On this day August 12 1983, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 premiered in theaters. The third installment in the high speed comedy franchise returned to the open road with Sheriff Buford T. Justice taking center stage. With Burt Reynolds limited to a brief cameo, the film shifted focus to Jackie Gleason’s character and aimed to carry on the series’ wild chase driven formula.
The plot followed Sheriff Justice as he attempts to retire, only to get pulled into one last outrageous bet by Big Enos and Little Enos. This time, the challenge involved transporting a stuffed fish across the country under strict time pressure. Jerry Reed returned as Cledus Snow, also known as the Snowman, and took on the role of the Bandit himself. The film was originally shot with Gleason playing a dual role as both Smokey and the Bandit using makeup and split screen effects, but negative test audience reactions led to major reshoots. The final version replaced that concept with a more traditional structure, though it retained much of the humor and chase scenes fans had come to expect.
Despite the familiar formula and returning faces, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 struggled at the box office and marked the end of the franchise’s theatrical run. Critics were generally unfavorable, but the film has since become a cult entry among fans of southern car chase comedies.
80s insight: By the time Part 3 arrived, audiences had begun to move on from car chase comedies, signaling the end of a once wildly popular genre.
The plot followed Sheriff Justice as he attempts to retire, only to get pulled into one last outrageous bet by Big Enos and Little Enos. This time, the challenge involved transporting a stuffed fish across the country under strict time pressure. Jerry Reed returned as Cledus Snow, also known as the Snowman, and took on the role of the Bandit himself. The film was originally shot with Gleason playing a dual role as both Smokey and the Bandit using makeup and split screen effects, but negative test audience reactions led to major reshoots. The final version replaced that concept with a more traditional structure, though it retained much of the humor and chase scenes fans had come to expect.
Despite the familiar formula and returning faces, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 struggled at the box office and marked the end of the franchise’s theatrical run. Critics were generally unfavorable, but the film has since become a cult entry among fans of southern car chase comedies.
80s insight: By the time Part 3 arrived, audiences had begun to move on from car chase comedies, signaling the end of a once wildly popular genre.
