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Somehow this store had a regular supply. The Trans Am used for said jump was equipped with a booster rocket, the same type that was used by Evel Knievel during his failed Snake River Canyon jump. I have since moved on from them, mainly because in stock form, they were not particularly great cars (though good enough for the times). http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_301466-Ford-LTD-II-1977.html. Some of the original sound effects (such as Cledus's dog Fred barking) and music (such as the final chase to the Southern Classic) were removed and not replaced. The cars were wrecked on purpose to create the illusion of a high-speed chase. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. So many classic quotes in this movie. I was in West Plains the other day and there is yet another variation of it there. Well, at least that's what you saw in the movie. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? [24] With an original budget of $5.3 million (cut to $4.3 million two days before initial production),[4] the film eventually grossed $126,737,428 in North America,[25] making it the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 (only Star Wars earned more, with $221.3 million). And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. Wealthy Texan Big Enos Burdette and his son Little Enos have sponsored a racer in Atlanta's Southern Classic and want to celebrate in style when he wins, so they are seeking a trucker willing to bootleg Coors Beer to Atlanta for their refreshment. [40] Major portions of the audio background have been modified with different engine sounds or tire squeals from the original film. I am still drawn to the shape of these cars, and others that have that long and low look about them. http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/john-fedack-my-days-as-a-dekalb-county-police-officer/. "Smokey and the Bandit" stars Burt Reynolds, Sally . The other range car was a Chevette for people that wanted to learn on a manual transmission. The updated version of the film features sound inaccurate for what would be produced by the Trans Am or the numerous other Pontiac vehicles in the film. Back in 1984, I went to look at a late 1970s Plymouth cop car as well. ARRGH! Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. The man does get around. It cornered amazingly well for such a large car, but the posi rear end emitted ominous sounds so I passed on it (I was in college and didnt have any place to do major repairs). Nah, they survived by coming up with bras with very thin cups. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. I certainly hope the guy hired to drive that 74 Ford Torino wagon was paid well for his work. These questions all need to be answered. Burt Reynolds as the Bandit can always count on the truckers on the other end of his C.B. I guess the Trans Am proved to have more staying power than the hot 71 Ford in the earlier movie. Most reports of his death still didnt have that right! The 1978 Trans Am is an exact duplicate of the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie car, finished in black and gold with a screaming chicken on the hood. [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career.[26]. A strike at General Motors in 1972 limited the production of the Trans Am to less than 1,300 units that year, and Pontiac almost canceled the nameplate. While Sheriff Justice doesnt deal well with the pressures of high speed pursuit, as seen above, his Pontiac LeMans (CC here) withstands the most abuse of any car in this entire movie. Three actors from the main cast of The Dukes of Hazzard appear in small uncredited roles in Smokey and the Bandit: Ben Jones, John Schneider, and Sonny Shroyer (who played a police officer in both). The original Blues Brothers movie from 1980 is a classic, and fans were excited when a sequel was announced in 1998. . Two cars were reportedly badly damaged in early stunts in the film, while a third car was completely destroyed during the famous bridge jump scene. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. I agree, despite people saying you sound cute, it seems like they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Jethro Bodean. Though no authoritative source identifies the composition of the sandwich, there are several possibilities. Ive always wanted some sort of de-commission/ex unmarked cop car, something from the 70s preferably. It was something regarding distribution limits. (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominatedSmokey & The Bandit. The film's theme song, "East Bound and Down", was written virtually overnight by Reed. So these kind of represented a rebellion attitude to the government mandated diesel econo hatches everyone thought we were going to be forced to drive in the 80sinterestingly 1979 was also the best year for the Corvette too. Of course, we could argue that Needham could have used the engine note of a Pontiac GTO from the golden muscle car, but the 1955 Custom recordings were probably readily available, and he just didn't need the hassle. The original film had correct sounds that were usually recorded live as the action took place. