Smokey and the Bandit 2/3 + trilogy set - Fabulous Films November 2016 pre-orders

[samdvd1]

second film out 14th November
http://www.fabulousfilms.com/products/383



Smokey and the Bandit II Blu-ray



third out 21st November
http://www.fabulousfilms.com/products/384



Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 Blu-ray

trilogy out 21st November:
http://www.fabulousfilms.com/products/382



Smokey and the Bandit: The Complete Collection Blu-ray





Smokey and the Bandit Blu-ray rel jun 20, 16

[Guydowood]

Nice. Bandit II is just as silly and fun as Bandit I. Bandit III on the other hand is a mess, but a guilty pleasure watchable mess. Both these films have been presented in HD on Starz streaming services and don't look horrible. I'll import these as I have a region free BD player. Thanks OP!

[indisposed]

Bandit 3 was the first one I saw, in fact, I remember going through the trilogy backwards. As a result, I have a lot of nostalgic fondness for it, even though it's a complete shambless, especially when you take into account that it was supposed to be "Smokey IS the Bandit" ; there's a lot of obvious post-production reshooting in that film.

Smokey and the Bandit II was the first sell-thru VHS I ever owned! I was about five years old at the time. Odd to see it with the "Rides Again" title, which was the original U.K theatrical title, I believe. I wonder why they changed the title at the time. Was Smokey and the Bandit not a hit over here, originally? I know it was massive in the U.S (the second biggest of 1977, after Star Wars).

[WilsonBros]

Cool! And they are releasing the second under the original UK title of Smokey & the Bandit Ride Again!!

Originally Posted by indisposed

I wonder why they changed the title at the time. Was Smokey and the Bandit not] hit over here, originally?

Smokey & the Bandit was a HUGE hit in the UK back in '77. It was common practice to re-title films over here at the time, mainly because of the UK having to wait up to 6 months for any tent pole release, allowing distributors to throw audiences off the scent should they bomb. Howard the Duck was one of the last big movies to have a title-change, owing to news of that particular "dreadful" film spreading like wildfire. Ergo, we had Howard: A New Breed of Hero.

Other times would be to iron out any confusing Americanisms in the title. But in some cases, it would be to make the title more commercially applealing, in the case of SITBII heightening the western motif (for genre fans) and softening the sequel aspect so as not to scare off those curious to see it who had only heard of the block-busting first film. Ride Again sounds more like a new adventure than direct continuation.

Funnily enough, I was only watching SATBIII again in HD last week. It's a treat to play "spot the stuntman padded up doubling as the Gleason-Bandit". Hint: it's any shot which isn't a close-up of Jerry Reed. Enjoy this inopportune behind the scenes photo of the Gleason-Bandit's stunt double:

Smokey+and+the+Bandit+Part+3+1983+car+chase.jpg

and one of the Gleason-Bandit:
Jackie+Gleason+in+Smokey+is+the+Bandit.jpg

[Supermartyoh]

It would be a wet dream if they found materials for the "Smokey is the Bandit III" alternate cut with Gleason's bandit.

[x5gb]

Hope Universal supply the unmolested master which is shown on Sky Movies Hd as there own US release of Beethoven has had DNR applied unlike the one shown on Sky which didn't. Otherwise, like with Beethoven I will be sticking to my cap of SatB.

[WilsonBros]

Originally Posted by Supermartyoh

It would be a wet dream if they found materials for the "Smokey is the Bandit III" alternate cut with Gleason's bandit.

Even those involved with the movie are doubtful that the materials even exist anymore. If I remember rightly, standard Universal practice was to store unused footage (deleted scenes, trims, b-roll, location film, etc) for a period of 15 years, and then they would be destroyed for financial/storage reasons. Jackie Gleason was VERY anal about keeping copies of his work (his vast archive turned up loads of previously lost Honeymooners episodes) but even his collection didn't contain a copy of Smokey IS the Bandit part 3.

I've got a copy of the script, and it plays out a Hell of a lot better than the final film. The twist at the end is interesting, the Gleason-Bandit has only one line but Reynold's distinctive laugh and the whole thing flows better.

