Smokey is the Bandit (lost footage from original version of 'Smokey and the Bandit Part 3'; 1983): Difference between revisions

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[[File:Smokey4.jpg|thumb|200px|Rare photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume.]]
{{InfoboxLost
Around 1983, Universal Pictures ordered a third installment in the popular Smokey and the Bandit car chase franchise. However, two of the principal stars of the film, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field declined to participate due to a contract dispute. Although co-star Jackie Gleason was still committed to the project, so the screenwriters tried a new approach, they would feature Gleason in a dual role, not only reprising his role of the loud, dimwitted Sherriff Buford T. Justice, but also taking on Reynolds role of the Bandit as well. So, shooting commenced under the title '''''Smokey is the Bandit Part 3'''''. Except that after the film was completed with this premise and shown to test audiences, it was reported that they were confused by the concept. So additional footage was shot with Jerry Reed's character Cledus filling in as the new Bandit, with Reynolds returning for a short cameo at the end.
|title=<center>Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (original Jackie Gleason footage)</center>
|image=SmokeyIsTheBandit-GleasonBandit.jpg
|imagecaption=A rare photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
'''''Smokey and the Bandit Part 3''''', originally known as '''''Smokey IS the Bandit Part 3''''', is the third installment in the popular ''Smokey and the Bandit'' car chase franchise released in 1983. Universal Pictures ordered a third installment, but two of the stars of the film, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, declined to participate due to a contract dispute. Jackie Gleason, who normally played Sheriff Buford T. Justice, was tasked with taking on Reynolds role of the Bandit as well.  


The film's original premise circulated for years as part of Hollywood lore and was believed by many to simply be a myth. However, in 2010 a teaser trailer surfaced on YouTube for the original premise with the original title. Afterwards, a photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume found its way online. As of yet, the original alternate footage has never been seen by the public.
When the film was shown to test audiences, it was reported that they were confused by the concept, so some additional footage was shot with Jerry Reed's character Cledus filling in as the new Bandit.


An online petition has been set-up to try and convince Universal Pictures to release the original version of the film.
The film's original premise circulated for years as part of Hollywood lore and was believed by many to simply be a myth.


<div align=center><videoflash>QOUDdJRvn2Q|320|240</videoflash></div>
==Evidence of the Production==
Rare teaser trailer for the film's original concept.
===Articles and Teaser Trailer===
Articles about the film's production were published during the time of filming <ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0GwvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CNsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2940,6316407&dq=smokey-is-the-bandit&hl=en - May 29th, 1983 Beaver County Times.  May 29th, 1983</ref>.  It was also rumored that a print of the film existed with the Gleason estate<ref>https://technicolordreams70.wordpress.com/tag/smokey-is-the-bandit/ - "Cut", Technicolor Dreams</ref>.  It is also clear that, in the released version of the film, the stunt driver double for Jerry Reed is a heavy-set man (Gleason's double) in contrast to Reed's slim build.
 
In 2010, a teaser trailer surfaced on YouTube for the original premise with the original title. Afterward, a photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume found its way online. To date, the teaser trailer is the only film evidence of the original version of the film.  None of the original alternate footage (besides the brief clips of the heavy set stunt driver) has been released officially or unofficially.
 
An online petition<ref>[http://www.petitiononline.com/smokey3/petition.html Online petition to have the original version of the film released.] Retrieved 28 Jan '13.</ref> was set-up to try and convince Universal Pictures to release the original version of the film.
 
[[File:SmokeyandtheBanditPart3-carchase-stuntman.jpg|thumb|Close up of scene from ''Smokey and the Bandit Part 3'' featuring a stunt man in Jackie Gleeson's Bandit costume. Stunt scenes in the released cut kept the original shots of Gleeson's stunt double.]]
 
===The Screenplay===
On May 3, 2016, IMDB user "MovieMan-88" announced that he possessed a copy of the script that he was willing to share via PM.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170212003849/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086325/board/flat/256785460 The message board post where the script was accessible from.] Archived 11 Feb '17</ref> The screenplay was titled ''Smokey Is The Bandit'' (no ''part 3'' as with the teaser trailer) and was listed as a "Final Draft Screenplay" written by Stuart Birnbaum and David Dashey, complete with production code.  It was 93 pages (rule of thumb for the film is 1 page equals 1 minute of screen time), although the released film was only 85 minutes.   
 