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. Justice. . Misconception by casual novice car fans is that the Trams Am didnt sell well until S&B. The sound came from a 1955 Chevrolet Custom, the same car that was used in Two-Lane Blacktop and American Graffiti, films launched in 1971 and 1973, respectively. I own all three films on a dvd called the Smokey and The Bandit Pursuit Pack. Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. As deals were made for the actors and producers, the studio wanted to renegotiate my deal. While made to take advantage of the ongoing 1970s CB radio fad, the film added to the craze. Other sources in East Texas (from whence Sheriff Justice hails) are familiar with the popular regional delicacy known as the Diablo Sandwich. These Furys, as well as some of the LeMans units, have hood scoops. I know that Trans Am that . It had an AM transmitter and you would tune in the sound on your AM car radio, or on my case, on a transistor radio. In the U.K., the heavily dubbed version was shown for several years, particularly by the BBC. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. you can find it on amazon.com . That said, an uncomplimentary accent does exist. And all of us easterners suddenly discovered it was nothing more than another Budweiser/Miller/etc. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. and used hard. Coors was legal in Missouri and illegal in Illinois. "Smokey and the Bandit Pursuit Pack" is formatted as a box set that in presented in full color in widescreen. NY 10036. [31] Smokey and the Bandit was released in the United Kingdom on August 28 and was a success there, garnering positive reviews. When Smokey & The Banditfirst aired on television in the early 1980s, the Gleason phrase sum bitcha regional butchering of son of a bitchhad to be dubbed out. Because of the popularity of the film and the sales success of the Trans Am, the president of Pontiac Alex Mair promised to supply Reynolds with a Trans Am each year. Alan Reed was the original voice of Fred Flintstone; Henry Corden only took over after Reeds death in 1977. For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was common practice. February 27, 2023 . Of course, it's difficult to asses whether these small decals did something to change buyer perception about the Trans Am, but it's an interesting part of the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am's history. [17], In 1977, Coors was unavailable for sale east of Oklahoma. And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. His expletive is obscured when a passing big rig sounds its horn. Cape was far enough north that it was watered down and there was so much cross-pollination with the Illinois side you really didnt discern much difference. Two units were 1974 models, as evidenced by standard silver Kenworth emblems on the truck grille, and one unit was a 1973 model, as evidenced by the gold-painted Kenworth emblem on the truck's grille, signifying Kenworth's 50 years in business. It is now sold in all states as Coors ships it in refrigerated train cars and bottled locally and sold in different parts of the country including the eastern US states. Its W.W. At the time, using "fuck" would immediately require an R rating and this self-censorship allowed the film to avoid this rating and reach a much larger audience. A couple of years ago, I was sitting around on a lazy Saturday afternoon and it was on TV. As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. I have to admit, thats a pretty fantastic story, and as a major movie star, Im sure Burt Reynolds was able to figure out another way to acquire a means of transportation. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and And the 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds versions could be made to run well. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac's take on the Chevrolet Camaro. In fact, after Smokey and the Bandit became a box office hit, Pontiac saw a marked increase in their stock prices. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). He claimed that the Bandit is never made aware of Frog's leaving Junior at the altar, which is why the Bandit continually asks why a Texas sheriff is chasing him. And theres this nugget from the director of the coming new Shazam movie; I first watched Smokey on quiet swing shifts from the drivers seat of a 1977 Pontiac Le Mans patrol car, parked by thr back fence of the drive-in theater at the far end of town. how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 (No Ratings Yet) . Thats all well and good, and it worked smooth as silk for a good while. On top of Burt Reynold's top-notch acting, Smokey and the Bandit is also famous for the Pontiac Trans Am that the actor drove throughout the film. As Fred Flintstone was modeled off Ralph Kramden, the Jackie Gleason character from the 1950s television showThe Honeymooners, the tone and intonation of the dubbing was highly convincing. S/E T/A with the round headlights. MN12 Thunderbirds had the same appeal to me, for similar reasons. If they werent burning candles to an image of a cowboy hatted Burt Reynolds at Pontiac headquarters. Anyone who enjoys Colonnade sedans will love Smokey & the Bandit. I think more of Smokey and the Bandit II and the awful part 3 were filmed largely in Florida, I dont know if I-75 construction was started by 1976-77, at least the section down to Miami part, when they filmed. Good silly fun. As a feature-length car chase, the car was as much of a star as Burt Reynolds, and the film gave birth to the cult of the Trans Am. Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film a good rating (3 stars out of a possible 4) and characterized it as "about as subtle as The Three Stooges, but a classic compared to the sequels and countless rip-offs which followed". Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. These new models were built off the same Camaro platform, came with the Pontiac arrowhead, flaming bird, and Bandit logos, and the instrument panels, center consoles, and hood scoops emulating their 1977 counterparts, and were signed by Reynolds. The film's editors, Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross, were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. It consists of any of the various Louisiana-style hot sauces on Texas toast-style bread alongside the fourth most famous product of Pittsburg, Texas (behind Pilgrim's Pride, Cavender's, and Carroll Shelby)Pittsburg Hot Links. Much of the surrounding scene comes from that immediate vicinity. how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2. I have worked a long time to eradicate the one I had but it still crops up periodically from exposure, like you experienced. Rockford Files also featured Firebird, and was on since 1974, and Fs sold well despite gas crunch I and inflation. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. Smokey & The Bandit was the first of three movies in that franchise. I recall reading somewhere that the Trans Am that did the bridge jump had a tweaked Chevy 350 in it with a stick, and of course that it was WO after the jump. For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. [18] A 1974 Time magazine article explains that Coors was so coveted for its lack of stabilizers and preservatives, and Coors Banquet Beer had a brief renaissance. The movies are rated PG with a run time of 282 minutes and released to video by Universal Studios. Yet when I think of a 70s T/A, thats the one I and Im sure millions of other folks think of. Gleason has a treasure trove of hilarious lines and it was this movie that started my love affair of cars back in the early 1980s. That is an excellent question. [4] Just two days before production was to begin, Universal sent a "hatchet man" to Atlanta to inform Needham that the budget was being trimmed by $1 million. Tragically, every Trans Am used in filming was destroyed. Check out the entire video below. And back then what I wanted most of all was a highly customized Vette with exposed headlights. Over many viewings I noticed some scenes the car would skate around and take off like an animal while in others there were one-tire-fires and it would struggle to get going. Have the movie, cheesy as hell, but does have appearances by several NASCAR drivers of the day, including Dale Earnhardt (Senior, not Jr) Kyle Petty, Harry Gant, and one of my favorites of the era, Tim Richmond. The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. The cars were 1976 models, the engines fitted to them were 455ci powerplants, the last year these engines were offered for sale before withdrawal. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. That is why there are not any left. My drivers ed driving range car was an ex-patrol colonnade Pontiac LeMans Enforcer. Supposedly there was a stick car for the burnouts and an automatic car for other shots. When it is finally torn off along with the car's roof in the impact with the girder, the missing fender still reappears later on in the film. He had quite a few orders for Coors beer, and when he stopped in Weed, CA, on the way home, he went into the Safeway and asked for twenty-four cases of Coors. While watching the movie (yes, I did have to diligently research this article), one shot seemed to indicate this may be a dummy scoop. I imagine that they borrowed some of the character from Sheriff JW Pepper from the 1973 and 1974 James Bond movies, Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. Actor Henry Corden, who voiced Fred Flintstone after original performer Alan Reed died the same year the film was released, was used to replace a considerable amount of Sheriff Justice's dialogue. [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. I dont know whose idea was to replace the wicked Two Lane Blacktop Chevy sourced engine sound effects with an authentic 200 horsepower muffled smogger 400, but that sumbitch is a scumbum!!! [15] All four of the cars were badly damaged during production,[16] one of which was all but destroyed during the jump over the dismantled Mulberry bridge. Reynolds and Field began dating during the filming.[13]. If you notice there are several different angled skid marks on the road in the scene where the Bandit picks up Frog, you can see that they did a couple of takes of the T/A skidding to a stop and taking off again. That parking lot was full of Trans Ams! The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. S&TB was filmed primarily off Route 400 in Georgia. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.