, we stopped at a grocery in Topeka, Kansas and bought 16-18 cases of Coors, all that we had room for in the car. Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. Want proof? 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). 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. 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. As deals were made for the actors and producers, the studio wanted to renegotiate my deal. Needham and assistant director David Hamburger spent 30 hours revising the shooting schedule.[4]. I had a 78 Trigger lookalike for a while in the mid 90s, until a wrist pin went out, ended up selling it to one of my brothers buddys uncles. Below is probably another DeKalb County cop car. It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. 1980 ERTL SMOKEY & THE BANDIT PONTIAC FIREBIRD DIECAST CAR police car 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. Have the movie, cheesy as hell, but does have appearances by several NASCAR drivers of the day, including Dale Earnhardt (Senior, not Jr) Kyle Petty, Harry Gant, and one of my favorites of the era, Tim Richmond. 12 A Total Of 3 Trans Ams Were Destroyed During Filming. This same restaurant was used for a scene in the 1983 Stephen King Movie Christine, which was ultimately cut in the final film (it can be viewed as a deleted scene on the DVD release of the film). How many smokey and the bandit movies are there? [29] Alfred Hitchcock claimed that the film was one of his favorites. This movie was filmed in Georgia as well. Always loved this movie growing up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODPt3T0cHE, We got a cage strong enough to hold you For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. 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?????? If you somehow managed to miss Smokey and the Bandit in the years between the films 1977 release and now, you should rectify that situation immediately (to be fair, it was released two days after Star Wars, so its understandable if it slipped through the cracks). The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? . The checker, not batting an eye, Do you want that chilled?. a custom mandrel bent dual exhaust, and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed mains. There was still a market for bras in the 1970s. The film features the custom clothing and costuming of Niver Western Wear of Fort Worth, Texas. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! 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. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit is one of the most famous movie cars of all time. Another one is, Theres no way youre from my loins.. Always a favorite. Oh, and a hooker girlfriend that looked like Annie Potts. The pair arrive in Texarkana one hour early and load up the truck, but just as they head back, Carrie, a runaway bride, intercepts Bandit and jumps in his car, unwittingly making him an indirect target of Sheriff Buford T. Justice, a career Texas lawman whose witless son Junior was to have married Carrie. 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. These questions all need to be answered. Rockford Files also featured Firebird, and was on since 1974, and Fs sold well despite gas crunch I and inflation. Reynolds and Field began dating during the filming.[13]. With that in mind, Ill go with what Ive heard from my Georgia friends, to wit Sheriff Justices diablo sandwich is the Macon version, which is made with fried eggs and red hots. [32], After the debut of the film, the Pontiac Trans Am became wildly popular, with sales almost doubling within two years of the film's release. As such, it took a lot of sweet talking by former stuntman Needham for Pontiac to cough up three Trans Ams and three LeManses. How did any bra manufacturers survive the 70s? Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. Buford, with Junior along, ignores his jurisdiction and doggedly chases Bandit all the way to Georgia to retrieve Carrie while various mishaps cause his cruiser to disintegrate on the way. The third film which had no involvement from either Hal Needham or Sally Field and contained only a short cameo appearance by Burt Reynolds revolved entirely around Jackie Gleason's character, was panned by critics, and was a box office bomb, earning only $7 million against a $9 million budget.[41][42][43]. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. 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. Some of the more recent DVD releases of it redid all of the engine sounds and it sounds much more mellow than the original(not happy about that). A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. After passing Buford's badly damaged cruiser on the roadside, Bandit gets on the CB and initially directs him to the Burdettes, but then respectfully gives his real locationright behind Buford, who continues his chase leaving Junior behind, and with more parts falling off his cruiser as he limps off after Bandit. But would the black and gold T/As be as desirable today without the movie? I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. It seems Plymouth was in a distant second for product placement. In the movie . Musicians such as Beegie Adair and George Tidwell[20] played on the soundtrack. Gas was a buck a gallon at the time so fuel economy wasnt a major issue. Some people have ripped this film as being thin on plot; others have called it a documentary about life south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Smokey and the Bandit | 4K Ultra HD | The Bandit Takes a 28 Hour Trip The comedy has been remastered to DVD standards. New York, and the Dixie Dance Kings, and Burts car was a 57 [56?] One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. radio to help him out. And all of us easterners suddenly discovered it was nothing more than another Budweiser/Miller/etc.
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