The beauty of this film is that Jackie Gleason ad-libbed the majority of his lines/quotes as Buford Justice. The man was a comic genius. He was also the one who suggested the diner scene and requested the son character be written in so he could have someone to play off of outside of his interactions w/ Bandit. The dog playing Fred was personally/specifically chosen by Burt Reynolds because of his refusal to obey commands. 🙂 BTW...the soundtrack was done by Jerry Reed ("Snowman"). Be sure to check out the sequel.
The dude singing the songs in this is Jerry Reed - the same guy who played Snowman. He is a phenomenal but underrated guitar picker that had the respect of anyone who ever played the instrument.
One of a select few to ever be dubbed a Certified Guitar Player, or CGP, by the great Chet Atkins. For guitarists, that's about as close as it gets to being knighted by the queen. When Elvis covered Jerry Reed's song "Guitar Man," none of the guitarists in his band could correctly play Jerry Reed's guitar part - not even a guitar player fit for a King could nail it. Elvis hired Jerry to play guitar on a cover of his own song. That's how badass Jerry Reed, CGP was.
Jerry Reed who played Snowman driving the semi is a country music legend. He did the soundtrack to this movie. If you like storytelling singers you can't beat Jerry. Songs like Amos Moses, The Bird, She Got the Goldmine. When Your Hot Your Hot, and so many more. Add in he was one of the BEST guitar players ever on top of his acting and singing. Jerry was a legend.
I'll add to that list Guitar Man, The Tupelo Mississippi Flash, Lord Mr Ford, KoKo Joe, Gator McKlusky... all great tunes with entertaining stories. He also played with some lad from Tupelo called Elvis, and even managed to get the better of his notorious manager in negotiating the deal.
Im 54 years old... and wanted to be a truck driver when I was a kid for lots of reasons and this scene at 43:36 where Bandit tells Snowman we aint gonna make it and snowman gives his speach and passes Bandit... has ALWAYS gives me goose bumps, even now.
That little short dude playing Little Enos is named Paul Williams. He's a little famous as an actor, but he's a LOT famous as a songwriter. He wrote (or co-wrote) "An Old Fashioned Love Song" "Rainy Days And Mondays" "We've Only Just Begun" and he also wrote the lyrics for "The Love Boat" theme, "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie, and the #1 hit, Grammy Award winning and Academy Award winning song, "Evergreen". He's also in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
@@Marco-vw3mv An amazing time to be a kid. A-Team, Dukes of Hazard, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, Fall Guy, Magnum P.I and i'm sure i am missing some obvious favourites.
You can't beat the number of famous people they got to do the Cannonball movie... It is one of my favorite comedies too. Loading case after case of beer in their car... "Man does not live on-on bread alone..." "Do we have enough ice for all of this beer...?" "Pa-pa-pa-Plenty!" "But how about food son? Did you bring enough food?" Holding up one bag of chips, "Pa-pa-pa-Plenty!" 😄I loved Mel Tillis in that movie.
Jerry Reed is the actor that played Snowman, he’s also the one playing guitar and singing throughout the movie. He’s considered one of the best guitarists ever even playing with the great Chet Adkins 🎸 R I P
I believe he wrote most of the songs in the film as well . Also the short guy in the matching suit with the bigger guy, that’s Paul Williams who was one of the most famous songwriters and composers of the 70s and wrote some of the biggest hits for some of the biggest artists of that time period.
@@Starry_Night_Sky7455 To get an idea of his guitar skills check out his performance of Lightning Rod from 1977 (tv). Not the best sound quality but still worth it 👍
Well known fact that Burt Reynolds and Sally Field lived together for many years, their chemistry is very apparent in this film. Also, Burt Reynolds was the literal definition of cool in 1977.
When she was finally able to break free from him she did not have fond memories. She didn't talk to him for the last 30 years of his life. She said she was NOT the love of his life, he just said that because she didn't want him.
Your (presumably) unintentional pun….”my grandpa worked in the oil fields…..but was pretty crude” could literally been a Burt Reynolds line in this movie 🤣 great reaction as usual
Jackie Gleason was known for his off color dry humor. He actually showed up to a banquet honoring Burt Reynolds in his Burford T Justice costume and character to roast Burt. He was such a legend.
Gleason was a hypocrite, in his younger days he used to host party's where women were naked, after it was said, that Jim Morrison might have exposed his penis on stage, there was Gleason, along with Anitia Bryant, both leading the charge in publicly demonizing Morrison as a degenerate.
Smokey was played by Jackie Gleason. A big star of yesteryear. I saw the movie with my dad. I remember coming out of the theater and telling my dad "I NEVER even heard Jackie Gleason cuss before". Dad said "me either."
Fun Fact: Paul Williams, who played Little Enos in this film, wrote several #1 songs in the 1970's for other artists. "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters and "An Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog Night are just two examples. He also co-wrote "Rainbow Connection" that Kermit the Frog sings at the beginning of "The Muppet Movie." He's done many more.
Burt did a “centerfold “ spread in Cosmopolitan in the 70s long before they had the worlds sexiest man. Burt is also known for getting jobs and hiring his friends and having them in his movies and tv shows. This included everyone from actors, stuntmen and people behind the scenes. One of my all time favorite movies 😊
Jerry Reed was one of the greatest guitarists you'll ever see. And yes, the soundtrack is fantastic! For a couple more Jerry Reed movies if you're interested - try Hot Stuff, Survivors (where he plays a hit man chasing after Robin Williams), and he had a smaller part in Bat-21 (which is actually a Gene Hackman movie based on a true story of a colonel shot down in Vietnam). Burt Reynolds has a LOT of really great action movies from the 70's and 80's like White Lightning, the original version of The Longest Yard, Gator, Sharkey's Machine, and Stick. Of course he may be best known for Deliverance - NOT a movie for casual viewing as it deals with some very dark and uncomfortable themes, but a VERY good movie. And of course he did a lot of comedies and even the musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Dolly Parton! LOTS of great Burt Reynolds movies to look into.
Some Jerry Reed reactions would be awesome! The silly stuff sure (Amos Moses, Alabama Jubilee), but the real pickin is the best. "The Claw", "Struttin'" and of course "Jerry's Breakdown"
Back in the day, big rigs strictly had manual transmissions - no automatic transmission could withstand the forces needed for a 40-ton vehicle. Also due to the sheer masses involved, said manual transmissions typically had 13, 18, or even 24 gears. If you've ever driven any kind of manual transmission (or paid attention to when an automatic transmission changes gears), you've got some idea how frequently you have to shift with even four or five gears - now imagine how frequently you have to shift with 18 gears. ALSO because of the masses involved, trucks use square-cut gears (more contact area between the teeth) which are more difficult to engage. The "proper method" for shifting is called double-clutching: use the clutch to take the transmission out of gear, then release the clutch; adjust the engine speed to match with the truck speed and the gear you want to shift to; use the clutch to put the transmission into the new gear, then release the clutch. So not only are you shifting through 4-5 times as many gears, but (done properly) you're shifting *twice* every time you change gears. When changing speed in a big rig, you're constantly jamming the gearshift into and out of gears - hence, a gearjammer.
Back then it wasn't the proper way, it was the only way if you didn't want to grind gears. Just like with Automatic Transmissions there is no way synchronizers would last in those things ether.
Once you get the rig in motion using the clutch, floating the gears is pretty common. That entails waiting for the engine rpms to drop to just the right point and "floating" the transmission into the next higher gear. When downshifting, nudging the shifter through neutral while blipping the throttle allows the reverse sequence to happen. Takes a bit of practice...
You guys have to react to the theme song "East Bound and Down" written, sang, and played by Jerry Reed who plays "Cledus" in this movie! Jerry was an amazing singer, songwriter, and guitarist!
Before this Sally was the star of two hit comedy series Gidget and the Flying Nun,Burt Reynolds picked her for this part. Fields didn’t think she was sexy enough to play Carrie but Reynolds disagreed once saying he thought she was one of the the sexiest women ever because of her attitude and intelligence.
Jerry Reed (Cledus a.k.a. Snowman) wrote the songs for this movie, including "East Bound and Down", which he wrote overnight one night. And Jackie Gleason's son, Junior, was played by Mike Henry, who played Tarzan in the movies back in the 1950s. This was the very first movie I ever saw at a drive-in theater back in 1977. Still one of my favorites.
Saw this movie when it came out at a drive in. Epic! Jackie (Smokey) did 90% of his lines off the cuff making them up as the movie was filmed. Man was a LEGEND!
@@rockinredneck57I'd take anything Hal Needham ever said with an entire boulder of salt. Don't get me wrong, some of his real life exploits were as exciting as they were insane, I love his films, his partnership with Burt was just meant to be and no one in their right mind would doubt Jerry Reed's songwriting chops either. But Hal Needham was a man who was prone to massive levels of over exaggeration and at times, outright bullshittery too.
CB (citizen's band) radios - the ones used in this movie - became huge from this movie. (They're still used today, but not nearly as much.) The CB lingo they used was cool and I remember the CB craze the movie caused. My dad had a CB and I used to talk with my friends on it after school. Fun movie, good memories!
