What would the cancel generation think of Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the bandit?

[311splawndude]

I wish someone would do a remake of blazing saddles and go next level with it. does anyone remember Gleason playing a sheriff in a Bond movie or was it someone else?

I couldn't find anything like that but when doing a quick Wiki search I did run across this - which I thought was interesting...


"Eight years passed before Gleason had another hit film. This role was the cantankerous and cursing Texas sheriff Buford T. Justice in the films Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). He co-starred with Burt Reynolds as the Bandit, Sally Field as Carrie (the Bandit's love interest), and Jerry Reed as Cledus "Snowman" Snow, the Bandit's truck-driving partner. Former NFL linebacker Mike Henry played his dimwitted son, Junior Justice. Gleason's gruff and frustrated demeanor and lines such as "I'm gonna barbecue yo' ass in molasses!" made the first Bandit movie a hit.

Years later, when interviewed by Larry King, Reynolds said he agreed to do the film only if the studio hired Jackie Gleason to play the part of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (the name of a real Florida highway patrolman, who knew Reynolds' father). Reynolds said that director Hal Needham gave Gleason free rein to ad-lib a great deal of his dialog and make suggestions for the film; the scene at the "Choke and Puke" was Gleason's idea. Reynolds and Needham knew Gleason's comic talent would help make the film a success, and Gleason's characterization of Sheriff Justice strengthened the film's appeal to blue-collar audiences."

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Do people realize that Archie Bunker wasn't REALLY a racist? Do people know that people play parts in a movie, sometimes in a mocking manner?

Archie Bunker sure as heck WAS a racist. But Caroll O'Connor - who played the part of Archie - wasn't.
O'Connor was a cultured and intelligent guy who played stages in Europe and actually taught English for a while.

Interestingly, the original scripted name of the Archie Bunker character was Archie Justice.

Concerning Archie's racism: there were plenty of older guys around back then who were just like that.
What seems like a caricature by today's standards wasn't too unusual at the time. Extreme, yes. Rare, no.

Not all middle-aged working-class white guys were like that, of course, especially in the Northeast.
But there was no shortage of 'em, either.

O'Connor did good work playing a Southern sheriff in the TV series In The Heat Of The Night.
In the 60s, he'd been in the running to play the Skipper on Gilligan's Island.

 

[cragginshred77]

Archie Bunker sure as heck WAS a racist. But Caroll O'Connor - who played the part of Archie - wasn't.
O'Connor was a cultured and intelligent guy who played stages in Europe and actually taught English for a while.

Interestingly, the original scripted name of the Archie Bunker character was Archie Justice.

Concerning Archie's racism: there were plenty of older guys around back then who were just like that.
What seems like a caricature by today's standards wasn't too unusual at the time. Extreme, yes. Rare, no.

Not all middle-aged working-class white guys were like that, of course, especially in the Northeast.
But there was no shortage of 'em, either.

O'Connor did good work playing a Southern sheriff in the TV series In The Heat Of The Night.
In the 60s, he'd been in the running to play the Skipper on Gilligan's Island.

Want to see him in an absolute classic movie check this out. Sadly, all the old guys are gone now. Classic Carroll, Minnie Driver, David Duchovny. Great story and classic crooner guys and a tear jerker!

 

[Ben Waylin]

I wish someone would do a remake of blazing saddles and go next level with it. does anyone remember Gleason playing a sheriff in a Bond movie or was it someone else?

Clifton James played J.W. Pepper

 

[Monkey Man]

does anyone remember Gleason playing a sheriff in a Bond movie or was it someone else?

I don't think he did, but of course he was Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit so maybe that's why you had that feeling?

 

[Monkey Man]

Damnit I didn't realise there was another page in the thread.

Thanks for answering Brother 3.

 

[311splawndude]

Damnit I didn't realise there was another page in the thread.

Thanks for answering Brother 3.

It was PLX who answered the call.

I just happen to find some more info on Gleason.

 

[Monkey Man]

You're too-modest brother.

The fact that you couldn't find anything more-or-less proves he didn't play a role in a Bond film 'cause if he had, it would've been Gleasonly-obvious on the Wiki page.

 

[Ben Waylin]

It was PLX who answered the call.

I'm here to help.

 

[dcburn]

Archie Bunker sure as heck WAS a racist. But Caroll O'Connor - who played the part of Archie - wasn't.
O'Connor was a cultured and intelligent guy who played stages in Europe and actually taught English for a while.

Actually, I don't believe this is true.
He had issues with his costar on "In The Heat of the Night" if I recall...

I didn't Google beforehand, so I may be off, but really don't think I am.