Is Smokey and the Bandit a Classic?

It is a classic to me.

Not a classic, but its two sequels sure are!

It was Alfred Hitchcock's favorite movie. I did like Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

It’s definitely of it’s time and place, but I loved it as a kid. It was hugely successful at the box office-only Star Wars made more money in 1977. Pontiac Firebird sales skyrocketed after it was released.

It has become a classic. Any film that is still beloved, watched, and discussed over forty years after its release has become a classic.

I remember a thread where someone said Burt Reynold's stardom represented some type of cultural nadir. I don't think he's that bad.

Do people think this movie is funny? It's like second-rate Dukes of Hazzard laughs.

I’ve never seen it, only heard of it. I’m surprised it hasn’t had a raunchy 2000’s remake.

R8 There has been talk of a remake for years.

I prefer Every Which Way But Loose (1978), another late '70s trucker/CB radio/redneck/bar room brawls movie with a sequel and starring an "older", macho American actor.

Seeing it's been 45 years since it was released is depressing. I saw it while on vacation in NYC at Radio City Music Hall with my parents in the Summer of '77. I lost my gay virginity two days later while on that same trip.

Yes, it is.

Classic for white trash.

Yes, if only for Jackie Gleason's performance. He should have been nominated for an Oscar for this and "The Toy."

Opened at Radio City Music Hall in NY was a huge disappointment. It didn't take off until it hit the south. Big surprise.

Yes, if you are over 55 and white trash.

Never saw it.

It's not funny in the least.

Ah, a cherished memory of my teen years, when my cousin who worked at the local drive-in let me and my carload of friends in for free to see it the summer it was released.

Smokey And The Bandit is the quintessential drive-in summer movie.

R19, I'd argue that Sam Elliott in Lifeguard is the better summer drive-in flick.

It's very weird. I can remember seeing the movie in the theater when it first came out, I was about ten years old. Every seat in the theater was taken and the audience howled with laughter. It was full of references that were timely -- CB radios, country music, truckers, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field (who were a celebrity tabloid couple in the late 70s). And it had a hit song that played on the radio for the whole summer of 1977. Fond memories.

After Burt Reynolds died, Turner Classic Movies ran the full movie uninterrupted and I watched it again. Wow! It was so bad. Full of misogyny, racist bigotry, and homophobia. Cheap production values. Stupid bathroom humor. Jackie Gleason was over the top with is mugging and bad southern accent. The story development was lazy.

And worst of all, not funny. The only good thing that remained? Jerry Reed and his hit song. So listen to that in the opening credits, then turn off the rest.

Pure feces

[quote]Do people think this movie is funny? It's like second-rate Dukes of Hazzard laughs.

Most likely inspired the creation of Dukes of Hazard and a few other TV shows and movies. It did thrust Burt from movie star to superstar. He was the biggest star out there. I don't think I have seen it since it used to play on TV in the 80's (back when the local "Superstations" would play movies on the weekends. Not a huge shock it has not aged well.

Burt was a national treasure

I still find it funny. Jackie Gleason is spectacular.

Yes

And Cannonball Run

Quit making me look like a possum's pecker.

I hate those Hood Old Boys redneck movies. Sally looked downright uncomfortable in it.

More for the theme song than the story.

East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed

[quote]The only good thing that remained? Jerry Reed and his hit song.

It's a great song! Plus I had a thing for Jerry, not Burt.

I watched this for the first time ever last year. It was kinda clunky in parts but I do like the very 70s aesthetic that everybody, including the stars, looked like they did their own makeup and hair and wore their own wardrobe even if they didn’t. People looked a lot more real in movies back then.

[quote] Is Smokey and the Bandit a Classic?

10-4 good buddy

Handsome Mike Henry was in it...

The car in the movie was a 1976 Trans Am with the front end from a 77 model. 6.6 liter V-8 engine, 180 horsepower. I get more than that from the six in my car, and it's no hot rod.

Mike Henry, who played Fields jilted fiancé, didn’t look like much to me until I saw this photo.

That totally didn’t fucking work.

Saw it once, don't need to see it again.

So, not classic.

I worked on that movie. Burt Reynolds was a lotta fun always grabbing my ass and pulling down Dom DeLuise’s pants. That’s before he went crazy of course. You know, he took so many ludes his balls dissolved.

[quote]Classic for white trash.

R13 I resemble that remark!

[quote]The car in the movie was a 1976 Trans Am with the front end from a 77 model. 6.6 liter V-8 engine, 180 horsepower. I get more than that from the six in my car, and it's no hot rod.

R36 but what it did have was gobs of torque which is what you need for rapid acceleration. And it is very easy to wake those motors up and get far more power out if them with some simple after market modifications. Ideally you can put after market fuel injection on them which makes them perform and run far better than they did originally without compromising emissions

One of these is one of my dream cars. And East Bound and Down is a great song too, one of my favourites

[quote]Most likely inspired the creation of Dukes of Hazard and a few other TV shows and movies.

And maybe this Bananarama video, so something good did come out of it....

Smokey and the Bandit is a patriotic movie.

What could be more American than " we gonna do what they say can't be done".