@@jescis0 True, but there are "shorties" available (like under a foot long) that are flexible and have a magnetic base so you don't have to permanently attach it to your vehicle. They're good fun!
@@Calamity_Jack that's good to know! We're all just human and tend to either forget or don't think of things, I have to look into it… maybe when I get more financially stable, I'll buy one… then maybe I can think of a handle… 😁😁🤔🤔
My parents and I traveled a lot when I was a kid in the 70s the CB was a great way to meet girls, you just kept talking till you found one that was in a town you were stopping in or that was traveling in the same direction. Good memories.
3:02 The short guy is Paul Williams. Co-wrote "We've Only Just Begun","Rainy Days and Mondays", "An Old Fashioned Love Song" "You and Me Against the World", and many more.
All these songs were done by Jerry Reed, who played Cleetus "Snowman." He was a fabulous songwriter and guitarist. You might also know him as the coach in "Waterboy." He actually has a lot of great songs besides the ones in this movie.
CB radios really were the social media of the day. Like you said, anyone could have one, and there was a whole community built up around them. Between this movie and "Convoy" (1978), the lingo was all the rage in the late 70s.
We just watched this four days ago and I haven't seen it since I was a kid in the mid 70's. It's campy and fun. Jackie Gleason played the sheriff and he is a legend. He played in the groundbreaking sitcom in the mid 50's The Honeymooners.
Jackie must have invented over a thousand different characters in his career, but Buford T. Justice has to have been his masterpiece. He really earned his title as "The Great One". I always thought that he was the real star of this movie.
This was one of the biggest movies of the 70s. It turn Sally Field into a star and made Burt Reynolds the largest earning actor of the 70s. This movie also created the CB craze of the 70s. I saw this movie in Ottawa Canada when I was 11 years. It was at the drive-in. It was a double Bill between Grease and Smokey and the bandit😊
It may have made Sally Field a star, in Canada; but, here, in the U.S., she was already a star, since the 60s, because of her T.V. show "The Flying Nun"!
Sally is a legend, she's done a ton of great movies. Smokey and the Bandit II is a lot of fun and so is Cannonball Run. Cannonball Run has a cast of "who's who" from back in the day, everybody from Sammy Davis Jr to a super young Jackie Chan. Just about the entire cast is filled with Hollywood stars having the time of their life making a movie just for laughs. If you really like this movie you will enjoy the sequel and Cannonball Run!
Every time I see this and that part comes up where Sally is telling Burt to "have a cigarette, it seems to help" was delivered amazingly - I still can't tell if she is serious or snarky.
Cannonball rocked. The chocolate monk scene gets me every time. But yeah...they NEED to do it... Oh...and 80k back in 1977? The equivalent of almost 400k today. That's ALOT of Coors
Congratulations! You had the honor of watching for what I assume is the first time, The Great One in action. That is the name given to Mr. Jackie Gleason, AKA Buford T. Justice. The man is legendary. He began as a musician, and has penned many beautiful songs, but then tried his hand at comedy. He truly was the great one. Jackie Gleason said that his diner scene with Burt Reynolds was not in the original story; it was Gleason's idea. Also, most of his lines were improvised, as was most of the movie. The man was one of a kind. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were dating in real life during these film (s).
Jerry Reed wrote the theme song in one night. He brought it to the director and said if he doesn't like it, he can change it. The director said if he changed one word, he'd fire him. All semi's back in the day were stick shift, so that's why they were called gear jammers.
I used to drive everything from 18 SPD all the way down to 10 SPD in the semi I used to drive wish they had Autos when I drove my shoulder would be in better shape than it is now BTW I never used the clutch when shifting it was all done with RPMs
To me the funniest part of this film is something I found out years later. Burt Reynolds father was a Sherriff in Florida, and Burt would did impersonations of him on set that Jackie loved, and incorporated his sayings "summmbiat.....etc) into his character. His father would always call him Junior, and have these southern sayings. Basically, Burt Reynolds is being chased by his own father, and Junior is his younger self, he's being chased by his childhood.
Yeah, this is one of Jackie Gleason's best roles. Absolutely hilarious. Also, Burt Reynolds is not only in "The Longest Yard" remake, he's actually the star of the original version. And gotta give credit to Jerry Reed, aka Snowman, for "East Bound and Down", FWIW, growing up, we always had Basset Hounds. Our first one was named "Fred".
This was filmed all around where I lived at the time. Fun movie. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were quite the item for a long time. In the 70's Coors Beer wasn't licensed to sell east of the Mississippi which is why they're bootlegging it back to Ga. I see so many familiar scenes in this movie that are totally unrecognizable today. Jerry Reed (Snowman) is singing all of these songs. Jackie Gleason (Sheriff Justice) was the original Ralph Cramden in The Honeymooners TV show in the 50's. He also had his own variety show on TV which ran until 1970 I think. The Honeymooners was remade into a movie with Cedrick The Entertainer, Gabrielle Union, Mike Epps and Regina Hall in 2005.
I lived in Riverdale from 1971 till 1981. The scenes on Hwy 85 between Riverdale and Fayetteville are very recognizable. When I moved there it was only 2 lanes, one going each way.
Yeah, I grew up in Kansas, but when I moved to Michigan in ‘85 everyone wanted to buy Coors, since it was the new thing. I’d spent my teen years learning to dislike it & was much more interested in getting Molson & Labatt’s, since that’s what was new to me, lol..
I live in Dawsonville. Some of the area on 9. They were building GA400 at the time. I recognize the bridge at the end. I love it. I lived in south GA at the time and my dad worked at Reidsville state prison when he was there filming the longest yard. Dad had a prison uniform worn and signed by Burt Reynolds.
the scene where they drove through the river was where I use to swim when visiting my grandparents in Helen GA. I remember when they were filming all around Atlanta for this.
The motorcycle cop, the "Evel Knievel", was played by Sonny Shroyer, most famous for his role as Enos Strait, Deputy Sheriff in The Dukes of Hazzard. He also portrayed the college football coach in Forest Gump.
Cooter was a Congressman for awhile, John Schnieder owed an estate and recording studio down the roaf from me. He had an original 69Charger painted as Gen Lee, on diaplay in his courtyard. John is a really nice guy, hell of a man, and friend with some sucessful billboard 80 country hits, and hes actively an advocate for community, and rights.
Fun fact, the theme song and a couple other songs in this movie were written and sung by Jerry Reed, who played the Snowman. Smokey and the Bandit is one of my all time favorite movie series.
Jackie Gleeson (known as The Great One) was a legend who ad libbed his lines in this classic. Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields are both acting icons as well. I hope you two react to more of their movies.
@@SusanJohnston Burt Reynolds was filling in for Johnny Carson one night when his guest, Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of “Cosmopolitan” asked if he’d pose. Paul Newman had already said “no.” That's the 1st ever nude male centerfold. and you can see it by googling it. 1972
It's refreshing to see people reviewing an iconic movie from 40+ years ago. BTW, Just so you know, "Cletus" the truck driver (Jerry Reed) composed most of the tunes for this movie off the cuff and is a very accomplished singer / compopser
Not only did this movie cause a bunch of impressionable young lads like myself to do crazy things in cars, it also was the main inspiration for the Dukes of Hazzard, and the massive car chases in The Blues Brothers. 😎
It also starred three members of the Dukes cast too. Big & Little Enos talk to Cooter when looking for the Bandit. Enos from the Dukes is the motorcycle cop & John Schneider is one of the people in the crowd at the end when Sheriff Justice restarts his pursuit before the credits roll.
Director Hal Needham once said in an interview that when he asked Jerry Reed to come up with a song for the movie, Jerry wrote the lyrics and music for "East Bound and Down" that very night. When he played the song for Hal the next day, the director was so amazed that he came up with such a catchy song so quickly. At one point Jerry thought Hal didn't like the tune and offered to change it, to which Needham replied with "If you change one note on that, I'm gonna choke ya!" 🤣
The really short dude is played by Paul Williams. He's a pretty prolific songwriter. Wrote Rainbow Connection for the Muppet Movie. He also wrote We've Only Just Begun for the Carpenters, which you guys reacted to last year.
My Dad has been a trucker for 40 years, and this is one of his favorite movies! We're always quoting it and singing the Eastbound and Down song by Jerry Reed (aka Snowman). So glad you watched it! :)
When my wife and I moved cross-country from Oregon to Florida, "East Bound And Down" was track 1 of our roadtrip playlist. And when I finally turned south, I cued up "Southbound" by The Allman Brothers Band. 👍
@@ejtappan1802 Thank you for the shout-out! He's a wonderful trucker, and I've learned a lot about what goes into it over the years. It certainly makes me more aware and patient when I share the road with them. I appreciate all the drivers out there even more, knowing what I know! They really do keep things moving.
Jerry Reed who played Snowman was also a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He wrote East Bound and Down for the movie. Fun fact: Jerry wrote and recorded a song called Guitar Man and when Elvis heard it he just had to record a version. But Elvis quickly found out that to get the sound right he would have to get Jerry to come in and record the guitar part!!
