BURT REYNOLDS - W.W. & The Dixie Dancekings (1975)

"W.W. & The Dixie Dancekings" is a 1975 American comedy film directed by John G. Avildsen, starring Burt Reynolds, and written by Thomas Rickman. The 20th Century Fox film features the acting debut of Jerry Reed.
Plot
In 1957, W.W. Bright (Burt Reynolds) is an easygoing crook who robs only SOS ("Southland Oil System") gas stations. He meets the Dixie Dancekings, a country music band, while fleeing from a policeman. Dixie (Conny Van Dyke), their singer, gives him an alibi. He claims to be in the music business, and ends up promoting the group. Wayne (Jerry Reed), the band's leader, does not trust him, but the others all have faith in him.
The SOS chairman sends for Bible-thumping ex-lawman Deacon John Wesley Gore (Art Carney) to catch W.W. Meanwhile, W.W. and the newly outfitted band go to see Country Bull Jenkins (Ned Beatty), a highly successful singer-songwriter. He is willing to write them a song for $1,000.
W.W. talks the Dancekings into a bank robbery (SOS has just expanded into the banking business) that does not work out quite as planned. When Gore broadcasts the description of the getaway car on a radio revival show, W.W. burns up his rare, distinctive "Golden Anniversary" Oldsmobile.
He is ready to separate from the Dancekings in order to shield them, but then he hears them rehearsing Wayne's new song. He persuades Country Bull to listen to it; the man is so impressed, he puts them on the Grand Ole Opry radio show. There, Gore catches W.W., using an exact replica of his burnt car as bait. Gore makes him drive to the police station, but just as they arrive, Gore realizes it is now Sunday, so rather than violate the Sabbath, he lets him go (with the car).
Cast
Burt Reynolds as W.W. Bright
Conny Van Dyke as Dixie
Jerry Reed as Wayne
Ned Beatty as Country Bull Jenkins
James Hampton as Junior
Don Williams as Leroy
Rick Hurst as Butterball
Mel Tillis as GOB
Furry Lewis as Uncle Furry
Art Carney as Deacon John Wesley Gore

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Jerry Reed loved this movie. I talked to him when he was filming The Waterboy at UCF. He told me Burt didn't like it. I loved this movie. If you look close you will see the man playing the police officer is Hal Needham who directed Smokey and the Bandit. Hal worked with us when we opened the Wild West Stunt Show at Universal Orlando. Right before we started the show he spilled a large cup of coffee on his white shirt. We had to run back and find him another shirt right before the show started

[@USMale-fy1xy]

I don't know why Burt would not like this movie. Hell it screams Burt Reynolds. Add an all star cast , what's not to like. I heard that while filming this Hal Needham came up with the idea of Smokey & the Bandit. Hal was living with Burt at the time and asked Burt to read his script of Smokey..... Hal was thinking of Jerry Reed as the Bandit & just wanted Burt's thought of the script. After reading it Burt told Hal that he would play the Bandit. Now that Hal had a "Star" offering to be in the movie, he called Jerry and said "Jerry you're now the 'Snowman ' " and $600,000 later came the greatest Car chase movie of all time. Since you said that you worked with Hal maybe you can tell me if that story is true. Either way I think it worked out pretty well for everybody

[@bigreed67]

Burt must have loved the red jacket he wore in this. I'm fairly sure Burt wears it in Smokey and the Bandit II and Hooper.

[@standarddef8769]

Burt rarely liked any of his movies

[@robertshawiv1513]

@@bigreed67Kinda reminds me of Smokey and The Bandit movie and The Honeymooners show. Instead of Jackie Gleason chasing Burt Reynolds, Art Carney is chasing him in this movie. Art Carney played with Jackson Gleason in The Honeymooners.

[@waylonvids]

@@robertshawiv1513 yeah The Honeymooners/Smokey/Hooper/Dukes Of Hazzard/Kevin Bacon kinda deal was not lost on me.

[@prepper1013]

Hell yeah.....What a great movie. Thank you for uploading this....RIP Bandit.... RIP Snowman......

[@thomast8539]

The female bank teller at the Golden Goose drive up window is none other than Polly Holliday, aka Flo from the TV show Alice.

[@bigreed67]

The drive-in where Burt drops off the waitress at the 6:30 mark is over near the old Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville at the corner of 2nd Ave. South and Bianca Page Dr. The building is still standing, though modifications have been made. Interestingly enough (given that the waitress asks Burt if he's gay while he's talking about Erroll Flynn in the previous scene) the building now houses a gay bar.

[@keithfaulk1354]

Burt Reynolds!!!!❤Rip you are one in a million!!

[@HoustonRebel]

Burt Reynolds had 2 different honeymooners chasing him within the space of 3 years, Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton.

[@badad0166]

Art Carney here and Jackie in the Smokey franchise, I guess Burt was a Honeymooners fan!

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

I always liked the Oldsmobile more than the 55 chevy. A beautiful automobile 😊

[@joejacobs3537]

I owned a 78 Olds and it was the best running car I ever owned....

[@waylonvids]

I cannot disagree.

[@joejacobs3537]

Burt was a great actor...I just don't understand why he didn't do more serious roles like Deliverance.

[@joejacobs3537]

@mikesmithitsm Yeah,but he was never taken too seriously...

[@We_Seek_Truth]

I never realized, but you are right. He could've been great in more serious roles.

[@joejacobs3537]

@We_Seek_Truth He played a psycho in a less well known movie called The Maddening...It was decently good...

[@donnienicholson6062]

Connie Van Dyke died today and I thought watching this movie again was a good idea.Watched it in Germany in 1977 0r 78 which is what the Army called recent movies.Great movie just for entertainment and comedy.And seeing Jerry Reed's first movie is a treat since he plays a good ol' boy.Always a great actor but he played some bad guys like Bama McCall and you'd wonder if that was the real him.

[@juliopineirojr.499]

Burt didn't like the movie, well a large portion of his career was spent making movies like this and he knew he was better than the material. Too bad..

[@carl77242]

A great movie thanks for sharing this

[@thescarletandgrey2505]

Saw this movie when it first came out. I was ten. I thought Conny Van Dyke was the prettiest actress I’d ever seen in a movie!

[@DForbes1973]

I love to see so much of "old" Nashville in the movie. And better still there's Cathy Baker and Roni Stoneman from "Hee Haw" in a couple of small roles. Love it!

[@HoustonRebel]

Even Tootsie was in there for a brief second. She played herself. She was the owner of the famous Tootsie's in Nashville, she's the one coming down the stairs with a tray while they were going upstairs to meet Country Bull.

[@We_Seek_Truth]

Was it one of those ladies from Hee-Haw who played the woman who rented them those rooms in that big house right before the bank robbery? She sang a couple of lines in her dialogue. @29:30 she sang... 🎵"Ain't nothin' fancy"🎶

[@DForbes1973]

@@We_Seek_Truth No, Roni Stoneman was in the beginning when Burt hides from the sheriff at the dance where he meets Dixie. Cathy Baker is a girl at the opening of the Bank and says, That's All, it's all Burt wanted Cathy to say. Burt was a big fane of "Hee Haw."

[@HoustonRebel]

@@DForbes1973 She also did the sign off at the end. Looking back now, she was cute. I mean 'child-like' cute. It's funny when you get older, things or people that you didn't really think anything of, or maybe you thought of as annoying in a way when you were a kid, suddenly you realize in your mid-life, "Aw she was cute". Lol. Your perspective changes.

[@iac4357]

I remember watching this film during Jr. High Lunchtime Movies, circa 1979. Thanks for uploading it !

[@darkrose4704]

Wow! I didn’t even know this movie existed! I thought I’d seen all these car chase 70s movies!

[@bigreed67]

The street preacher at the 35 minute mark is in front of the L & C Tower at the corner of Fourth Ave. North and Church Street in Downtown Nashville.