But traces of it are so damned elusive. Even with all the evidence to the contrary (including newspaper clippings from local press where it was shooting) producer Mort Engelberg denies that Gleason was ever the Bandit. The guy even denied that the trailer for it on YouTube, when it's there for all to see - no wonder Burt Reynolds hated him so much that he refused to star in the 3rd if Engelberg was producing.

[Guydowood]

the best part of 3 was Burt's cameo at the end. I have to hand it to Jerry Reed to have made this, plus Gleason as well. I can imagine it was contractual to a certain extent or both just desperate for a big paycheck. The entire post on that film is horrid. Even the Gleason overdubs are goofy. I must say though the soundtrack gave some good ole boy tunes with Lee Greenwood's The Bandit Express and Jon Stewart's Ticket for the Wind.

[BerryTheMusicMan]

After the 1st one no thanks .

[WilsonBros]

Originally Posted by Guydowood

the best part of 3 was Burt's cameo at the end. I have to hand it to Jerry Reed to have made this, plus Gleason as well. I can imagine it was contractual to a certain extent or both just desperate for a big paycheck. The entire post on that film is horrid. Even the Gleason overdubs are goofy.

Gleason was paid very well, and getting him to be the Bandit was a way of giving him some variety. That it was filmed in Florida was a way of securing his involvement, as he had semi-retired there, and got to go home every night. They did everything they could to make it as easy on him as possible, and the money was just another perk. He even worked in a blatant plug for the famous June Taylor Dancers - which his sister-in-law started. With Reed, it was some very easy money, and he got to play at being Burt for a few weeks.

To keep the costs down (and that Gleason would have refused anyway, as his job was done) JG was not involved with the drastic changes made, and the dubbed lines crudely papering over the cracks in narrative were done by an impressionist - and not a very good one.

[indisposed]

Originally Posted by WilsonBros

They did everything they could to make it as easy on him as possible, and the money was just another perk. He even worked in a blatant plug for the famous June Taylor Dancers - which his sister-in-law started.

HA! I had no idea about that. I always thought that felt like an obscure reference.

"Hey, Daddy, they're taking your picture. Wet your lips.
"......... SHUT'UP SHIT!"

[samdaman94]

[Geoff D]

Damn, I had no idea that Fabulous had released the first film on Blu earlier this year!! Anyone got any specs, there's nada on the database here? There's nowt on DVDCompare either.

[samdvd1]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Damn, I had no idea that Fabulous had released the first film on Blu earlier this year!! Anyone got any specs, there's nada on the database here? There's nowt on DVDCompare either.

I need to add it to dvdcompare but IIRC it is a port of the Universal disc.

[Deciazulado]

Smokey and the Bandit II Blu-ray

Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 Blu-ray


Smokey and the Bandit: The Complete Collection Blu-ray

[indisposed]

That box set is a bit pricey. I'll bite once it hits about £20.

[samdvd1]

Smokey and the Bandit Rides Again (specs direct from check disc)

Theatrical Trailer (2:30)
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
1.85:1 AVC 1080p
No subtitles

On a quick flick through... meh... definite improvement on the DVD but certainly the same old story of a typical Universal dated master (a couple of scratches). Some stock footage scenes (the racing truck crash in opening credits) look closer to standard def. Some possible light DNR. Probably will fall into the 2.5-3/5 range (but again, this just on a very quick flick through).

[samdvd1]

Smokey and the Bandit 3 (specs direct from disc)

No extras
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
2.35:1 AVC 1080p
No subtitles

On a quick flick through, picture quality more of the same, perhaps slightly better than the second film. IIRC we only ever had non-anamorphic releases on DVD so still a huge improvement. Prob a 2.5-3/5 again.

[WilsonBros]

SATB3 looks very similar to the Sky broadcast, which isn't a bad thing. Better than it deserves, anyway. However, it's utterly mystifying that the menu of 3 has a montage of clips from II, accompanied by the song "Charlotte's Web".

Oh, and the copy of the second movie is called Smokey & the Bandit II as opposed Ride Again on the cover.

[samdvd1]

Originally Posted by WilsonBros

SATB3 looks very similar to the Sky broadcast, which isn't a bad thing. Better than it deserves, anyway.

True. I just left it running for a few minutes in the background and noticed a little edge enhancement too at the fight in front of the bar in the 41st minute too. It's far from a bad transfer, but also far from a great one.