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[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Like A Dog With A Bone Part II


Things go well; arrive at pick-up point early, load up - ready to race.



Things run afoul when Bo saves a runaway bride (in full dress) Carrie (Sally Field) who's fleeing a passionless (borderline retarded) marriage with the son of a Texas Sheriff, Junior Justice (Mike Henry).

Yes his first name is "Junior", which would make him Junior Justice, Jr., just go with it.

Little did he know, Bandit in helping, has greatly insulted the honor of the man's father - Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason).



This will not stand, not humiliated.

This man will go down, jurisdictions be damned!

Justice and son give chase in their police cruiser and soon have valid reasons to apprehend; vehicular violations.

Now more than a race; our heroes are helped along the way by various fans and fellow truckers via the CB radio network. Lots of colorful peripheral characters. This was one of the movies that made CBs popular. Another is "Convoy" (1978; special edition DVD and BD released in 2015). CB = Citizen's Band (civilian radio for communication).

They get so close when the big guns are called; roadblocks, police helicopter and a serious number of cruisers all hunting Bandit and Snowman. Four miles to go, might as well be a million. It is Cledus who decides, it's worth the trouble and charges the blockade; because of insurmountable odds - Bo had given up.

A path is made, Bandit follows; in the chase, other cop cars crash into each other, creating a new barricade, keeping all the other police cruisers out. Our gang reach their destination with ten minutes to spare, the speedway race, still on going - no winner yet. The fuzz is coming in less than a minute.

Not wanting to be caught, Bo, Carrie and Snowman take an additional challenge, double-or-nothing; Little Enos wants clam chowder from Boston - in less than eighteen hours. They agree, the four (hey, Fred counts) escape in Big Enos' Cadillac, ditching the Trans Am and big rig.



All this time, Justice did not know the identity of the trucker or Bandit.

As a sign of respect for all the trouble caused, he reveals himself to the rage filled law man as he drives by Justice's wrecked car; 'catch me if you can.'

A new chase.... the end.

It's a quick ninety-six minutes flick. And I'm not doing... justice to all the various moments, like the diner scene, pissed off bikers, unfinished suspension bridge and girls in hot pants among others.



You have good plot outline, but more happens. Funs stuff and so many memorable one liners. Most of Gleason's dialog was improvised.

Case you're curious, Snowman drove a 1974 Kenworth W900.

- - -

So - why called "Smokey"?

This is because of State Patrol trooper's hats; they look like the hat worn by "Smokey Bear" (the U.S. Forest Service mascot). Some other vintage slang for law enforcement is "Local Yokel" and "City Kitty".

'City Kitty And The Bandit' doesn't have the same ring, though that sounds like a cartoon for kids.

- - -

Lets do this chronologically, but deal with the movies first.

As I wrote, this was a huge hit and Hollywood doesn't like leaving money at the table. So two sequels were made.

"Smokey And The Bandit II" (1980). And "Smokey And The Bandit Part 3" (1983). The last one is considered the worst. But there is an urban legend attached; an alternate cut...

Snowman took over the Bandit role which is the theatrical release. But early on there were talks that none other than Jackie Gleason would play two roles, Bandit and Sheriff Justice, a meta performance. It is said, it was filmed; test audiences were so confused, so all the Buford-Bandit scenes were reshot with Snowman. Before the alleged reshoot, Jerry Reed wasn't cast. In fact the teaser trailer didn't list him.

Some claim to have seen production photos of Gleason in the Bandit outfit.

Real? An early title - "Smokey Is The Bandit: Part 3".

Don't know. Man, that would be strange to see. What actually keeps this Hollywood legend alive is the teaser with Justice addressing the audience...

I finally figured out a way to trap him. I have put myself in his place. Also his boots and his shirt and his hat and his coat. And his mustache. In short, I have succeeding in becoming my own worst enemy - The Bandit. So if you think the first two go arounds was something, you just watch my smoke this time.

Only "II" is on DVD separately; I own it, but I'm missing the insert. The third has yet to be released on its own.



A trilogy was released on DVD on January 20th, 2004, "Smokey And The Bandit: Pursuit Pack" for $19.98. All of the films presented as non-anamorphics with no extras, minus their trailers; three movies on two discs, no slipcase.

Wait, I take that back. The "Pursuit Pack" also has first film in mono too.

This was a cheap cash grab, folks were disappointed.

But as I wrote, Hollywood doesn't like leaving money at the table - so a second collection was released, six years later.

October 12th, 2010, streeted "Smokey And The Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection" for $26.98. A four disc set. This can be found now for less than ten bucks. It came with an insert, no slipcase.



Now, you are asking - but you said there was three movies? Yup, there were - and in 1994 part of a syndicated movie series, "Action Pack" (in Los Angeles, aired on KTLA, channel five); there were four TV movies. Don't get excited. Far lower budget with a discount Reynolds in (80s teenage heartthrob) Brian Bloom as the Bandit:

"Bandit Goes Country" (January 30th, 1994), "Bandit Bandit" (March 13th, 1994), "Beauty And The Bandit" (April 3rd, 1994) and "Bandit's Silver Angel" (April 10th, 1994).

"Action Pack" had a rotations of movies; "Hercules" (before it became a series), "TekWar" (based on William Shatner's novels), "Midnight Run" (based on the 1988 feature), "Vanishing Son" and "Bandit".

The first one was directed by Needham and co-starred Elizabeth Berkley as Beth. These TV movies were loosely based on the feature. Here Bandit is helped by the governor's son Lynn (Brian Krause). None of the other original characters are portrayed or actors appear.

The car now is a Dodge Stealth.

I remember when these first aired - mediocre. Anyhow, the theatrical movies - the first two are presented in anamorphic widescreen (same individual release of "II"). Part 3 is letterbox. And all the TV movies are full screen as they were when they aired. This collection had no extras, minus the trailers from the theatricals.

- - -

Various special editions of the first movie.



The first special edition was DVD only on May 30th, 2006 for $19.98. It came with a foil slipcover that mirrored the wraparound. It opens up (like a book) with film trivia inside.

This is when the movie got a new audio remix and the various annoyances it brought. There is no mono track for the film.

As mentioned earlier, Universal Studios re-released various catalog titles, now with a foil slipcover celebrating their 100th Anniversary. These things opened up like a book with a time line of popular Universal titles in that decade.



The film, as that special edition was re-released June 5, 2012 on DVD ($14.98) and BD for $19.98 (also with slipcover).

Pretty much all of the DVDs were repackaged with these new slipcovers, no new mastering or bonuses.

Now including digital copy inserts.

I can name a few; "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957), "Airport" (1970), "Despicable Me" (2010), "Jaws" (1975), "The Birds" (1963), "The Blues Brothers" (1980), "Imitation Of Life" (1934/1959; both original and remake set), "Babe" (1995), "Earthquake" (1974), "The Bourne Identity" (2002), "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004) and "The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007).



Then re-re-released on January 7th, 2014; the same prices on DVD an BD as the 2012 editions. This is the exact same version, the only difference is a new (basic) slipcase that reads "1970s Best Of The Decade". There were several other 1970s movies which got this slip.

Before you ask - don't know if the '14 titles came with digital copies; never bought them.

There you go.

Come back on July 6th, 2017 for another slice of store swag. July's theme is "Master". It's not like you have something better to do. Don't give me that look. C'mon, the internet was made for porn and goofing off. And I AM the latter. And I think I do a mostly competent job.

Take that, guidance counselor!

Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth.