The shame is that Reynolds really was very good with a presence that doesn’t come along very often. When he was on he could be remarkably charming and funny – the blue collar Cary Grant line is dead-on. Also, he was quite good in more serious parts like Robert Aldrich’s Hustle and of course, Deliverance.

Also, I wouldn’t lump the first Smokey & The Bandit in with its sequels or the Cannonball Run movies. It’s dopey, sure, but it’s actually very funny (largely because of Gleason).

Good article, but this statement seems off. I think Jordan is assuming that it’s easy to know what is the courageous thing to do in one’s career. Without having any first hand experience with Hollywood, I suspect it’s a pretty tough place to keep your feet on the ground. That combined with a lot of booze, a lot of money, and the rewards you get for the quick gimmick… poor Burt.

Jordan has held his own youth up for blinding scrutiny. I think he might enjoy doing the same to other people. Seems like a pretty honest guy. Not nasty. Just very, very tough.