History Film / SmokeyAndTheBandit

* DoubleDoubleTitle

* SmallTownTyrant: Buford T. Justice has no idea that The Bandit is hauling illegal beer, which would have justified the pursuit at least within his jurisdiction -- if not for the fact that he leaves said jurisdiction almost immediately. His pursuit is entirely [[ItsPersonal for personal reasons]] and thus qualifies as being corrupt. Of course, the titular Bandit ''is'' breaking the law left and right, so [[GreyOnGrayMorality neither party comes to the plot with clean hands.]]

'''Justice''': (''a bit humbled'') Well, thank you kindly, Mr. Bandit. And may I just say that as the pursuer, you're about the God damndest pursuee I ever pursued. Now that the mutual bullshit is over...'''''WHERE ARE YOU, YOU SUM'BITCH??!!'''''

* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: Played with by Buford saying a black sheriff "sounded a little taller on radio." It's really an attempt to downplay racism.

The plot revolves around truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), who is offered $80,000 to bootleg four hundred cases of Coors beer[[note]]At the time the movie was made, it was illegal to ship Coors in bulk to the southeastern US because Coors hadn't gotten around to acquiring the relevant business licenses yet[[/note]] from Texarkana, UsefulNotes/{{Texas}}, to the Southern Classic truck rodeo in UsefulNotes/{{Georgia|USA}} within 28 hours. The Bandit recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) to make the journey with him, with the Bandit's [[CoolCar Pontiac Firebird Trans Am]] acting as a blocker for Snowman's rig. On the journey back, the Bandit picks up a RunawayBride named Carrie (Field), making him the target of the jilted groom's father, [[CorruptHick Sheriff Buford T. Justice]] (Gleason). {{Hilarity|Ensues}} and a chase across the South ensue.

* CorruptHick: Buford T. Justice has no idea that The Bandit is hauling illegal beer, which would have justified the pursuit at least within his jurisdiction -- if not for the fact that he leaves said jurisdiction almost immediately. His pursuit is entirely [[ItsPersonal for personal reasons]] and thus qualifies as being corrupt. Of course, the titular Bandit ''is'' breaking the law left and right, so [[GreyOnGrayMorality neither party comes to the plot with clean hands.]]

The plot revolves around truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), who is offered $80,000 to bootleg four hundred cases of Coors beer[[note]]At the time the movie was made, it was illegal to ship Coors in bulk to the southeastern US because Coors hadn't gotten around to acquiring the relevant business licenses yet[[/note]] from Texarkana, UsefulNotes/{{Texas}}, to the Southern Classic truck rodeo in Georgia within 28 hours. The Bandit recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) to make the journey with him, with the Bandit's [[CoolCar Pontiac Firebird Trans Am]] acting as a blocker for Snowman's rig. On the journey back, the Bandit picks up a RunawayBride named Carrie (Field), making him the target of the jilted groom's father, [[CorruptHick Sheriff Buford T. Justice]] (Gleason). {{Hilarity|Ensues}} and a chase across the South ensue.

** In 1977, it was indeed illegal to ship large amounts of Coors beer east of Texas due to state alcohol laws at the time. Since at the time the company still produced all of its beer in Colorado, it didn't bother to seek state licenses for parts of the country outside of a comfortable shipping range.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Supposedly Texarkana Texas is 900 miles from Atlanta, whereas in the real world it's only 650 even avoiding interstates. Turning the "impossible" 28 hour round trip into something that is completely doable even obeying the speed limit. The Sequel hook of going from Atlanta to Boston and back in 18 hours though is completely impossible save by plane[[note]]Atlanta and Boston, according to a rough Google Maps estimate, are about 1080 miles apart. In order to go out and back (2160 miles) in only 18 hours, you would have to be traveling at a minimum of 120 mph the whole way[[/note]].

* CatchPhrase: "I'm in the MIDDLE of a HOT PURSUIT!" "Sum'bitch!" (Not to mention "Scum Bum!" -- the infamous TV edit version of the latter.)

* CorruptHick: Buford T. Justice has no idea that The Bandit is hauling illegal beer, which would have justified the pursuit at least within his jurisdiction -- if not for the fact that he leaves said jurisdiction almost immediately. His pursuit is entirely [[ItsPersonal for personal reasons]] and thus qualifies as being corrupt. Of course, the titular Bandit ''is'' breaking the law left and right, so neither party comes to the plot with clean hands.

