Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Directed by Hal Needham. Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Mike Henry, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, George Reynolds. [PG]

Broad, boisterous road movie with Reynolds and Reed illegally transporting hundreds of cases of beer from Texas to Georgia, targeted by blustery caricature Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason) the whole way. Largely improvised (and it shows), with about half the dialogue being CB chatter, “woo!”s, and Gleason’s coarse bellyachin’; full of suspense-free car chases, low-rent crashes, and good ol’ boy humor. Like a cheap set of tires, it all wears very thin, very fast. The game performers can be credited any time the movie comes to life, including Reed contributing the theme song, “East Bound and Down,” which quickly became the singer’s signature tune. A surprise box office smash in its day, spawning several sequels and made-for-TV spinoffs. Directorial debut for stuntman Needham, and the first of six movies he made with pal Reynolds.

41/100