Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

Michael Kane (story)
Jerry Belson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

It's another race against time for Burt, Sally and Jackie!

Plot:

The Bandit goes on another cross-country run, transporting an elephant from Florida to Texas. And, once again, Sheriff Buford T. Justice is on his tail.

Plot Keywords:

Elephant | Second Part | Blockbuster | Sequel | Road

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	'Bandit' / Bo Darville
Jackie Gleason	...	Sheriff Buford T. Justice / Gaylord Justice / Reginald Van Justice
Jerry Reed	...	Cledus Snow / 'Snowman'
Dom DeLuise	...	Doc
Sally Field	...	Carrie / 'Frog'
Paul Williams	...	Little Enos Burdette
Pat McCormick	...	Big Enos Burdette
David Huddleston	...	John Coen
Mike Henry	...	Junior Justice
John Anderson	...	Governor
Brenda Lee	...	Nice Lady
Phil Balsley	...	Himself (as Statler Brothers)
Lew DeWitt	...	Himself (as Statler Brothers)
Don Reid	...	Himself (as Statler Brothers)
Harold Reid	...	Himself (as Statler Brothers)

Also Known As:

Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again (UK)

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M (Cable TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (1987) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlanta Motor Speedway - 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, Georgia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The Everglade Gas Station Attendant (Dudley Remus) played the guitar part of the Deuling Banjos' in the movie Deliverance (1972).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As the Bendit prepares to leave after setting up the diversion with Terry Bradshaw, you can see two crew members and a piece of equipment reflected in the driver side door. Look for a man wearing a blue wind breaker jacket and sunglasses to be reflected in the car.

Quotes:

Junior: You know, Daddy, I don't think the Bandit's really bad. I think the trouble is he just got in with real bad company.
Buford T. Justice: Bad company? Let me tell ya somethin', Junior. When you raid a cathouse, you take the piano player too.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Rose-Marie (1936)

Soundtrack:

Pecos Promenade

It needed Olivier, it Got Kramden

OK, I'm kidding. Hey, listen, this film is no strain to the synapses. It's another Hal Needham carwreck fest wrapped up in a really dumb plot that at times tries too hard. However, I find an odd entertainment value in this genus of southern cheese. An aging professional highway show-off, an even more annuated hick sheriff in hot pursuit, an oddly swift and resilient Trans Am, a very talented yet dumbed down leggy sidekick, a country singer turned epitomal southern truck driver, Dom Deluise, and an elephant. Add plenty of incompetent law enforcement officers and marlboro reds and you have the makings of one fine redneck cross-country chase movie. I don't know why but I actually enjoyed this. It's really about the stunts I think and when it comes to Hal Needham you never can have too many car crashes. In the spirit of Cannonball Run and the Dukes of Hazzard there is an odd appeal in watching good IL boys tear up backroads to the tune of Hank Williams and police sirens. And of course there's always a way out leaving a pile of police cruisers in the dust behind. It's an action flick and as such you shouldn't expect it to be anything other than what it is; it's just fun to watch. You may notice it does have some very talented actors so it begs the "what were you thinking doing this film?" question. Perhaps. But on face value it's all about the car chase. And who doesn't love a good car chase?