* DeepSouth: However, Buford T. Justice is the only southern Stereotype and he's not supposed to be taken seriously. Likewise, he's the only character in the entire movie who displays any racism, so it's taken in the same manner many characters in ''Blazing Saddles'' are viewed. The rest of the movie is actually quite progressive. Notice that several black characters interact with white characters in a manner that would've been unthinkable, possibly even illegal, just a few years before. There's also an Asian and woman trucker who are portrayed as being very competent and aren't stereotypes in any way. Finally, Sally Field's character chooses not to enter a loveless marriage and quickly becomes a very useful member of the team. None of this is portrayed in a preachy manner.

* HotPursuit: UpToEleven. Buford T. Justice [[ArtisticLicenseLaw seems to be under the impression that declaring he's doing this]] will allow him to continue chasing Bandit ''all over the United States'' without being disturbed by other law enforcement.

* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Snowman runs afoul of a denim-clad biker gang at a choke-n-puke, and they pick a fight with him. He returns the favor by running ovehttps://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/index_report.phpr their bikes.

* PantyShot: [[BuxomIsBetter Colleen Camp]] (the film's Sally Field expy).

''Smokey'' was the second highest-grossing movie of 1977, beaten to the #1 spot by ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope'', and established Burt Reynolds as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the late '70s and early '80s. Two sequels were made, ''Smokey and the Bandit II'' in 1980 and ''Smokey and the Bandit Part 3'' in 1983, the latter with Gleason and Reed but [[AbsenteeActor sans Reynolds and Field]] (Reed's Snowman becoming a "new" Bandit), though Reynolds makes a cameo near the end. They did not end up doing as well in competition with the respective ''Star Wars'' films at the box office. In 1994, a grand total of four made-for-TV ''Bandit'' movies based upon the original trilogy were produced. They were subsequently released in a box set along with the original three, likely surprising many fans unaware of their existence.

* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Snowman runs afoul of a denim-clad biker gang at a choke-n-puke, and they pick a fight with him. He returns the favor by running over their bikes.

* AbsenteeActor: Both Burt Reynolds and Sally Field opted out of this one, although Reynolds does appear in a brief [[TheCameo cameo]] toward the end when Buford confronts Cledus, who's taken on the Bandit role, and hallucinates that he's the "real" Bandit.

* DeepSouth: However Buford T. Justice is the only southern Stereotype and he's not supposed to be taken seriously. Likewise he's the only character in the entire movie who displays any racism so it's taken in the same manner many characters in Blazing Saddles are viewed. The rest of the movie is actually quite progressive. Notice that several black characters interact with white characters in a manner that would've been unthinkable, possibly even illegal, just a few years before. There's also an Asian and woman trucker who are portrayed as being very competent and aren't stereotypes in any way. Finally Sally Field's character chooses not to enter a loveless marriage and quickly becomes a very useful member of the team. None of this is portrayed in a preachy manner.

* GreasySpoon: A rest-stop burger joint is refered to as the "Choke-and-puke" over the CB radio.

* LighterAndSofter: Bandit, Snowman and Frog end up hauling an elephant in place of beer.

* MsFanservice: Carrie is played by a young Sally Fields, and the director takes advantage of this fact.

'''Justice''': (''a bit humbled'') Well, thank you kindly, Mr. bandit. And may I just say that as the pursuer, you're about the God damndest pursuee I ever pursued. Now that the mutual bullshit is over...'''''WHERE ARE YOU, YOU SUM'BITCH??!!'''''

* CaptainObvious

-->'''Bandit:''' (''to Justice on C.B.'') You must be part coon dog. 'Caude I've been chased by the best of 'em, but you make 'em all look like they're running in slow motion. Just want to tell you that.\\

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Supposedly Texarkana Texas is 900 miles from Atlanta, whereas in the real world it's only 650 even avoiding interstates. Turning the "impossible" 28 hour round trip into something that is completely doable even obeying the speed limit. The Sequel hook of going from Atlanta to Boston and back in 18 hours though is completely impossible save by plane.

* {{Determinator}}: Buford ''in every movie''.
* DisproportionateRetribution: ''Buford''.

* GoodHairEvilHair: Parodied by Buford T. Justice

* PantyShot: Colleen Camp (the film's Sally Field expy).

