Bonita Unified School District Calendar, Articles H

I guess the Trans Am proved to have more staying power than the hot 71 Ford in the earlier movie. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time. S&B is one of my all-time favorite movies and Im not apologizing. . Burt Reynolds plays truck driver Bo Bandit Darville. Theres really nothing like an old cop car. (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominatedSmokey & The Bandit. Not everything was Pontiac, as evidenced by this 1973 Plymouth Satellite coupe (CC here). On top of Burt Reynold's top-notch acting, Smokey and the Bandit is also famous for the Pontiac Trans Am that the actor drove throughout the film. Im probably in the minority as usual, but I prefer the Black and Gold 50th Anne. Nuts about any form of classic motorsport and muscle cars, Ciprian's currently working on a time machine that would take him back to the 1960s for a long vacation alongside Dan Gurney and Jim Hall. 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. 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. 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. I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. [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). The gag with the overpass being blown up was actually a bridge built for the movie on the unfinished highway, and AFAIK, the truck driver who jumps the void ended up breaking his back in the stunt. If it wasnt for Smokey & the Bandit, the Dukes of Hazzard TV series would not exist. The dubbed version isnt as bad as the Remastered Blu-ray. Anyone who enjoys Colonnade sedans will love Smokey & the Bandit. There are an abundance of cars in this movie. This was the lull between Gas Crisis I and II, 1976-78, and Boomers were wanting stylish cars. I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. That song often pops into my head at the start of long drives. Soon as I get home, first thing Im gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!. [10], Principal photography of the film began on August 30, 1976. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. 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. 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. The tow truck driver was a local garage owner, Berlin Wike. The change was somewhat strange as most automakers were using cubic-inch numerals to advertise engines. 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. Thats all well and good, and it worked smooth as silk for a good while. Remember that Smokey and the Bandit was the 2nd biggest movie of the year, right after Star Wars. Despite growing up next to Cape, most of relatives are from the Mid-South. For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. 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. That is why there are not any left. However, as our heroes were successful in delivering their truckload of Coors, the writers effectively poised themselves for a sequel. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. The other range car was a Chevette for people that wanted to learn on a manual transmission. The 1977 Firebird Trans Am once owned by Burt Reynolds was sold at auction Saturday for $495,000 at a sale held by Barrett-Jackson. [31] Smokey and the Bandit was released in the United Kingdom on August 28 and was a success there, garnering positive reviews. 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. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, . Three actors from the main cast of The Dukes of Hazzard appear in small uncredited roles in Smokey and the Bandit: Ben Jones, John Schneider, and Sonny Shroyer (who played a police officer in both). How "Smokey and the Bandit" was born | Fortune I always think scumbum because when I watched it as a kid in the early 90s, it was usually on TBS. [5] Reynolds revealed in his autobiography that Needham had written the first draft script on legal pads. Earlier DVD releases and the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray of the film have the original soundtrack intact. Apparently the engine sounds were lifted from another movie, I think two lane blacktop? Seven: (Three with Burt Reynolds and Crew, and Four without) Smokey and the Bandit - 1977 Smokey and the Bandit II - 1980 Smokey and the Bandit III . $30.00 + $11.45 shipping. After the movie did well, Pontiac gave Burt a free Trans Am to drive for a few years. Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. Starring Bob Hope, that comedic star of the screen, and the lovely Jane Russell boy what a pair! I never forgot that one. Jackie Gleason ad libbed a lot of his lines too. 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. I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. I was just tweaking Jason. Mr. Reynolds made a bunch of low budget films before this , all had wild chase scenes with cop cars crashing & going into swamps . The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. And the 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds versions could be made to run well. (Still). I developed a pretty good bootheel accent during my time in New Madrid. I beg to differ Mr -Nate. I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! I distinctly remember my mother buying Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the cashier. How Many Cars Did Blues Brothers Wreck | Car Geek 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. Oh, and a hooker girlfriend that looked like Annie Potts. 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. Jane Russell hawked bras on television for full-figured gals like her, a line that evoked snickers among my high-school classmates. The cars were originally ordered by a car rental agency in Phoenix, who refused to accept the . Its weird how it works. I dont know if Ive ever seen the unedited version though, so I never realized the orignal phrase was sum bitch, I always assumed it was worse. Great article! If I recall correctly, Firebirds in general (along with Camaros) were selling well prior to 1977, but the Trans Am was not the best-selling one. He had quite a few orders for Coors beer, and when he stopped in Weed, CA, on the way home, he went into the Safeway and asked for twenty-four cases of Coors. Although he's into just about any type of vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast. S/E T/A with the round headlights. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac's take on the Chevrolet Camaro. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. J.J. & The Dixie Dance Kings was a milder one that had (I think) a 56 Buick Century . Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. Alan Reed was the original voice of Fred Flintstone; Henry Corden only took over after Reeds death in 1977. It became Reed's signature song and is on multiple albums, including Country Legends and his live album Jerry Reed "Live!" We also learn that every launched satellite will eventually fall back to Earth, such as this 1972 Plymouth Satellite (CC here). how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 How did any bra manufacturers survive the 70s? I will confess, however, that it was a fun movie to watch and I have caught it on TV a time or two in recent years with my kids. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! The redesign was originally planned for 1980, but 1978 and 1979 became record years for GM's division, so the new model was pushed back. When it was over, I cried and cried and cried because I didnt want it to end. Yet when I think of a 70s T/A, thats the one I and Im sure millions of other folks think of. Lets take a look. As I did Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. I remember reading somewhere that one of the cars was equipped with a 455 for some of the higher speed scenes. 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. In return, Reynolds portrayed Boss Hogg (originally portrayed by Sorrell Booke) in the film adaptation The Dukes of Hazzard (2005). It was something regarding distribution limits. It seems Plymouth was in a distant second for product placement. [6] It would become one of Reed's biggest hits and his signature song.[7]. In my area, nearly every one listed is an ex cop car. Gotta love that guy! As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. Amazing how a combination of desire and unobtainability can make an ordinary product special. In 1976-78, while a high school student in Norwalk, CT, me and a few buddies would routinely drive up to Vista, NY, which was just over the state line. The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. 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. Back in 1984, I went to look at a late 1970s Plymouth cop car as well. Chevy almost did the same with its counterpart, the Camaro. Car movies are notorious for being tough on the very vehicles that give them their allure. The truck at the shell station is actually a 75 or 76 Toyota Hilux. Reed would eventually play the Bandit in Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, in which Reynolds only appeared in a cameo near the end. [8] Niver provided much of the western attire worn in the film, as well as the custom-made sheriff's uniforms (waist size 64") that Gleason wore throughout the film. A group of Trans Am owners and fans of the movie take part in an annual road trip from Texarkana to Jonesboro, recreating the route taken by the characters in the film. Of course, it wasnt hard to wake them up. There's one black Trans Am left from 'Smokey and The Bandit.' It's At the time, using "fuck" would immediately require an R rating and this self-censorship allowed the film to avoid this rating and reach a much larger audience. 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. Was it a heathen? There was still a market for bras in the 1970s. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . 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. I have since moved on from them, mainly because in stock form, they were not particularly great cars (though good enough for the times). [5], Universal Studios bankrolled Smokey and the Bandit for $5.3 million, figuring it was a good risk. East bound and down, loaded up and truckin It was a powerful car, and I was glad to be issued it as my range car instead of one of the new but already disintegrating 1985 Oldsmobiles supplied by a local dealer that most people had. He enlists the help of fellow truck driver Cletus The Snowman Snow, played by country music singer Jerry Reed. 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: . Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. Somewhere along the line, the company acquired a new president who told Reynolds: Im the new president, and I dont like your movies. Other sources in East Texas (from whence Sheriff Justice hails) are familiar with the popular regional delicacy known as the Diablo Sandwich. Here's everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. Below is probably another DeKalb County cop car. 20 Surprising Facts About The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit - HotCars I think you may be confusing the movie Honky-Tonk Freeway with the filming done during I-75 construction near Sarasota. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. In the U.K., the heavily dubbed version was shown for several years, particularly by the BBC. 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.