Smokey & The Bandit Returns To The Big Screen This Month

“Smokey and the Bandit” is approaching its 40^th anniversary and will be shown on the big screen in honor of the benchmark.

The showing will be a two-day event, happening Sunday, May 21^st and Wednesday, May 24^th at selected theaters throughout the country.

According to ew.com, the 1977 classic, starring Burt Reynolds and directed by Hal Needham, stemmed from the close relationship the two had.

“I lived with Burt for 10-12 years…. In the guest house,” the late Needham said in a 2011 interview.

“Because of my closeness to him…. When I wrote Smokey, I got him to read it,” he said. Reynolds then told Needham that if he could get the movie funded, Reynolds would star in the movie.

“That’s how it all began,” said Needham.

The showings are a part of a year-long “Big Screen Classics” series from Turner Classic Movies, and commentary from TCM host Ben Mankiewicz specialized for this event will be shown before and after the movie.

Tickets for the showings can be purchased at the Fathom Events website.

Check out the original movie trailer here.