Smokey and the Bandit

Forty years ago saw the release of one of the most iconic films in American cinema. No, not Star Wars — Hal Needham's Smokey and the Bandit. Burt Reynolds stars as the hot-shot driver known, after his CB handle, as "the Bandit," who runs interference for his trucker pal Snowman (country music legend Jerry Reed). Snowman is hauling a trailer full of illicit beer across the Southeast to win a bet with Big Enos and Little Enos (Pat McCormick and Paul Williams, respectively). It'd be a cake-walk for our heroes, except irascible county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) refuses to give up his pursuit of "that sumbitch" Bandit. Turner Classic Movies (yes, really) presents two special 40th anniversary screenings of Smokey and the Bandit this week. You can see it locally at 2 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday (May 21 and 24) at the Marcus Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine (5320 South Lindbergh Boulevard; www.fathomevents.com). Tickets are $12.50.