The plotline is basically identical to the final version released to theaters, except of course for the character of Bo Darville who was now played by Jackie Gleason as well, which no one but Justice himself seems to notice. Only now, Darville is mute for most of the film, only occasionally imitating Reynolds' signature laugh, except at the film's conclusion, where he imitates Clark Gable's famous line as Rhett Butler from the classic film ''Gone with the Wind'', ''"Frankly, Dusty, I don't give a damn."''.  The other main difference in the script is the character of Dusty Trails is a radio D.J. instead of working at a car dealership (like in the released film).
 
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =1
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =Tu4Ht2opvqY
  |description1 =Rare teaser trailer for the film's original concept
}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
SmokeyIsTheBandit-ScreenplayCoverPhoto.jpg.jpg|Photo scan of the "Final Draft" screenplay cover.  Originally at auction in 2019.<ref>https://www.icollector.com/Smokey-and-the-Bandit-Part-3-working-title-Smokey-is-the-Bandit_i35088529 Smokey Is The Bandit script auction</ref>
SmokeIsTheBandit-Screenplay-scan-Page1.jpg|A photo scan of page 1 of the "Final Draft".<ref>https://www.icollector.com/Smokey-and-the-Bandit-Part-3-working-title-Smokey-is-the-Bandit_i35088529 Smokey Is The Bandit script auction</ref>
SmokeyIsTheBandit-ScreenplayCover.jpg|A screenshot of the cover of the screenplay "Smokey Is The Bandit"
SmokeyIsTheBandit-ScreenplayPage28.jpg|"Smokey Is The Bandit" Screenplay Page 28
SmokeyIsTheBandit-ScreenplayPage29.jpg|"Smokey Is The Bandit" Screenplay Page 29
SmokeyIsTheBandit-ScreenplayPage92.jpg|The final scene of the film
 
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 23:25, 23 November 2021

SmokeyIsTheBandit-GleasonBandit.jpg

A rare photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume.

Status: Lost

Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, originally known as Smokey IS the Bandit Part 3, is the third installment in the popular Smokey and the Bandit car chase franchise released in 1983. Universal Pictures ordered a third installment, but two of the stars of the film, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, declined to participate due to a contract dispute. Jackie Gleason, who normally played Sheriff Buford T. Justice, was tasked with taking on Reynolds role of the Bandit as well.

When the film was shown to test audiences, it was reported that they were confused by the concept, so some additional footage was shot with Jerry Reed's character Cledus filling in as the new Bandit.

The film's original premise circulated for years as part of Hollywood lore and was believed by many to simply be a myth.

Evidence of the Production

Articles and Teaser Trailer

Articles about the film's production were published during the time of filming [1]. It was also rumored that a print of the film existed with the Gleason estate[2]. It is also clear that, in the released version of the film, the stunt driver double for Jerry Reed is a heavy-set man (Gleason's double) in contrast to Reed's slim build.

In 2010, a teaser trailer surfaced on YouTube for the original premise with the original title. Afterward, a photo of Gleason in the Bandit costume found its way online. To date, the teaser trailer is the only film evidence of the original version of the film. None of the original alternate footage (besides the brief clips of the heavy set stunt driver) has been released officially or unofficially.

An online petition[3] was set-up to try and convince Universal Pictures to release the original version of the film.

Close up of scene from Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 featuring a stunt man in Jackie Gleeson's Bandit costume. Stunt scenes in the released cut kept the original shots of Gleeson's stunt double.

The Screenplay

On May 3, 2016, IMDB user "MovieMan-88" announced that he possessed a copy of the script that he was willing to share via PM.[4] The screenplay was titled Smokey Is The Bandit (no part 3 as with the teaser trailer) and was listed as a "Final Draft Screenplay" written by Stuart Birnbaum and David Dashey, complete with production code. It was 93 pages (rule of thumb for the film is 1 page equals 1 minute of screen time), although the released film was only 85 minutes.

The plotline is basically identical to the final version released to theaters, except of course for the character of Bo Darville who was now played by Jackie Gleason as well, which no one but Justice himself seems to notice. Only now, Darville is mute for most of the film, only occasionally imitating Reynolds' signature laugh, except at the film's conclusion, where he imitates Clark Gable's famous line as Rhett Butler from the classic film Gone with the Wind, "Frankly, Dusty, I don't give a damn.". The other main difference in the script is the character of Dusty Trails is a radio D.J. instead of working at a car dealership (like in the released film).

Gallery

Rare teaser trailer for the film's original concept

References