The plot revolves around truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), who is offered $80,000 to bootleg four hundred cases of Coors beer[[note]]At the time the movie was made, it was illegal to ship Coors in bulk to the southeastern US because Coors hadn't gotten around to acquiring the relevant business licenses yet[[/note]] from Texarkana, UsefulNotes/{{Texas}}, to the Southern Classic truck rodeo in Georgia within 28 hours. The Bandit recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) to make the journey with him, with the Bandit's [[CoolCar Pontiac Firebird Trans Am]] acting as a spotter for Snowman's rig. On the journey back, the Bandit picks up a RunawayBride named Carrie (Field), making him the target of the jilted groom's father, [[CorruptHick Sheriff Buford T. Justice]] (Gleason). {{Hilarity|Ensues}} and a chase across the South ensue.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Burt Reynolds' character is so widely associated with driving the fancy Trans Am featured in this film and the ones that followed that the early scenes in this first movie showing him actually ''driving a big rig'' feel downright strange. Also, while still hilariously over-the-top, this film is not as cartoonish as the inferior sequels that follows.

* CatchPhrase: "I'm in the MIDDLE of a HOT PURSUIT!" "Sum'bitch!" (Not to mention "Scum Bum!" - the infamous TV edit version of the latter.)

* CorruptHick: Buford T. Justice has no idea that The Bandit is hauling illegal beer, which would have justified the pursuit at least within his jurisdiction--if not for the fact that he leaves said jurisdiction almost immediately. His pursuit is entirely [[ItsPersonal for personal reasons]] and thus qualifies as being corrupt. Of course, the titular Bandit ''is'' breaking the law left and right, so neither party comes to the plot with clean hands.

** Sheriff Branford is set up as Buford's [[{{Foil}} polar opposite]] - laconic, deadpan, and much more professional than the hot-tempered and impulsive Texas lawman.

** A version of YourMom is a RunningGag with Buford and Junior--Buford insults Junior's mother, but she is of course Buford's wife. Then again, "There is no way - no WAY - that you sprang from my loins."

* ItWorksBetterWithBullets: Double Subverted. When the Bandit is about to leave the shipping yard, Buford blocks his path while holding his gun on him. The Bandit calls his marksmanship into question and tricks him into using up all of his ammo. However, Buford catches on and has Junior give him his gun. When the Bandit tries to escape, Buford tries to shoot him...and discovers Junior's gun is empty too. The Bandit makes a clean getaway.

* RuleOfCool: The [[Car-Fu ambush that Snowman's allies set]] for Sheriff Justice's army of cops.

* TookALevelInJerkass: The Bandit, largely due to his obsession with fame and money over everyone else's well-being - including Charlotte's. In fact, he still has his heart set on getting the job done after Charlotte conceives a baby [[ItMakesSenseInContext in a zoo area at night]].

The plot revolves around truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), who is offered $80,000 to bootleg four hundred cases of Coors beer[[note]]At the time the movie was made, it was illegal to ship Coors in bulk to the southeastern US because Coors hadn't gotten around to acquiring the relevant business licenses yet[[/note]] from Texarkana, UsefulNotes/{{Texas}} to the Southern Classic truck rodeo in Georgia within 28 hours. The Bandit recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) to make the journey with him, with the Bandit's [[CoolCar Pontiac Firebird Trans Am]] acting as a spotter for Snowman's rig. On the journey back, the Bandit picks up a RunawayBride named Carrie (Field), making him the target of the jilted groom's father, [[CorruptHick Sheriff Buford T. Justice]] (Gleason). {{Hilarity|Ensues}} and a chase across the South ensue.

The plot revolves around truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), who is offered $80,000 to bootleg four hundred cases of Coors beer[[note]]At the time the movie was made, it was illegal to ship Coors in bulk to the southeastern US because Coors hadn't gotten around to acquiring the relevant business licenses yet[[/note]] from [[EverythingIsBigInTexas Texarkana, Texas]] to the Southern Classic truck rodeo in Georgia within 28 hours. The Bandit recruits fellow trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed) to make the journey with him, with the Bandit's [[CoolCar Pontiac Firebird Trans Am]] acting as a spotter for Snowman's rig. On the journey back, the Bandit picks up a RunawayBride named Carrie (Field), making him the target of the jilted groom's father, [[CorruptHick Sheriff Buford T. Justice]] (Gleason). {{Hilarity|Ensues}} and a chase across the South ensue.