In real life, Burt & Sally were a couple for about 3-4 years. Later Burt said that Sally was the love of his life. Jerry Reed (Cletus, Snowman) was doing all the singing. He is a CW singer in real life. Amber is/was right, everybody wanted a Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am with the Firebird Emblem on the Hood. There are a couple more “Smokey & the Bandit” sequels. BTW, the little guy (Pigmy) is Paul Williams (songwriter), he’s the guy who wrote “We’ve Only Just Begun” that The Carpenters (Karen) sing. He wrote it for a Bank Commercial on TV and The Carpenters gave it International fame. RIP Karen, ❤️✝️🙏🕊……SanJoséBob
"In real life, Burt & Sally were a couple for about 3-4 years. Later Burt said that Sally was the love of his life." Sally Field: "It was like being married to a 12 year old, don't get me wrong, children are fun to be around. I just don't want to be married to one."
This movie is so good on so many levels. Jackie Gleason was fabulous. And to this day I don't know how Mike Henry (Junior) kept a straight face through all his scenes.
I was barely 5 in Jan of 1980, at least where I grew up, most of the family-owned "eat 'em up joints" just on the side of a 2 lane highway were closed or closed as the '80s progressed. Whenever I see this movie, or many '70s movies, I sometimes wish I had been born earlier and experienced the whole 1970s at least (age 6,7,8 by 1970 to experience it). Reminiscing, but it feels like our country lost something when those places closed. Just like my elders talked about the A & W drive-ins, I missed out on that. I've seen a few programs about small businesses still surviving on Route 66, and the business owners say they get so many people from every corner of the world, many different countries, here on vacation, and the Germans, Swedes, Japanese, etc tell them : we want to travel the USA by car and see the country, stop at cafes/diners other spots and experience 'Americana' 😊 Blows my mind, it's beautiful to hear that. As much as this country is demonized nowadays, that is how many people all around the world see America, like in this movie, and want to experience a piece of it if you still can like that
The Pontiac TransAm's popularity soared big time after this movie. The company actually gave Burt Reynolds a brand new one every year for a long time after the movie. Another interesting fact. Jerry Reed was originally cast as the Bandit, until Burt Reynolds stepped in to take the role.
A great comedy for the times. It came out at the peak of the CB craze, and it was directly responsible for a surge in Trans Am sales. Jerry Reed (Snowman) wrote and performed the songs, with the energetic Eastbound and Down driving the action. Still funny all these years later. Great reaction, you guys.
lol...no its not, its a junk movie. Barely a plot, over the top cheese, junk movie. But it's a movie you dont take seriously and its just a lot of fun. But no, it is NOT one of the "greatest movies of all time:". lol
I'm glad to see y'all enjoyed the movie. It's one of my all-time favorites. A large portion of the filming was done in and around my hometown of Jonesboro, GA in the summer of 1976. I was nine years old and remember it well. It was a big deal having Burt in town. An interesting piece of trivia to connect with your music reactions: the cover photo for Lynyrd Skynyrd"s first album which featured the song, "Free Bird", was taken just feet away from where Bandit and Snowman picked up the 400 cases of Coors on Main Street in downtown Jonesboro. A couple of other Burt Reynold's comedies you might enjoy are "Hooper" (1978) and "The Cannonball Run" (1981).
My one client LOVES this movie! He is mostly non-verbal, but he will act out all the action scenes, yell out “OH MO (his oh no), OH MO, OH MO!” at the funny parts. It’s just quite the experience. ❤ So glad you reacted to this. I enjoyed seeing your reactions.
This was the first movie that made profanity cool. At the time, it was especially shocking (and hilarious) to see Jackie Gleason swearing because he was known for being a wholesome television actor from the 1950s. My parents laughed until they cried watching this movie - beautiful times - it was fun watching your reactions too ❤😄
@@Aeroldoth3 He was all bluster in The Honeymooners. He never would have hit her. That would have ended the show with the public backlash. Ralph was all bark and no bite.
@@Glittersword He probably wouldn't have hit her. Still, I think constantly suggesting he would do it normalized the behavior. Constantly "joking" about hitting your partner isn't something I consider "wholesome"... the OPs point. Agree to disagree then.
Glad to see you guys loved both Burt and Sally. What's kind of funny is during the 60s both Burt and Sally had their own hit TV series; Sally starred as The Fying Nun and Burt starred in the detective show (and movie series) Dan August. Burt also had numerous hit movie series, the Smokey and the Bandit series, the Cannonball Run series and the Gator/White Lightning duet of movies (Gator also starred Jerry Reed). It was very rare back in those days to see someone become a hit with more than one series and he did it time and again. If you want to try some more of Burt's comedy I'd suggest giving Cannonball Run a try, if you wanted to see his more serious action side I'd suggest Malone or Stick. Oh, and Amber was right on him being voted the sexiest man. My late Mom's friends and sisters were always talking about Burt having done a nude spread in Playgirl magazine back in the day. It always had my straight-laced Mom blushing. Whenever one of them offered to show her the magazine she'd change the subject and be off like lightning in the opposite direction. They loved teasing her like that.
Cosmopolitan magazine - 1972 - I was 18 and remember that it was a big news story. Reynolds was filling in for Johnny Carson one night when his guest, Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of “Cosmopolitan” magazine asked if he’d pose. That was the 1st ever nude male centerfold.
Burt's nude spread was in 1971. It was soft-core. Before Sally Field was the Flying Nun, she was Gidget (1965-'66). It was the TV version of a 1959 beach-party movie by the same name. Sandra Dee played the title character that Sally played on TV.
Saw an interview with Burt Reynolds and he mentioned that between takes while filming, he **never** saw Jackie Gleason without a cocktail in his hand and that Gleason ad-libbed all through the filming. Absolute legends, both!
I’m 56 years old and Burt is my all time favorite actor and Smokey and the Bandit is my favorite movie. I’m glad you two got to see this movie and enjoyed it so much! You should watch Burts movie Hooper as well. The greatest stunt movie until Tom Cruise came along.
This movie was HUGE back in the day!! Sally Fields was a big star - started as “ Gidget,” in the 50s, then The Flying Nun. Both popular tv shows before she went into movies.
Amber you're totally right. They sold so many Trans Ams after this movie. The President of Pontiac called Burt Reynolds, and told him that he was going to give him a new Trans Am every year for the rest of his life. One year, a Trans Am didn't show up, and he found out it apparently was the Presidents life, and not his. He tells the story on the Johnny Carson show. It's on UA-cam, it's funny.
I was 11, it was 1981...my dad let me watch with him when he had some company over. Everything about this movie is fun, the cast perfection. Gleason's performance as the sheriff is so awesome. The soundtrack, the great Jerry Reed 'the snowman'...this is a classic of quotes and fun.
I was 8 yrs old when this came out and I remember this being such a big movie, our whole family loved it. Jackie Gleason was always funny, he was best known for the TV show "The Honeymooners". Burt Reynolds was such a big star too and they were both together just comedy gold. 😅😅😅😅
Mike Henry, who played Junior, was among other things a NFL player in the 1950s and 60s. He also was in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds and once played Tarzan on TV.
I'm excited 👏👏❤️❤️💃💃💃🔥👍..... Sally was "the flying nun also lol 👍👏👏👏🔥🔥 .... And the first Gidget ..... 💃💃💃🔥🔥 ... The singer was Jerry Reed an awesome story singer 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The demand for trans am's went through the roof when this movie came out,a spokesman for general motors said they worked round the clock to fill the orders.
So excited that you guys watched this!! A classic movie for sure. So many quotable lines and a well written script with great chemistry. Musically, you definitely need to check out Jerry Reed, Amos Moses, The Bird, When You’re Hot, You’re Hot, many others. Movie wise, you need to see more of Burt with Dom Deluise in Canonball Run, also Hooper, and so many others. Glad to see you had fun watching this and looking forward to many others.
When this movie came out, Burt Reynolds was box office gold. The sheriff was played by Jackie Gleason. He had a long running variety show in the early 60's, and was best known for playing Ralph Kramden in a mid-50's show called "The Honeymooners." He was a comedy legend. oh, and this movie was responsible for starting the whole "CB Radio" craze. Truckers mainly used CB to talk to each other. But after this movie came out "CB" radio sales boomed! I even had one in my car.
Along with the great acting top to bottom, this movie was made by a stuntman who became a movie director that specialized in car chase comedies. Hal Needham was a frequent collaborator with Burt Reynolds. In addition to this classic, they also made the sequel, as well the movies Hooper, Cannonball Run (1 and 2) and Stroker Ace. Before CGI, car chase set pieces with practical effects turned stuntmen into Hollywood royalty.
I watched this movie in the theaters back in 1977. I went and ordered me a 1978 Trans Am later that year. Trans Am sales jumped 500% back then. This movie is a classic.
I blew that trans am away with my 1976 grand Torino 351 Cleveland four barrel three quarter inch racing cam he had me off the start about twenty yards until my cam kick in at twenty five blew past him up hill
7:45 The song "Eastbound and Down" is specifically for the movie, and written and performed by Jerry Reed himself (Cletus). Bandit's job is the blocker, to distract the cops and have them chase him and leave the rig alone.
I saw this in the theater when I was a little girl, and let me tell you, there was nobody cooler than the Bandit. Everybody wanted his car AND that truck. The songs you heard were performed by Snowman himself, Jerry Reed. He's a legend.
