The Film
Burt Reynolds was a big deal in the '70s -- and not just for his 'stache-growing talents. Despite that facial hair and his lengthy career, he is probably best known for the smashes, crashes and one-liners of Smokey and the Bandit. That's pretty darn impressive, considering the comedy made its theatrical debut just two days after a little film called Star Wars. Heard of it?
Well, Star Wars got sequels and prequels, legions of fans, cartoon spin-offs, and dozens of Lego sets. That said, Bandit still managed to rank as the fourth highest-grossing film of 1977, in front of Annie Hall, A Bridge Too Far, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Slapshot. That's a bigger feat than racing some crappy Coors beer across state lines.
And yes, that's basically the plot of the movie. Reynolds is Bandit, a race car driver who bets that he can drive an illegal shipment of beer from Texas to Atlanta in less than 28 hours. During his brief travels, he picks up runaway bride Carrie (Sally Field), who just happens to be running away from the son of Sheriff "Smokey" Justice (Jackie Gleason). That hot pursuit results in a little romance, a little comedy, and a whole lot of car crashes.
Smokey and the Bandit spawned two sequels, a romance between Reynolds and Field, and Pontiac Trans Am sales. The film oozes '70s charm and a lot of Reynolds' chest hair. Of course, it's very dated, but it's still a fun ride.
The Picture
Universal's 1.85:1 transfer won't have anyone racing to store shelves, but it's pleasing enough. Blacks crush in a lot of scenes, the detail is hit or miss, and there's some flicker in some of the wide, outdoor shots. However, this is the best it's ever been and the colors are pretty impressive for a 35-year-old flick. Burt Reynolds' red shirt is particularly awesome looking.
The Sound
Bandit has a DTS-HD Master Audio track, but it's a surprisingly mellow listening experience. You have to remember that the track was built for speed, but not surround sound. If the movie were made today, I'm guess that it would be a pretty wild ride. That said, dialogue sounds good and the audio does perk up during those action-packed scenes.
The Extras
Smokey fans will be familiar with the movie-specific features included in this set. There's a trailer and one short for those in need of a good CB-to-English tutorial. The one to watch is a making-of featurette titled, "Loaded Up and Truckin'." This one swaps out interviews from 1976 and 2006 with scenes from the film. It's mostly director Hal Needham, Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason (in an awesome jacket), and Paul Williams reminiscing about the film and sharing stories from the production.
Other than that, Universal continues its 100th anniversary celebration with two "general" featurettes that are more about the history of film than Smokey and the Bandit. One invites viewers on a tour of the Universal lot, with the other talking to mega-stars Steven Spielberg, Russell Crowe, Ron Howard, Judd Apatow, and others about the '70s.
Final Thoughts
Even Burt Reynolds and Sally Field can't make old Smokey look new again. The audio and video on this one are a mixed bag. Also, Smokey and the Bandit isn't the best movie. It's not even the best movie of 1977 (not even close!). That said, it's still a fun little flashback. Ride at your own risk.
Product Details
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