Matt Connarton Unleashed: Erich Pilcher reviews Smokey and the Bandit (1977).

0:00 See son. Old legends never die, They just lose weight like a legend and an outward bum of a lotter like Daddy bend it. He and my son are here. Oh, I love your suits. They must be at Nasai sixty eight extra fat and a twelve dwarf. I came to make a deal once he get if he wins this truck rodale thing. Yeah, five thousand dollars, daddy chicken money. This is what the hell you want to know him? You to get out of this dumb ass rodeo and accept a real challenge. I'll get in the Texas canna and back in twenty eight hours.

0:50 That's no problem. It ain't never been done before. HI want your language of the lady. The problem is said Coors beer. You take that east to Texas and that's that's food legging. I believe you're just a little bit scared. That's great psychology. Why don't you just say something bad about my mother? You? Mamma is so Look, you make this run for me now. These Peterbilts here are worth eighty thousand dollars. That comes to about three grand an hour if you make it twenty eight hours. How bout that for a challenge.

1:23 You were dead. I don't believe that. That's and li Wait a minute, Wait a minute, why do you want that beer so bad? Because he's thirsty? Dummy? See, I got a boy running tomorrow in the Southern Classic, and when he wins, I want to celebrate and style. I'm my style. Well, I got a few friends and me four hundred cases. Well, well, let me see your cash. Big Enus's word is gold, all right, showing the cash. Go ahead, Well let's see this, four hundred cases of fear. I need to cast for that, No problem.

2:04 Go ahead, boy, new car. I gotta have a new car to block for the truck, you know? Okay? Go ahead? Boy? Like to kick kids? Mask? Just what speedy car? Speedier than that? Go ahead. Stump Men have long been the unsung heroes of action films. They do the risky moves in dangerous jumps your favorite actor or actresses might not be keen to do well. There are some exceptions. They often perform in anonymity. One of those exceptions is legendary stuntman Hal Need Them And this week is this famed stuntman's first foray into directing, released in nineteen seventy seven, Smokey in the Bandit introduces us to bow Bandit Darvel played by Burt Reynolds.

3:05 Bandit is hired by well to do Texans big Enus in his son Little Nus to transport illegally four hundred cases of Coor's beer. This was our introductory clip from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia with his partner Cleatus Snowman Snow played by Jerry Reid, who also performed the theme song to this film. Along the way, they encounter runaway bride Carrie played by Sally Field, who is running away from marrying the son of Sheriff Buford t Justice, who chases Bandit in company on their journey.

3:50 It is quite remarkable that this film became so beloved despite being done by a first time director. In our next clip, how Needam explains how he decided to direct this film, and then Burt Reynolds tells us about the scariest moment he performed. Most of his own stunts in this film he encountered while making this movie. First of all, I directed a lot of second unit, so I knew camera angles and things. See the good thing about a stuntman being a second unit director, you know what angles make things look quicker, faster, and so on and so forth.

4:32 Up hime makes it look slow down low, running right by his fast and so on and so forth. So I knew the angles, I knew the cameras and so on and so forth. I had a good camera and so really there was nothing to be scared of. I mean what I told everybody, and when I started got the job, I said, I'm not going to throw away my stunt bag where you carry your pads and things I say in cases don't work, I'll go back doing stunts. But I had no qualms about going down there. As a matter of fact, when I did the second Union, not a little big man, I had a scene where a customed cavalry is going across the canyon floor and they're playing the Garry Owen's song, whatever of the cavalry song, and Dustin Hoffman is on this rock about ready to commit suicide, and he, the director sent Dusty itper.

5:30 So the first second unit I ever did, I got one of the highest speed actors in the world up there telling him how to active. This is kind of ridiculous. So I wasn't worried about smoky. The only thing and I really wasn't this worried about it. But the only thing I wanted to make sure of was that I had all the coverage that I needed because I'm not I wasn't accustomed going and getting a two shot or a close up or the eyes or something. So I had to think about that a little bit, but I I had no combs about going to Nurn.