You two are enjoying one of the great stunt films of the time. This was a time when everything was practical effects and stunts were the real deal. Hal Needham, the director, was the master stuntman of many films, so you can understand why there are so many stunts in this film. It's worth deep diving the decade around this movie for many more and some seriously crazy stunts. Enjoy!
The most impressive stunt I remember was in "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" in '74. The helicopter pilot made an amazing maneuver coming around a corner, nearly clipping the ground with his rotor blade. 🏎🚁😬
After this movie came out, my dad bought a CB (Citizen’s Band) radio (he was a real estate businessman, not even close to a trucker!) and we loved using it on road trips! I remember my unregistered handle was Silver Streak. My initials were AG, which is the periodic element name of silver, I thought I was so clever!
CB traffic could be picked up on ordinary cheap kids "walkie talkies", a precursor to modern day cell phones. I know because I talked to truckers that way when I was a kid. This was also the age of using coat hangers as antennas on TVs to improve reception. There were "low tech" solutions to improving anything running on electricity.
When I was a kid during the 80s this movie was often on tv on Saturday afternoons. I've seen it hundreds of times and 30+ years later it still cracks me up every time. All the songs are sung by the Snowman, aka Jerry Reed
This was an immense success when it came out inspiring a couple sequels, though Sally only appeared in the second. That's Jerry Reed (Cledus) singing on the soundtrack. He was already a popular country & western star when he was cast in this, and a good friend of Reynolds and worked with him often. Sally Field's talent is so deep and varied and her career has now been so long-she started at 19 in the TV series Gidget and she's still going strong at 76 with her new film "80 for Brady" playing in theatres now-that you still have many wonderful performances of hers to discover. Initially she was typed as a pleasant but lightweight comedienne after playing the leads in both Gidget (an experience she enjoyed) and the series The Flying Nun (which she hated doing) but after several years of study, struggle and perseverance she won the role of a woman with 16 separate personalities in the miniseries "Sybil" based on the best selling book and won an Emmy for it. She's mesmerizing in the show. It was that performance that lead Burt Reynolds to seek her out for Smokey. She had a few more years of building on those success before she was cast as "Norma Rae" and won her first Best Actress Academy Award which put her at the top of her profession and within five years she picked up her second Oscar for "Places in the Heart". Both of those are worthy watches as is the uproarious comedy spoof "Soapdish" where she costars with Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Downey, Jr. and an all-star cast. Like all long careers hers has had its ups and downs but she is always worth seeing. Burt's career was devoted more to action flicks but his breakout "Deliverance" is a gripping, powerful and at times disturbing dramatic adventure featuring the famous "dueling banjos".
The beauty of this film is that Jackie Gleason ad-libbed the majority of his lines/quotes as Buford Justice. The man was a comic genius. He was also the one who suggested the diner scene and requested the son character be written in so he could have someone to play off of outside of his interactions w/ Bandit. The dog playing Fred was personally/specifically chosen by Burt Reynolds because of his refusal to obey commands. 🙂 BTW...the soundtrack was done by Jerry Reed ("Snowman"). Be sure to check out the sequel.
Jackie Gleason also based Buford T. Justice on Burt Reynolds' father, who was a Florida Sherriff.
Jerry Reed was a legend. One of the best country guitarist to ever grace the Earth.
@@thelordofhellaz yes and it was where he got the "sumbitch" phrase from. 👍
As far as I’m concerned, Jackie performs the funniest character in a movie ever in this movie.
And let's not forget Sally Field and Burt Reynolds dated for several years after meeting on the set of this film
The dude singing the songs in this is Jerry Reed - the same guy who played Snowman. He is a phenomenal but underrated guitar picker that had the respect of anyone who ever played the instrument.
One of a select few to ever be dubbed a Certified Guitar Player, or CGP, by the great Chet Atkins. For guitarists, that's about as close as it gets to being knighted by the queen.
When Elvis covered Jerry Reed's song "Guitar Man," none of the guitarists in his band could correctly play Jerry Reed's guitar part - not even a guitar player fit for a King could nail it. Elvis hired Jerry to play guitar on a cover of his own song. That's how badass Jerry Reed, CGP was.
Also coach red in waterboy
There are 2 other sequel but this is the best of the 3 movies
@@joeday4293 It was Jerry’s day off. He was fishing. They had to go find him and bring him in to play for Elvis. I love that story.
He ain’t underrated at all tho!
Jerry Reed who played Snowman driving the semi is a country music legend. He did the soundtrack to this movie. If you like storytelling singers you can't beat Jerry. Songs like Amos Moses, The Bird, She Got the Goldmine. When Your Hot Your Hot, and so many more. Add in he was one of the BEST guitar players ever on top of his acting and singing. Jerry was a legend.
My wife's father was his cousin.
He's one of my favorite guitarists ever. He had such a funky groove.
And was on The Scooby Doo Movies...a 2 part episode! Pretty Mary Sunshine...
I'll add to that list Guitar Man, The Tupelo Mississippi Flash, Lord Mr Ford, KoKo Joe, Gator McKlusky... all great tunes with entertaining stories.
He also played with some lad from Tupelo called Elvis, and even managed to get the better of his notorious manager in negotiating the deal.
I loved that he'd be on stage, tapping his feet in socks. 😂
_"I like to be comfortable."_
Im 54 years old... and wanted to be a truck driver when I was a kid for lots of reasons and this scene at 43:36 where Bandit tells Snowman we aint gonna make it and snowman gives his speach and passes Bandit... has ALWAYS gives me goose bumps, even now.
Hell yeah! I've been driving a truck for a living for over 25 years and this movie brings back that old feeling from when I was a kid. 😂
That little short dude playing Little Enos is named Paul Williams. He's a little famous as an actor, but he's a LOT famous as a songwriter. He wrote (or co-wrote) "An Old Fashioned Love Song" "Rainy Days And Mondays" "We've Only Just Begun" and he also wrote the lyrics for "The Love Boat" theme, "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie, and the #1 hit, Grammy Award winning and Academy Award winning song, "Evergreen". He's also in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
Around this time, the song "Short People" was popular on the radio.😅🤣😂
He was also great in the cult classic "Phantom of the Paradise". He played Swan, a Phil Spector like record producer.
While accepting an Oscar, he famously said, "I was going to thank all the little people, but then I remembered I am the little people."
Pat Mccormick was like 6'7" so it made Paul's 5'2" look even smaller
Paul Williams also sang “Flying Dreams” in the movie The Secret of NIMH during the credits at the end of the film
Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run were my two favourite movies as a kid. So many nostalgic feelings watching this.
throw in Hooper for a Hal Needham trifecta
@@Marco-vw3mv Them Dukes, them Dukes, them Dukes! :)
@@Marco-vw3mv An amazing time to be a kid. A-Team, Dukes of Hazard, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, Fall Guy, Magnum P.I and i'm sure i am missing some obvious favourites.
You can't beat the number of famous people they got to do the Cannonball movie... It is one of my favorite comedies too.
Loading case after case of beer in their car... "Man does not live on-on bread alone..." "Do we have enough ice for all of this beer...?" "Pa-pa-pa-Plenty!" "But how about food son? Did you bring enough food?" Holding up one bag of chips, "Pa-pa-pa-Plenty!" 😄I loved Mel Tillis in that movie.
Airwolf !!!
Jerry Reed is the actor that played Snowman, he’s also the one playing guitar and singing throughout the movie. He’s considered one of the best guitarists ever even playing with the great Chet Adkins 🎸 R I P
I believe he wrote most of the songs in the film as well . Also the short guy in the matching suit with the bigger guy, that’s Paul Williams who was one of the most famous songwriters and composers of the 70s and wrote some of the biggest hits for some of the biggest artists of that time period.
@@marybrown6128 true dat
Dang right
So I take it that's him singing at the intro? I so have to see this whole movie, and check out the soundtrack.
@@Starry_Night_Sky7455 To get an idea of his guitar skills check out his performance of Lightning Rod from 1977 (tv). Not the best sound quality but still worth it 👍
Imagine being 9 years old and seeing this movie and Star Wars in the same week. They were released two days apart from each other in 1977.
The little guy, is Paul Williams..
That was me too! After this movie 9 year old me was a fanboy of Trans Ams, CB radios, and had a crush on Sally Field.
Well known fact that Burt Reynolds and Sally Field lived together for many years, their chemistry is very apparent in this film.
Also, Burt Reynolds was the literal definition of cool in 1977.
Not long before Bert Reymolds passed he said that Sally Fields was the love of his life.
Wasn't Burt Reynolds the first male nude centerfold?
This movie helped Sally escape her Gidget/Flying Nun typecasting.
When she was finally able to break free from him she did not have fond memories. She didn't talk to him for the last 30 years of his life. She said she was NOT the love of his life, he just said that because she didn't want him.
@@dr.burtgummerfan439 Yep. And Amber thought she looked young here. 😆
Your (presumably) unintentional pun….”my grandpa worked in the oil fields…..but was pretty crude” could literally been a Burt Reynolds line in this movie 🤣 great reaction as usual
Caught her line, missed the pun....great one.
