Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)

My Review

Jackie Gleason dominated the motion picture screen as his reprised his role of Sheriff Buford T. Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3.” With a lackluster screenplay by Stuart Birnbaum and poor directing by Dick Lowry (“Kenny Rogers as The Gambler” 1980), and without stars Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, this sequel to the 1977 and 1980 films ran out of gas before it started. It was a huge flop at the box office for Universal Pictures.

Gleason did have his old “charm” as Sheriff Justice, and he was still chasing “The Bandit,” who this time is Jerry Reed in his old part as Cledus “Snowman” Snow. Towards the end of the picture, Reynolds appears as Bo “Bandit” Darville in a cameo, chatting with Buford.

Other returnees include Mike Henry as the dim-witted Junior Justice, and Pat McCormick and Paul Williams as the father-son Burdettes in some of the film’s most forgettable scenes. Supporting cast members include Colleen Camp, Faith Minton, Ray Bouchard, Ava Cadell, Connie Brighton, Dick Lowry, Candice Collins, David S. Cass, Raymond Forchion, Jackie Davis, and Cathy Cahill as Mother. It was filmed in Florida, Georgia, and Calilfornia.