6:03 Say an action next up, Burt Reynolds.

6:09 I'll never forget. There was a scene where the girl that doubles Sally. She was the sweetheart of one of the stunt guys and she was very capable of you know, you could throw her off a building and to fight stuff with her, and she was very handy, but hand on the cars that's a whole other thing. And she got in the car and if you watch the movie, it's petrified when you think about it. And then we go over the wall and we land in a little league baseball game and every kid's mother was there, of course some of them's fathers, and the old grandstand was full of people.

6:56 She's driving and she just panicked. I never seen it. I never seen this happen before. We've stunt people but see't happen with acts. So you're in the I'm riding with her, so we could get a camera up close on the on the right side, so you wouldn't know it wasn't Sally. Sally was watching and and she just ramped it. I mean, we were full out flying right, and I saw kids in front of the car disappear, and I was waiting for that, and then went we went right over'em and it were just falling, and mother's two mothers fainted and I don't blame'em.

7:41 And then we went through it all. We got out the other side, and we went through a h up like a half wall at the head of it. And the girl was, you know, she was. I didn't need to yell at her anything. She was. She was beating herself up pretty good when they got got her out of the car and I got out of the car, and then I ran back and I spent the afternoon with mothers, you know, apologizing, and we all went to dinner. And you know, again, that's that's those Georgia people. They just said, well, it all came out all right, and the kids said, can we do that again?

8:22 You know, kids are kids just loved it, and we ducked down the car went right over. I mean, if you think about it, that would have been the in the Black career for sure. I mean hurt. It was. You can't you can't do things like that, I mean, and we should have had some kind of control. But we were just supposed to jump over. Kids have the game. Here, we go around the game and go through the wall. We went right through the middle of the game. And it wasn't supposed to be that way. What makes band It such a beloved character in my estimation, is the fact that Burt Reynolds didn't even have to try for this performance.

9:08 He is naturally one of those epitome of cool performers. There are very few actors that are just naturally cool. Steve McQueen, James Dean, and of course Marlon Brandell come to mind. While the acting ability can ultimately be argued, what cannot is the qualities Reynolds carries into this film. He is charming, smooth, and calm in any situation. Our next two clips are examples of this. First, Bandit has to use his charm and wit to get Snowman to join him on this job. And then when bandit It first encounters Carrie in a wedding gown on the side of the road.

9:53 His charm goes up another level while remaining cool under pressure.

10:01 Chris, No, I know in the past I may have done you wrong, right right, However, I mean in the future greatest, I will never ever do you wrong again? Right right? We have a big chance, a big chance to make a run for some big bucks, eighty thousand of them. Oh really, what are we gonna do, kidnapter Pope with something? How'd you guess? No, We're just gonna run over to Texas Canna and pick up four hundred cases, of course, and bring it back in twenty eight hours. Ooh, I got plans for you. That's called bootlegging, and that's against the law.

10:49 Who gives a turkey when the Snowman and the Bandit are run in the booze, no otan can stop it? How old it? Right there? They ain't gonna be no more Snowman and Bandit. You stay and ain't Why? Well it goes. I've got to go in the morning to Knys. I pick up a minor to ask your question, ask me what the hell we wanted to go to Texas? Far and hall beer back here? What is that? For the good old American life? For the money, for the glory, and for the fun. Mostly for the money. Now, you know what we're gonna do when we get the money, Well, we're gonna buy a new rig.

11:21 You're crazy, you know that? Yeah? You know that? Yes? How much? Mon? Does you say? It was? Eighty? Followed them dollars? Eighty thousand dollars? And now bandit meets Carrie? Where are we going? No, don't tell me. Let me guess we are a bride in search of a wedding. No, there is a wedding in search of a bride. Let me put it a lot of way. Think of it as a wedding posse in search of a bride. Do you understand that? Cowboy? Yeah? What are you doing? These are my shoes? Oh yeah, and these are my legs?