He liked to get up oily in the morning.
@@Fast_Eddy_Magic Another day in the oil patch....lol Good one
Amber's pun was pretty slick!!
Beat me to it! That she didn't seem to realize the pun made it even funnier.
Jackie Gleason was known for his off color dry humor. He actually showed up to a banquet honoring Burt Reynolds in his Burford T Justice costume and character to roast Burt. He was such a legend.
"I know you're out here somewhere" 😂😂
Gleason was a hypocrite, in his younger days he used to host party's where women were naked, after it was said, that Jim Morrison might have exposed his penis on stage, there was Gleason, along with Anitia Bryant, both leading the charge in publicly demonizing Morrison as a degenerate.
They should check out The Toy.
I just watched that clip for the first time last night on TikTok. It is amazing. Jackie Gleason was an absolute genius hands down
THIS car from 1977 IS THE HOTTEST EVER TO FLY ON PLANET EARTH
Smokey was played by Jackie Gleason. A big star of yesteryear. I saw the movie with my dad. I remember coming out of the theater and telling my dad "I NEVER even heard Jackie Gleason cuss before". Dad said "me either."
Little known fact Jackie Gleason was very fond of LSD
Fun Fact: Paul Williams, who played Little Enos in this film, wrote several #1 songs in the 1970's for other artists. "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters and "An Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog Night are just two examples. He also co-wrote "Rainbow Connection" that Kermit the Frog sings at the beginning of "The Muppet Movie." He's done many more.
He was great in Phantom of the Paradise too!
@@samhainkid ha ha ha, he sure was - crazy movie!
He was also the piano player in 'The Muppet Movie' - in the dive bar.
He also played an orangutan in Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Today he is president and chairman of ASCAP which protects music copyrights.
He was on Daft Punk's Grammy winning last album, too!
Burt did a “centerfold “ spread in Cosmopolitan in the 70s long before they had the worlds sexiest man.
Burt is also known for getting jobs and hiring his friends and having them in his movies and tv shows. This included everyone from actors, stuntmen and people behind the scenes. One of my all time favorite movies 😊
I had that picture on my dorm wall , it was a classy cheeky picture on a bear skin rug
Jerry Reed was one of the greatest guitarists you'll ever see. And yes, the soundtrack is fantastic! For a couple more Jerry Reed movies if you're interested - try Hot Stuff, Survivors (where he plays a hit man chasing after Robin Williams), and he had a smaller part in Bat-21 (which is actually a Gene Hackman movie based on a true story of a colonel shot down in Vietnam). Burt Reynolds has a LOT of really great action movies from the 70's and 80's like White Lightning, the original version of The Longest Yard, Gator, Sharkey's Machine, and Stick. Of course he may be best known for Deliverance - NOT a movie for casual viewing as it deals with some very dark and uncomfortable themes, but a VERY good movie. And of course he did a lot of comedies and even the musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Dolly Parton! LOTS of great Burt Reynolds movies to look into.
Hot Stuff is absolutely hysterical!
Im a huge Jerry Reed fan. Couldn’t agree more.
Some Jerry Reed reactions would be awesome! The silly stuff sure (Amos Moses, Alabama Jubilee), but the real pickin is the best. "The Claw", "Struttin'" and of course "Jerry's Breakdown"
Hot Stuff was my favorite when it came out....
👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍
Back in the day, big rigs strictly had manual transmissions - no automatic transmission could withstand the forces needed for a 40-ton vehicle. Also due to the sheer masses involved, said manual transmissions typically had 13, 18, or even 24 gears. If you've ever driven any kind of manual transmission (or paid attention to when an automatic transmission changes gears), you've got some idea how frequently you have to shift with even four or five gears - now imagine how frequently you have to shift with 18 gears.
ALSO because of the masses involved, trucks use square-cut gears (more contact area between the teeth) which are more difficult to engage. The "proper method" for shifting is called double-clutching: use the clutch to take the transmission out of gear, then release the clutch; adjust the engine speed to match with the truck speed and the gear you want to shift to; use the clutch to put the transmission into the new gear, then release the clutch.
So not only are you shifting through 4-5 times as many gears, but (done properly) you're shifting *twice* every time you change gears. When changing speed in a big rig, you're constantly jamming the gearshift into and out of gears - hence, a gearjammer.
Back then it wasn't the proper way, it was the only way if you didn't want to grind gears. Just like with Automatic Transmissions there is no way synchronizers would last in those things ether.
Once you get the rig in motion using the clutch, floating the gears is pretty common. That entails waiting for the engine rpms to drop to just the right point and "floating" the transmission into the next higher gear. When downshifting, nudging the shifter through neutral while blipping the throttle allows the reverse sequence to happen. Takes a bit of practice...
Jerry Reed wrote all the music from this movie, he also played Snowman. He was a prolific song writer, singer and mostly a superb guitar player.
Music by Bill Justus and Jerry Reed.
And a damn fine Football coach
Someone else may have already pointed this out, but Amber’s unintended pun about her grandfather working in the oil field being “crude” killed me. 🤣💕
I caught that also at 16:50 mark
I enjoyed it too!
damm funny
Oh thank Lord I wasn't the only one that caught/thought that! It was so cute.😂
Yep.. I actually said out loud "no pun intended" 😅
You guys have to react to the theme song "East Bound and Down" written, sang, and played by Jerry Reed who plays "Cledus" in this movie! Jerry was an amazing singer, songwriter, and guitarist!
Definitely need to check out Jerry Reed
Cletus is Jerry Reed the singer also
Sung by Waylon
Before this Sally was the star of two hit comedy series Gidget and the Flying Nun,Burt Reynolds picked her for this part. Fields didn’t think she was sexy enough to play Carrie but Reynolds disagreed once saying he thought she was one of the the sexiest women ever because of her attitude and intelligence.
I always liked Jerry's song "When You're Hot You're Hot"
Jerry Reed (Cledus a.k.a. Snowman) wrote the songs for this movie, including "East Bound and Down", which he wrote overnight one night. And Jackie Gleason's son, Junior, was played by Mike Henry, who played Tarzan in the movies back in the 1950s. This was the very first movie I ever saw at a drive-in theater back in 1977. Still one of my favorites.
Thank you for putting that fact on some of the actors in movie,I'm 60yrs old and I didn't know that Mike Henry played as Tarzan in the 50s.
I did not realize he was Tarzan either. Cool
Saw this movie when it came out at a drive in. Epic!
Jackie (Smokey) did 90% of his lines off the cuff making them up as the movie was filmed. Man was a LEGEND!
Amber said the best line and didn’t even realize it: “my Grandpa…..also worked in the oil field so he was pretty crude” 😅
I was gonna comment on the same thing, lol. That was pretty funny.
Or maybe she did…. :)
Glad I'm not the only one caught that
lmao same you just got there first :P
😂😂😂😂😂
Jerry Reed, who played Snowman/Cletus, is the one who sang the songs in the movie.
The great sheriff Buford T Justice is Jackie Gleason he has been in many good movies and tvshows
He did sing on all of them and he wrote Eastbound and Down. According to Hal Needham, Jerry wrote it in just a few minutes after reading the script.
@@rockinredneck57I'd take anything Hal Needham ever said with an entire boulder of salt. Don't get me wrong, some of his real life exploits were as exciting as they were insane, I love his films, his partnership with Burt was just meant to be and no one in their right mind would doubt Jerry Reed's songwriting chops either. But Hal Needham was a man who was prone to massive levels of over exaggeration and at times, outright bullshittery too.
Don't forget Jerry Reed in Waterboy lol
I blame Smokey & the Bandit and the Dukes of Hazzard for the first few points on my license
CB (citizen's band) radios - the ones used in this movie - became huge from this movie. (They're still used today, but not nearly as much.) The CB lingo they used was cool and I remember the CB craze the movie caused. My dad had a CB and I used to talk with my friends on it after school. Fun movie, good memories!
Definitely a help in the pre-cellphone days. I had a car that would break down on a regular basis and I was able to get help via CB radio.
I miss using a CB! They're just not able to be used without an antenna! 😭😭
@@jescis0 True, but there are "shorties" available (like under a foot long) that are flexible and have a magnetic base so you don't have to permanently attach it to your vehicle. They're good fun!
@@Calamity_Jack that's good to know! We're all just human and tend to either forget or don't think of things, I have to look into it… maybe when I get more financially stable, I'll buy one… then maybe I can think of a handle… 😁😁🤔🤔
My parents and I traveled a lot when I was a kid in the 70s the CB was a great way to meet girls, you just kept talking till you found one that was in a town you were stopping in or that was traveling in the same direction. Good memories.
3:02 The short guy is Paul Williams. Co-wrote "We've Only Just Begun","Rainy Days and Mondays", "An Old Fashioned Love Song" "You and Me Against the World", and many more.
Rainbow connection🌈
Also the vouce of The Penguin on Batman The Animated Series!
He’s also known for the cult classic “Phantom of the Paradise” which he acted in as well as wrote and performed songs on the soundtrack
All these songs were done by Jerry Reed, who played Cleetus "Snowman." He was a fabulous songwriter and guitarist. You might also know him as the coach in "Waterboy." He actually has a lot of great songs besides the ones in this movie.