[@MrJaybody-vd6eb]

The horn on his car was 'killer'!

[@williammitchell4417]

The General's horn👍

[@leighanneboles4386]

It's " Dixie"

[@heywardsmith6164]

I always liked to think that later on, ole W.W. became the Bandit, they are one and the same.

[@williammitchell4417]

In between Burt was a Gator. Driving an LTD.

[@anthonybarnett6828]

Both fictational characters but WW would be 20 years older by 77 likely Buford's age rather than the Bandits.

[@Michael-vg3pi]

Loved his performances in Sharkey’s Machine & Boogie Nights

[@jasonlarson9272]

Had never seen this one before but ive been watching and rewatching some burt reynolds last few days and realized this is one i missed out on. I absolutely adore jerry reed both his music and acting so had to see this one. Sure glad i did i liked this show it was a farn good time and burts charisma and likeability were on full display jerry reed was perfect as always and i always liked art carney used to watch the honeymooners with my grandparents as a kid so its always good to see him in anything he did. Two thumbs up this is a funny show that is acceptable for anyone of any age group i recommend this highly just a good carefree vibe and fun ride to go on

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

Seen this movie several times since the 70s, I never knew Art was the man in black. Heck of an actor.

[@jasonlarson9272]

@@WillChandlerFLD120 that he is for sure. This is really fun, holds up to multiple viewings.

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

@@jasonlarson9272 I Didn't know Don Williams was in the movie, pretty cool.

[@jasonlarson9272]

@@WillChandlerFLD120 i have to admit i don't know much about him. I know he is a musician but I'm not really familiar with his songs i actually need to look more into that.

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

@@jasonlarson9272 you've heard his music just didn't know it

[@badad0166]

57:06 If the glove don't fit, you must acquit...

[@gregoryluc2876]

Dang !!!!! A favourite show from my youth!!! Pray for America as lunatics blather the loudest.

[@24lancelot85]

My favorite scene has always been 1:02:16-1:03:18. My dad's side of the family is from GA/FLA (I'm a Yankee) and when we meet, it's always like this. Not so much for my mom's side (but I love them just the same). The way these two men hug is like they've always been family even tho it's acting.

[@williammitchell4417]

Nothing wrong with being a Yankee. I'm in Wisconsin now but lived for 10 years in Okeechobee FL. I had a car of my dreams when I lived there. I can relate to what happened to that poor Olds.

[@donnienicholson6062]

Used to run a milk route in Griffin,Ga.Worked a Country store owned by a man named Fred who was as grouchy as the old guy who shot at them.Burt owned a nice house near his store. I never met him but enjoyed stories from lots of folks who met Burt and liked him.When he sold his house he dropped by on Saturday and told everybody he wouldn't be around anymore and thanked Fred for treating him like a regular customer and not making a big deal out of who he was. Fred was serious when he said....Fellow,I ain't never give a damn who you was.

[@davegoren9978]

Surprised that this movie never made it big. Great cast. James Hampton, who would be killed in a fire in "The Longest Yard", Mel Tillis, Art Carney, Don Williams, a great performer in his own right, and of course, Jerry Reed, and others. Even the first gas station attendant, Bill McCutheone, whose name I didn't know, but I've sure seen him in several movies. Great song, too, with the song "A Friend".

[@dannyjones3840]

Thanks for sharing this great old film!

[@Techn9cian123]

My mother’s aunt is the woman in the middle of the gospel radio band. Lorene Mann. Her brother Frank is my grandfather. He won a radio contest for singing Mule Skinner Blues male tenor and was invited to audition in Nashville. My grandmother said no, so he didn’t go.

[@We_Seek_Truth]

One thing that I really appreciate about this movie is that they all sang their own parts. They might've mimed themselves but those are still their own voices. This is one of my favorite classics. Dubya-Dubya is ALWAYS on the job!

[@lazynerdtv]

is this literally the whole movie lol

[@waylonvids]

Indeed.

