W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

I saw this movie when it first came out and enjoyed it from the opening scene. The sounds are so grounded in country it is had to explain to someone who has never lived in the south. Regardless, this was a production worth the money and found no reason why it did not take off at the box office. Jerry Reed is great, Don Williams is superb and Connie Van Dyke did the best she could do and for me that was enough. Of course I have always liked Richard Hurst especially as the father to Michael J. fox in the Werewolf movies he made. Art Carney, what can you say about this man, always puts his soul into a performance and he surely did that in this one. I have attempted many times to purchase a copy of it and could not locate it so if any one may know where I might buy a DVD of this great movie please let me know.

It's a Burt Reynolds showcase. He plays the charming rogue to the hilt, a perpetual grin on that care-free mug. As the rootless WW, he tools around the South in a flashy car, sticking up gas stations in, yes, friendly fashion. However, it's really one of those big corporations, viz. SOS, that he picks on since he's got a grudge against their heartless ways. But then he hooks up with a promising hillbilly band The Dixie Dancekings, promoting their career in his inimitable way. That is, when he's not sticking up SOS banks, again,in friendly fashion. But the big boys in suits don't take kindly to his spree. So they sic a Bible spouting gumshoe (Carney) on his trail, a Deacon in black who looks like he's practicing for the Evil Dead.

I expect a movie like this, filled with Southern stereotypes plus Reynolds smashing his share of hot cars, is mainly a matter of taste. But I found the general goofiness hard to resist. It's a perfect role for Reynold's brand of leering charm. At the same time, it's an uptight Art Carney, a million miles from his good-natured dimwit Ed Norton of the Honeymooners. Of course, there's the usual amount of car bashing and Keystone Cop car chases for a Reynolds movie. Plus, I really like the slow, engaging way WW takes over the fortunes of the Dixie Dancekings. You just know they'll make it big, but will the non-musical WW with the Deacon on his trail.

All in all, the movie's an entertaining 90-minutes of Reynolds nonsense, despite my better judgment.

In some ways, this is two different movies. Burt and Jerry getting back to their roots with Connie and the girls putting together the act and doing a bucolic type of road movie. The first part of the movie works well because of their chemistry with each other & with Conny Van Dyke.

Then Art Carney takes over the film, the pace quickens, wry humor and conflict push the down-home charm to the back burner. That's okay because Carney is on his game and delivers a terrific performance as a self-righteous and determined lawman. And, Burt seems to turn his energy up two notches when Carney shares the screen with him.

And, without giving anything up, they saved the best for last. The ending of this one is an all-time classic.

Burt hit it big in the 70's, but some of his best stuff is now obscure. This film was poorly based on a book, and that's cost it in terms of appreciation, but after all these years it stands up well on its own. Sure, there are silly plot holes, but it's a lighthearted comedy that features some great country and bluegrass, and a rockin' Jerry Reed belting out a respectable Johnny B. Goode, too! But particularly savor the fifteen minutes or so given to Memphis blues legend Furry Lewis. That man played a wicked slide guitar, and I'm not sure how much footage actually exists besides this film.

Art Carney was perfect as the preacher with a gun and plenty of fire and brimstone who loved tracking down the occasional sinner/thief. Yes, there's great comedy here too, but the music is what makes the film.

This film was replayed a lot on 70's TV, that's where I learned to love it. And after having watched it last night (on a poor TV-formatted copy which was, I believe, otherwise unedited), I believe it's gotten better with age. Don Williams showed that he was a pretty darned good actor in addition to being a successful country crooner of the era. Mel Tillis was great as a goofy gas station attendant. But savor Furry Lewis. How wonderful that we got to see this wonderful legend in good health making that slide guitar scream on his front porch.

This one is definitely my favorite Burt Reynolds film. Here Burt plays W.W. one charming crook who's made it his life's work to take from a certain chain of gas stations wherever and whenever he can. But just because Reynolds has a grudge against the company no reason to take it out on the poor filling station attendants. Leaving them a little something extra guarantees them giving police descriptions of a kaleidoscopic variety.

The Dance Kings are country dance band looking for the big break and they're headed by Jerry Reed. Conny Van Dyke is their singer named Dixie. Time and circumstance throw Reynolds and the band together and with his natural charm and gift of gab Burt guarantees to make them a success and some more filling station holdups finance their future.

But the company ain't taking this lying down. The head of the company is Sherman G. Lloyd one harder than hardshell Baptist. He hires his own investigator, former southern sheriff now gospel preacher Art Carney and he's a dedicated man of the law and the Lord always in reverse order. In fact his own strict moral code trips him up in the end in a really grand climax.

W.W. And The Dixie Dancekings is a film that I can't imagine anyone else making but Burt Reynolds. It's maybe the drollest performance he ever put on the big screen.

Art Carney for those who see him as lovable dumb Ed Norton are in for quite a revelation. Carney is so different, but so good as Deacon John S. Gore who never let it be said took his religious beliefs nightly. He gets himself on a gospel show financed by Lloyd who by the way plays it as a Strother Martin light. I think that was who was intended for the part originally. He uses the radio audience to locate that 'devil' Burt Reynolds.

W.W. And The Dixie Dancekings is not a great film, but it is great rollicking entertainment.