Wow! I never knew that!
CB radios really were the social media of the day. Like you said, anyone could have one, and there was a whole community built up around them. Between this movie and "Convoy" (1978), the lingo was all the rage in the late 70s.
I never really thought about it that way, but it really was the social media of the time! 😳👍
Signing off,
Kentucky BlueEyes! 😁
Jerry Reed was a legend in country music and Hollywood
A BIG thank you to everyone that suggested this movie! An oldie but goodie
We just watched this four days ago and I haven't seen it since I was a kid in the mid 70's. It's campy and fun. Jackie Gleason played the sheriff and he is a legend. He played in the groundbreaking sitcom in the mid 50's The Honeymooners.
Great pool player ~ The Hustler 👍
Ahm gonna barbeque your ass in molasses!
Jackie must have invented over a thousand different characters in his career, but Buford T. Justice has to have been his masterpiece. He really earned his title as "The Great One". I always thought that he was the real star of this movie.
Sally won two Oscar’s for:
1. Norma Rae
2. Places In The Heart
I love her !!
Love her in a sweet romance movie:
3. Murphy’s Romance 💕
Murphys romance was fun and great. Her best acting was in the mini series Sybil. She is one of the best actors around
I love Place In The Heart!
She was also great in Not Without My Daughter and Eye for an Eye-very different than the majority of her movies!
Murphy's Romance was great
Hahaha! "My grandfather worked in the oil fields, and he was pretty CRUDE." You didnt even know you said it & you still delivered a great line!
This was one of the biggest movies of the 70s. It turn Sally Field into a star and made Burt Reynolds the largest earning actor of the 70s. This movie also created the CB craze of the 70s. I saw this movie in Ottawa Canada when I was 11 years. It was at the drive-in. It was a double Bill between Grease and Smokey and the bandit😊
Only Star Wars eclipsed Smokey and the Bandit.
A classic lineup!
It may have made Sally Field a star, in Canada; but, here, in the U.S., she was already a star, since the 60s, because of her T.V. show "The Flying Nun"!
That’s a helluva double feature! My favorite double feature of all time was when my aunt took me to see Raiders of the Lost Ark & Dragonslayer..
The CB craze was big before this movie.
Sally is a legend, she's done a ton of great movies. Smokey and the Bandit II is a lot of fun and so is Cannonball Run. Cannonball Run has a cast of "who's who" from back in the day, everybody from Sammy Davis Jr to a super young Jackie Chan. Just about the entire cast is filled with Hollywood stars having the time of their life making a movie just for laughs. If you really like this movie you will enjoy the sequel and Cannonball Run!
Every time I see this and that part comes up where Sally is telling Burt to "have a cigarette, it seems to help" was delivered amazingly - I still can't tell if she is serious or snarky.
Cannonball rocked. The chocolate monk scene gets me every time. But yeah...they NEED to do it...
Oh...and 80k back in 1977? The equivalent of almost 400k today. That's ALOT of Coors
Yes Cannonball Run is a must see. Its got my Ratpack boys in it, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr
@@CollideFan1
And Dom Delouise!
All the songs in the film are performed by co-star Jerry Reed.
No way. I am so proud of you guys for watching this movie.
Not only did they watch it... they loved it! J & Amber price time and time again - they 'get it'
“Some bitch!” was something Burt Reynolds father said when he served as a police officer, so Jackie Gleason took it.
Congratulations! You had the honor of watching for what I assume is the first time, The Great One in action. That is the name given to Mr. Jackie Gleason, AKA Buford T. Justice. The man is legendary. He began as a musician, and has penned many beautiful songs, but then tried his hand at comedy. He truly was the great one. Jackie Gleason said that his diner scene with Burt Reynolds was not in the original story; it was Gleason's idea. Also, most of his lines were improvised, as was most of the movie. The man was one of a kind. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were dating in real life during these film (s).
he also smoked about 3-4 packs a day. loved him in the Hustler
The legendary director and actor Orson Welles gave Gleason his nickname.
Jerry Reed wrote the theme song in one night. He brought it to the director and said if he doesn't like it, he can change it. The director said if he changed one word, he'd fire him.
All semi's back in the day were stick shift, so that's why they were called gear jammers.
I used to drive everything from 18 SPD all the way down to 10 SPD in the semi I used to drive wish they had Autos when I drove my shoulder would be in better shape than it is now BTW I never used the clutch when shifting it was all done with RPMs
Jerry Reed played Cletus in the movie.
@@wesleybeck9413 he did? Really? I never knew that
To me the funniest part of this film is something I found out years later. Burt Reynolds father was a Sherriff in Florida, and Burt would did impersonations of him on set that Jackie loved, and incorporated his sayings "summmbiat.....etc) into his character. His father would always call him Junior, and have these southern sayings. Basically, Burt Reynolds is being chased by his own father, and Junior is his younger self, he's being chased by his childhood.
Burt attended "Free Shoes University!" LOL
I love that you made me smile, for the fact that you are from a different generation and you found the humor 😂in this movie.
Yeah, this is one of Jackie Gleason's best roles. Absolutely hilarious. Also, Burt Reynolds is not only in "The Longest Yard" remake, he's actually the star of the original version. And gotta give credit to Jerry Reed, aka Snowman, for "East Bound and Down", FWIW, growing up, we always had Basset Hounds. Our first one was named "Fred".
This was filmed all around where I lived at the time. Fun movie. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were quite the item for a long time. In the 70's Coors Beer wasn't licensed to sell east of the Mississippi which is why they're bootlegging it back to Ga. I see so many familiar scenes in this movie that are totally unrecognizable today. Jerry Reed (Snowman) is singing all of these songs. Jackie Gleason (Sheriff Justice) was the original Ralph Cramden in The Honeymooners TV show in the 50's. He also had his own variety show on TV which ran until 1970 I think. The Honeymooners was remade into a movie with Cedrick The Entertainer, Gabrielle Union, Mike Epps and Regina Hall in 2005.
You must have lived in north Georgia area? I recognize some of the scenes. I live her now and have for the past 30+ years
I lived in Riverdale from 1971 till 1981. The scenes on Hwy 85 between Riverdale and Fayetteville are very recognizable. When I moved there it was only 2 lanes, one going each way.
Yeah, I grew up in Kansas, but when I moved to Michigan in ‘85 everyone wanted to buy Coors, since it was the new thing. I’d spent my teen years learning to dislike it & was much more interested in getting Molson & Labatt’s, since that’s what was new to me, lol..
I live in Dawsonville. Some of the area on 9. They were building GA400 at the time. I recognize the bridge at the end. I love it. I lived in south GA at the time and my dad worked at Reidsville state prison when he was there filming the longest yard. Dad had a prison uniform worn and signed by Burt Reynolds.
the scene where they drove through the river was where I use to swim when visiting my grandparents in Helen GA. I remember when they were filming all around Atlanta for this.
The motorcycle cop, the "Evel Knievel", was played by Sonny Shroyer, most famous for his role as Enos Strait, Deputy Sheriff in The Dukes of Hazzard. He also portrayed the college football coach in Forest Gump.
Wow I never knew that. Neither fact, motorcycle cop, or in Forrest Gump. But ol Enos Strait sure was one of a kind
John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Ben Jones (Cooter) was also in this movie.
That random coach is otherwise known as theBear Bryant, who had unmatched sucess at Bama, and headed T AM before that. I still watch the Junction Boys
Cooter was a Congressman for awhile, John Schnieder owed an estate and recording studio down the roaf from me. He had an original 69Charger painted as Gen Lee, on diaplay in his courtyard. John is a really nice guy, hell of a man, and friend with some sucessful billboard 80 country hits, and hes actively an advocate for community, and rights.
You are referring to Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Fun fact, the theme song and a couple other songs in this movie were written and sung by Jerry Reed, who played the Snowman. Smokey and the Bandit is one of my all time favorite movie series.
The good old days, where movies were total entertainment!
Do ya' mean there's supposed to be movie that isn't about comic book heros or somebody that actually graduated from 5th grade ???
You ain't wrong
This was made when movies didn't have to complete a checklist of different types of people so nobody can be "offended."
Jackie Gleeson (known as The Great One) was a legend who ad libbed his lines in this classic. Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields are both acting icons as well. I hope you two react to more of their movies.
He was on Johnny Carson show a lot!! Funny the Great One😂😂
@@SusanJohnston Burt Reynolds was filling in for Johnny Carson one night when his guest, Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of “Cosmopolitan” asked if he’d pose. Paul Newman had already said “no.” That's the 1st ever nude male centerfold. and you can see it by googling it. 1972
Pretty sure Fields and Reynolds were dating? They made a few movies together.
Seriously, Jay’s face every time Amber mentions the sexiest man alive! Priceless! 😂🤣😂🤣
It's refreshing to see people reviewing an iconic movie from 40+ years ago. BTW, Just so you know, "Cletus" the truck driver (Jerry Reed) composed most of the tunes for this movie off the cuff and is a very accomplished singer / compopser
Yes he was I rock 3 of his music on sd card in my phone
47 1977 I waz 16
Not only did this movie cause a bunch of impressionable young lads like myself to do crazy things in cars, it also was the main inspiration for the Dukes of Hazzard, and the massive car chases in The Blues Brothers. 😎
There were other car chase movies prior to this one but this was the pinnacle...