12:13 Yeah? What are you gonna do with them? With the shoes? For the legs? Last time I saw legs like that, they had a messy started doing. What do you mean? These are great little legs? I'm a professional. Oh that case. You shouldn't be dressed in white dancer? Oh oh, cowboys? Look fat cats? They're not fat you're a bigger than mine. Do we really want to talk about legs up? Otherwise? What are we doing now? Well? I am getting my clothes, you fool. That's a good idea. Why don't you slip into something comfortable?

13:07 Are we really going? One hundred and ten? Following one hundred and ten? What do you wear that cowboy hat? I know because you think it looks dazzling on you? You have no idea? What I bought this wedding Christmas? What would an action comedy film be without a villain? This film portrays some members of law enforcement as the villain, but the chief villain is one Buford t Justice, played by comedy legend Jackie Gleeson. Justice wields his power with an iron fist, but he is bumbling and comedically incompetent.

13:47 This is evident in our final clip when Justice is at a roadside diner. He needs Bandit and doesn't even realize it. Here the difference between Bandit and Justice. Bandit is calm and cool, Injustice is exasperated in rushing to catch the prey that is right in front.

14:15 I'm gonna tell you, man, dollar and a half, Yeah, you've changed. Let me have a dia blow sign doctor back by making fast. I'm in a murray you are day ain't got no time for dad loan dog stocking my fla. You must be in a hell of a hurry. I sure bet your last on that. Boy. Oh yeah, mess there. Let me let me help you out here. Get that off there. That's a way an off merchy line. Who are you chasing? Somebody teaching you? Nobody teaching me? Boy ippa, chase my mania all the way from that. I cannot teach you.

15:08 Ay, I see a bank robber the bottom all right, bank problem is baby kidding along side of what this dude is doing. Almost killed funny law. I see dripping for people's backyard, knocking down mailboxer, got a broad in the car, took across the state line, got the man out. I don't think you got a permission and that's good nothing. How's that behind? Jus? What? Oh? Let me pay for it? Let me pay no, no, no, you're an officer of the law. I'll be honest. Might you apply it? Where's it? Can? I gotta take the squirk right back there?

15:49 Just wonder what hey, no, my god, you're going wrong head on? What the are you doing justice in there, I Know, I Know.

16:10 Upon release Smoky in the bandit became an unexpected hit despite a poor premiere in New York. It then debuted in Southern States over Memorial Day weekend, engross nearly three million dollars. A month later, it had a nationwide release and overall grossed over one hundred and twenty six million dollars, making it the second highest grossing film of nineteen seventy seven, after a little space opera you may have heard of called Star Wars. The film has had two sequels, only one of them featuring Reynolds.

16:49 Alfred Hitchcock has called it one of his favorite films. While the language is a little terse for a PG film and some of the joke fall outside of the politically correct spectrum in today's society, this film is landmark and its use of car chases and performances. It's a simpler film for a simpler time that has stood the test of time. I hope you join me next week when we look at Steven Spielberg's powerful and heart wrenching film Schindler's List for W M N H. In Matt Connerton Unleashed. This has been a classic film review with Eric Pilcher's Are we going to do what they say can't do?

17:40 We've got a and a short time to get there.

17:49 Keep getting on the bild break let we got a run the paper, the Atlantic and the US here in Texas County, and we'll bring it back no matter what its He's found it. Goad up man, chuck it. We're going to do what they say can't be done. We've got a long way to go, and it's short time to get there. Time he's found Just quadro man it runs, he's founded. Go ahead, up man trucking. Are we going to do what they say can't be done? We got a long way to go and a short time to get there. I'm he's found up. Watch our mand it run, old spoke.

19:23 He's got their ears on. He's out on your trail. He ain't gonna rest of you in jail. So you've got the dodge. If you've got the ducking, you gotta keep that diesel trucking. Just put that tamer down and give it him. He's founded. Die Go ahead, up man trucking. Are we going to do what they say can't be done? We got a long way to go and a short time to get there. I'm he's found up. Watch our mand It run