[@We_Seek_Truth]

One thing I noticed at the end is that once the bells start ringing it's already the new hour. They don't ring before the new hour starts. No big deal but it was a minor error - at the climax of the movie!

[@tb8627]

Aw precious memories take me back to the good old days back in the early 60s WWE and the Dixie dance team I love them

[@We_Seek_Truth]

Awesome movie!! WWW and the Dancing Dixiecups!

[@spudhandle]

Art Carney (Ed Norton from the honeymooners) as the preacher made this film in my opinion.

[@WilliamHBonney-m3r]

Nashville doesn't look like that now.

[@luizrenato8423]

Este filme foi lançado em 21 de Maio de 1975 e transmitido pelo canal 7 da rede record de televisão em São Paulo no dia 9 de fevereiro de 1986 pela extinta sessão sempre aos domingos às 22h20 da noite

[@melissamell1785]

Eu nunca assisti esse filme e sou uma grande fã de Burt Reynolds. O filme é bom?

[@luizrenato8423]

@@melissamell1785 TV Record (Canal 7) 07h00 - Santa Missa na Igreja de São Dimas 07h45 - Canta Viola (SP) / Posso Crer no Amanhã (RJ) 09h00 - Desafio ao Galo (SP) / Comunidade na TV e Bike Show (RJ) 11h00 - Aventura aos Quatro Ventos 11h30 - Programa Silvio Santos: Domingo no Parque 13h30 - Programa Silvio Santos: Cinderela 14h15 - Programa Silvio Santos: Porta da Esperança 15h10 - Programa Silvio Santos: Namoro na TV 16h10 - Programa Silvio Santos: Jogo das Famílias 17h10 - Programa Silvio Santos: Ela Disse, Ele Disse 18h10 - Programa Silvio Santos: Quina de Ouro 18h20 - Programa Silvio Santos: Qual é a Música 20h00 - Filmando a Rodada 20h20 - Trovão Azul 21h20 - A Conquista do Oeste 22h20 - Sempre aos Domingos: "W.W. e Dixie" (SP) / Camisa 9 (RJ) 24h15 - Teverama: "Dias de Vingança" (SP) / Novos Tempos (RJ)

[@patriciatwomey9850]

1.02 Furry Lewis

[@edrichman5279]

I 1:14:29 on this show when I lived in Nashville in the 70's. I was a stand-in for Rick Hurst. 'Buttetball.' It was a great experience, and I have some pics and a few call sheets. Great Times.

[@williammitchell4417]

This inspired the General Lee's horn.👍 Rick Hurst who would play "Cletus" in the "Dukes of Hazzard"

[@toyman81]

He's a damn 10th grader!!

[@moonrunner-01]

Really appreciate you putting up these movies I really do, any chance you might be able to get Moonrunners?

[@waylonvids]

I do have it but KZbin will not allow it to be posted because of copyright claims.

[@waylonvids]

I have Moonrunners and I actually posted it, but it was pulled down by the copywright police of KZbin within a day or two the first time. The second time I posted it, 5mins later it was pulled, Meanwhile we haven't seen a legitimate VHS or DVD release of the film that I'm aware of. The DVD I had for a long time was one I burned from my cable company's DVR where I saved it when it was on TV around 2007 or so. The copy I have now is a bootleg but it was actually being sold at "Cooter's Garage" in Nashville.

[@moonrunner-01]

@@waylonvids Thank you for the reply I appreciate it, the one sold at Cooter's does it seem to be of a decent quality?

[@billclisham8668]

It was good to see parts of old Nashville.

[@ALMERICA.]

"Edsels the car of the future "

[@siemprepalante773]

Thanks for the upload. Such a big fan of Burt Reynolds. Never heard of this one. Looks like a blast.

[@derekheim8172]

Have to wonder if the car was scuttled because he knew a lot about scuttling in Korea. Sometimes it's good to know it can't be used against you.

[@jrussellcase]

Appreciate the post. This was actually the first thing I ever saw Art Carney in as a kid, before I discovered "The Honeymooners". One of my favorites.