Smokey and the Bandit/Trivia

• Playing Against Type: Jackie Gleason was a New York Jew. He plays an East Texas redneck in all three movies.
• The Red Stapler: After this movie came out, there was a six-month waiting list to purchase black Trans Ams.
• Throw It In: Jackie Gleason was given a lot of lee-way to ad lib. The scene where he meets Bandit at the choke'n'puke without knowing it was his idea.
• Unintentional Period Piece: That's a big 10-4.
• What Could Have Been: The infamous "Smokey IS the Bandit" story. Supposedly, Jackie Gleason was going to play a dual role. The most readily available proof that the film was originally shot this way is a trailer in which Gleason as Justice addresses the audience directly and declares that he has literally stepped into the Bandit's shoes in the new film.