
Rich wheeler-dealers Big Enos Burdette (Pat McCormick) and his son Little Enos (Paul Williams) bet Bandit $80,000 that he can't haul 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas, to a big celebration in Georgia in just 28 hours. In his signature role, Reynolds stars as Bo “Bandit” Danville, a cocky driving ace who isn't afraid to bend or break the law.


Judged on its own merits, the movie may be dated but boasts a charming, capable cast that is clearly having a ball playing such colorful characters, plus plenty of zippy chases, zany crashes and cheeky redneck humor. Primarily a showcase for Reynolds' considerable charisma and trademark '70s 'stache as well as director/co-writer Hal Needham's stuntman experience, “Smokey and the Bandit” spawned a series of copycats and sequels with ever diminishing returns.