It also starred three members of the Dukes cast too. Big & Little Enos talk to Cooter when looking for the Bandit. Enos from the Dukes is the motorcycle cop & John Schneider is one of the people in the crowd at the end when Sheriff Justice restarts his pursuit before the credits roll.
Look up a B-movie called "Moonrunners"
Plus. Sheriff Justice decorated a whole town at a cost of forty dollahs
My hometown just got one of those fancy, new-fangled indoor movie theaters that year, this was to first movie I saw there
Director Hal Needham once said in an interview that when he asked Jerry Reed to come up with a song for the movie, Jerry wrote the lyrics and music for "East Bound and Down" that very night. When he played the song for Hal the next day, the director was so amazed that he came up with such a catchy song so quickly. At one point Jerry thought Hal didn't like the tune and offered to change it, to which Needham replied with "If you change one note on that, I'm gonna choke ya!" 🤣
I just have to say... "He worked in the oil fields, so he was pretty crude" cracked me up... a great line in itself 🤣 #dadjokes
I heard it also. I'm not sure she realizes what she said
Yes! Best unintentional joke award!
These two are slow in the head, of course they didn't realize it.
She never said if he were light, heavy, or sweet
Also, to confirm, i ran a van with a radio for nearly a half million miles. We do use that lingo
The really short dude is played by Paul Williams. He's a pretty prolific songwriter. Wrote Rainbow Connection for the Muppet Movie. He also wrote We've Only Just Begun for the Carpenters, which you guys reacted to last year.
Burt Reynolds was a great actor. He was also a Playgirl Centerfold ❤ One of our favorite movies. We had 3 cats and named them Smoky Andy, Bandit,
He was also a centrefold in Cosmo..
My Dad has been a trucker for 40 years, and this is one of his favorite movies! We're always quoting it and singing the Eastbound and Down song by Jerry Reed (aka Snowman). So glad you watched it! :)
When my wife and I moved cross-country from Oregon to Florida, "East Bound And Down" was track 1 of our roadtrip playlist. And when I finally turned south, I cued up "Southbound" by The Allman Brothers Band. 👍
@@joeday4293 Wise move.👍
Shout-out to your dad! Trucking is hard work. Forty years behind the wheel is amazing!
@@ejtappan1802 Thank you for the shout-out! He's a wonderful trucker, and I've learned a lot about what goes into it over the years. It certainly makes me more aware and patient when I share the road with them. I appreciate all the drivers out there even more, knowing what I know! They really do keep things moving.
This movie never gets old
It is such agreat classic. Glad you are watching it.
The truck driver Jerry Reed did the soundtrack and the little guy in the blue suit Paul Williams wrote some of the best songs ever.
Paul Williams also made appearances in several TV series and "Battle For The Planet of The Apes".
@@davestang5454 and Paul's brother wrote Drift Away
@@davestang5454and was in the original Muppet Movie too.
"We've Only Just Begun". "Evergreen". "You and Me Against The World".
Jerry Reed who played Snowman was also a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He wrote East Bound and Down for the movie. Fun fact: Jerry wrote and recorded a song called Guitar Man and when Elvis heard it he just had to record a version. But Elvis quickly found out that to get the sound right he would have to get Jerry to come in and record the guitar part!!
👍 👍 👍
No matter how many times I ve watched this, I bust out laughing everytime that son calls him "daddy". Lol
In real life, Burt & Sally were a couple for about 3-4 years. Later Burt said that Sally was the love of his life. Jerry Reed (Cletus, Snowman) was doing all the singing. He is a CW singer in real life. Amber is/was right, everybody wanted a Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am with the Firebird Emblem on the Hood. There are a couple more “Smokey & the Bandit” sequels. BTW, the little guy (Pigmy) is Paul Williams (songwriter), he’s the guy who wrote “We’ve Only Just Begun” that The Carpenters (Karen) sing. He wrote it for a Bank Commercial on TV and The Carpenters gave it International fame. RIP Karen, ❤️✝️🙏🕊……SanJoséBob
"In real life, Burt & Sally were a couple for about 3-4 years. Later
Burt said that Sally was the love of his life."
Sally Field: "It was like being married to a 12 year old, don't get me wrong, children are fun to be around. I just don't want to be married to one."
Smokey and the Bandit is a real classic. The soundtrack is awesome, the characters were great and Jackie Gleason really made it fun.
This movie is so good on so many levels. Jackie Gleason was fabulous. And to this day I don't know how Mike Henry (Junior) kept a straight face through all his scenes.
I was barely 5 in Jan of 1980, at least where I grew up, most of the family-owned "eat 'em up joints" just on the side of a 2 lane highway were closed or closed as the '80s progressed. Whenever I see this movie, or many '70s movies, I sometimes wish I had been born earlier and experienced the whole 1970s at least (age 6,7,8 by 1970 to experience it). Reminiscing, but it feels like our country lost something when those places closed. Just like my elders talked about the A & W drive-ins, I missed out on that. I've seen a few programs about small businesses still surviving on Route 66, and the business owners say they get so many people from every corner of the world, many different countries, here on vacation, and the Germans, Swedes, Japanese, etc tell them : we want to travel the USA by car and see the country, stop at cafes/diners other spots and experience 'Americana' 😊 Blows my mind, it's beautiful to hear that. As much as this country is demonized nowadays, that is how many people all around the world see America, like in this movie, and want to experience a piece of it if you still can like that
The Pontiac TransAm's popularity soared big time after this movie. The company actually gave Burt Reynolds a brand new one every year for a long time after the movie. Another interesting fact. Jerry Reed was originally cast as the Bandit, until Burt Reynolds stepped in to take the role.
This was the very first movie I saw in the theaters!
RIP Burt, Jerry and Jackie
What is so special, Burt and Sally were a real couple.
A great comedy for the times. It came out at the peak of the CB craze, and it was directly responsible for a surge in Trans Am sales. Jerry Reed (Snowman) wrote and performed the songs, with the energetic Eastbound and Down driving the action. Still funny all these years later. Great reaction, you guys.
Facts: When I was a child I remember my parents sitting up with my great aunt in 1963.
One of the greatest movies of all time. I had the privilege of meeting Burt about 3 weeks before he died. Great actor and a classic movie.
lol...no its not, its a junk movie. Barely a plot, over the top cheese, junk movie. But it's a movie you dont take seriously and its just a lot of fun. But no, it is NOT one of the "greatest movies of all time:". lol
I'm glad to see y'all enjoyed the movie. It's one of my all-time favorites. A large portion of the filming was done in and around my hometown of Jonesboro, GA in the summer of 1976. I was nine years old and remember it well. It was a big deal having Burt in town. An interesting piece of trivia to connect with your music reactions: the cover photo for Lynyrd Skynyrd"s first album which featured the song, "Free Bird", was taken just feet away from where Bandit and Snowman picked up the 400 cases of Coors on Main Street in downtown Jonesboro. A couple of other Burt Reynold's comedies you might enjoy are "Hooper" (1978) and "The Cannonball Run" (1981).
Oh yes! Hooper and Cannonball Run definitely.
My one client LOVES this movie! He is mostly non-verbal, but he will act out all the action scenes, yell out “OH MO (his oh no), OH MO, OH MO!” at the funny parts. It’s just quite the experience. ❤
So glad you reacted to this. I enjoyed seeing your reactions.
His face when he says put the evidence in the car😂, he was a brilliant actor
This was the first movie that made profanity cool. At the time, it was especially shocking (and hilarious) to see Jackie Gleason swearing because he was known for being a wholesome television actor from the 1950s. My parents laughed until they cried watching this movie - beautiful times - it was fun watching your reactions too ❤😄
I don't know if "bang zooom to the moon alice" is all that wholesome.
@@Aeroldoth3 It wasn't cussing.
@@Glittersword No, just casual domestic violence. No biggie.
@@Aeroldoth3 He was all bluster in The Honeymooners. He never would have hit her. That would have ended the show with the public backlash. Ralph was all bark and no bite.
@@Glittersword He probably wouldn't have hit her. Still, I think constantly suggesting he would do it normalized the behavior. Constantly "joking" about hitting your partner isn't something I consider "wholesome"... the OPs point.
Agree to disagree then.
Glad to see you guys loved both Burt and Sally. What's kind of funny is during the 60s both Burt and Sally had their own hit TV series; Sally starred as The Fying Nun and Burt starred in the detective show (and movie series) Dan August. Burt also had numerous hit movie series, the Smokey and the Bandit series, the Cannonball Run series and the Gator/White Lightning duet of movies (Gator also starred Jerry Reed). It was very rare back in those days to see someone become a hit with more than one series and he did it time and again. If you want to try some more of Burt's comedy I'd suggest giving Cannonball Run a try, if you wanted to see his more serious action side I'd suggest Malone or Stick.
Oh, and Amber was right on him being voted the sexiest man. My late Mom's friends and sisters were always talking about Burt having done a nude spread in Playgirl magazine back in the day. It always had my straight-laced Mom blushing. Whenever one of them offered to show her the magazine she'd change the subject and be off like lightning in the opposite direction. They loved teasing her like that.
