The second highest grossing film in 1977 after Star Wars, Smokey and the Bandit was intended as a B movie until director Hal Needham's friend Burt Reynolds signed on to portray the Bandit (co-star Jerry Reed was originally cast as the lead). To portray the Bandit's nemesis, Sheriff Buford T. Justice, comedy legend Jackie Gleason improvised and ad-libbed much of his performance. Sales of the Bandit's car, the Pontiac Trans Am exploded with the success of the film and Jerry Reed's song, "East Bound and Down" was such a success that it became his signature song for the rest of his career.
According to his daughter, the film was a guilty pleasure of director Alfred Hitchcock.
And it's one of mine as well. Enjoy.
Smokey and the Bandit
Directed by Hal Needham
Produced by Mort Engelberg
Written by James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer & Alan Mandel
Based on a story by Hal Needham and Robert L. Levy
Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Mike Henry, Paul Williams and Pat McCormick
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