Cosmopolitan magazine - 1972 - I was 18 and remember that it was a big news story. Reynolds was filling in for Johnny Carson one night when his guest, Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of “Cosmopolitan” magazine asked if he’d pose. That was the 1st ever nude male centerfold.
Don't forget Boogie Nights and Best little Whorehouse in Texas!
The nude was in Cosmopolitan of all things. My mom ran out and got one.
Burt's nude spread was in 1971. It was soft-core.
Before Sally Field was the Flying Nun, she was Gidget (1965-'66). It was the TV version of a 1959 beach-party movie by the same name. Sandra Dee played the title character that Sally played on TV.
I graduated high school in 77. I stopped cold when they didn't know who Burt Reynolds was! OMG. Heart throb of every Southern gal for years! LOL
Saw an interview with Burt Reynolds and he mentioned that between takes while filming, he **never** saw Jackie Gleason without a cocktail in his hand and that Gleason ad-libbed all through the filming. Absolute legends, both!
The story goes, if Gleason asked the crew for a "hamburger," it meant a bourbon on the rocks. LOL
I’m 56 years old and Burt is my all time favorite actor and Smokey and the Bandit is my favorite movie. I’m glad you two got to see this movie and enjoyed it so much! You should watch Burts movie Hooper as well. The greatest stunt movie until Tom Cruise came along.
This movie was HUGE back in the day!! Sally Fields was a big star - started as “ Gidget,” in the 50s, then The Flying Nun. Both popular tv shows before she went into movies.
All those songs you loved from the movie were written and performed by The Snowman himself, Jerry Reed. Great reaction again kids! Keep it up. 😊
Amber you're totally right. They sold so many Trans Ams after this movie. The President of Pontiac called Burt Reynolds, and told him that he was going to give him a new Trans Am every year for the rest of his life. One year, a Trans Am didn't show up, and he found out it apparently was the Presidents life, and not his. He tells the story on the Johnny Carson show. It's on UA-cam, it's funny.
Jerry Reed who played Snowman driving the semi is a country music legend. He did the soundtrack to this movie.
I was 11, it was 1981...my dad let me watch with him when he had some company over. Everything about this movie is fun, the cast perfection. Gleason's performance as the sheriff is so awesome. The soundtrack, the great Jerry Reed 'the snowman'...this is a classic of quotes and fun.
I was 8 yrs old when this came out and I remember this being such a big movie, our whole family loved it. Jackie Gleason was always funny, he was best known for the TV show "The Honeymooners". Burt Reynolds was such a big star too and they were both together just comedy gold. 😅😅😅😅
Gleason played Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler." Reynolds also did a great cop movie "Sharky's Machine." Either one would make great films to react to.
He was also the star of a variety series on CBS . Two different iterations aired consecutively between 1962 -1970.
Mike Henry, who played Junior, was among other things a NFL player in the 1950s and 60s. He also was in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds and once played Tarzan on TV.
Glad you brought up Tarzan. Sally's step father was Jock Mahoney another Tarzan in the movies.
When I was in High School 92-95 we all had CB radio's and handle's. It was a great time to be alive.
I'm excited 👏👏❤️❤️💃💃💃🔥👍..... Sally was "the flying nun also lol 👍👏👏👏🔥🔥 .... And the first Gidget ..... 💃💃💃🔥🔥 ... The singer was Jerry Reed an awesome story singer 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
You just need to get Jerry Lewis "Smokey N the Bandit " song 🔥🔥🔥
This was a huge movie at the box office. A timeless classic!!!
The demand for trans am's went through the roof when this movie came out,a spokesman for general motors said they worked round the clock to fill the orders.
@@marcdewey1242Cletus is Jerry Reedsnd Jerry Reed is the singer snd the writer of most of the songs.
The 70s were a blast I WAS THERETHIS MOVIE WAS RELASED IN 1977
STAR WARS JAWS ROCKY SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT ALL THIS TIME IN THE 1970s
This movie and Convoy were responsible for making my father a trucker and sparkled my love for CB radio and telecommunications.
You'll have to do "Cannonball Run" another fun one with Burt and the gang. Dean Mart and Sammy Davis Jr. are among the many co-stars. HILARIOUS
Very Fun Movie
So excited that you guys watched this!! A classic movie for sure. So many quotable lines and a well written script with great chemistry. Musically, you definitely need to check out Jerry Reed, Amos Moses, The Bird, When You’re Hot, You’re Hot, many others.
Movie wise, you need to see more of Burt with Dom Deluise in Canonball Run, also Hooper, and so many others. Glad to see you had fun watching this and looking forward to many others.
Don't forget Jerry's Part in the supergroup Old Dogs with Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare and Mel Tillis.
...and She Got The Goldmine
When this movie came out, Burt Reynolds was box office gold. The sheriff was played by Jackie Gleason. He had a long running variety show in the early 60's, and was best known for playing Ralph Kramden in a mid-50's show called "The Honeymooners." He was a comedy legend. oh, and this movie was responsible for starting the whole "CB Radio" craze. Truckers mainly used CB to talk to each other. But after this movie came out "CB" radio sales boomed! I even had one in my car.
Jerry Reed who played "Snowman" was the singer / balladeer....
Along with the great acting top to bottom, this movie was made by a stuntman who became a movie director that specialized in car chase comedies. Hal Needham was a frequent collaborator with Burt Reynolds. In addition to this classic, they also made the sequel, as well the movies Hooper, Cannonball Run (1 and 2) and Stroker Ace. Before CGI, car chase set pieces with practical effects turned stuntmen into Hollywood royalty.
I watched this movie in the theaters back in 1977. I went and ordered me a 1978 Trans Am later that year. Trans Am sales jumped 500% back then. This movie is a classic.
I blew that trans am away with my 1976 grand Torino 351 Cleveland four barrel three quarter inch racing cam he had me off the start about twenty yards until my cam kick in at twenty five blew past him up hill
7:45 The song "Eastbound and Down" is specifically for the movie, and written and performed by Jerry Reed himself (Cletus). Bandit's job is the blocker, to distract the cops and have them chase him and leave the rig alone.
"My grand father worked in the oil fields...so he was pretty CRUDE."
I see you, Mayor of Puntown.
I saw this in the theater when I was a little girl, and let me tell you, there was nobody cooler than the Bandit. Everybody wanted his car AND that truck. The songs you heard were performed by Snowman himself, Jerry Reed. He's a legend.
You two are enjoying one of the great stunt films of the time. This was a time when everything was practical effects and stunts were the real deal. Hal Needham, the director, was the master stuntman of many films, so you can understand why there are so many stunts in this film. It's worth deep diving the decade around this movie for many more and some seriously crazy stunts. Enjoy!
The most impressive stunt I remember was in "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" in '74. The helicopter pilot made an amazing maneuver coming around a corner, nearly clipping the ground with his rotor blade. 🏎🚁😬
I love this movie. You should watch The Cannon Ball Run with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise
After this movie came out, my dad bought a CB (Citizen’s Band) radio (he was a real estate businessman, not even close to a trucker!) and we loved using it on road trips! I remember my unregistered handle was Silver Streak. My initials were AG, which is the periodic element name of silver, I thought I was so clever!
CB traffic could be picked up on ordinary cheap kids "walkie talkies", a precursor to modern day cell phones. I know because I talked to truckers that way when I was a kid. This was also the age of using coat hangers as antennas on TVs to improve reception. There were "low tech" solutions to improving anything running on electricity.
When I was a kid during the 80s this movie was often on tv on Saturday afternoons. I've seen it hundreds of times and 30+ years later it still cracks me up every time. All the songs are sung by the Snowman, aka Jerry Reed
This was an immense success when it came out inspiring a couple sequels, though Sally only appeared in the second. That's Jerry Reed (Cledus) singing on the soundtrack. He was already a popular country & western star when he was cast in this, and a good friend of Reynolds and worked with him often.
Sally Field's talent is so deep and varied and her career has now been so long-she started at 19 in the TV series Gidget and she's still going strong at 76 with her new film "80 for Brady" playing in theatres now-that you still have many wonderful performances of hers to discover.
Initially she was typed as a pleasant but lightweight comedienne after playing the leads in both Gidget (an experience she enjoyed) and the series The Flying Nun (which she hated doing) but after several years of study, struggle and perseverance she won the role of a woman with 16 separate personalities in the miniseries "Sybil" based on the best selling book and won an Emmy for it. She's mesmerizing in the show. It was that performance that lead Burt Reynolds to seek her out for Smokey. She had a few more years of building on those success before she was cast as "Norma Rae" and won her first Best Actress Academy Award which put her at the top of her profession and within five years she picked up her second Oscar for "Places in the Heart". Both of those are worthy watches as is the uproarious comedy spoof "Soapdish" where she costars with Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Downey, Jr. and an all-star cast. Like all long careers hers has had its ups and downs but she is always worth seeing.
Burt's career was devoted more to action flicks but his breakout "Deliverance" is a gripping, powerful and at times disturbing dramatic adventure featuring the famous "dueling banjos".