W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

this film has such a mediocre rating. It's a fine night's entertainment and it takes us back to an earlier time in country music before every big and medium-size city had its country station. The important thing is not to lose patience during the first half, when it seems like it will be forever before they get their act on the road, and pay no mind to the back story about the Southern Oil Company....in fact the 'hold up' of the bank really doesn't fit the rest of the film, it is almost too surreal, like Burt's Olds. Reynolds comes off like the poor man's Sam Phillips, getting these crackers onto Grand Ole Opry, and that moment when he spurns Van Dyke's advances as he hears the boys launching into something that sounds like music is stirring.

That era is gone, but treasure the final scenes when Art Carney's car radio pulls in sounds from the ether that you won't hear today on the airwaves, where every voice comes out of broadcasting school. Rate this somewhere about 7 on a scale of 10.

This is one of my guilty pleasures. I enjoyed this movie for what it was. A film that's fun to watch. The secret seems to be a good cast. The story is not very deep. Rent it---if you feel like some southern fried fun

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.

This & "White Lightning" are my all-time favorite Burt Reynolds films. this is at the height of his comedic, feel-good roles. Not many actors are as likable as Burt, which makes this goofy film a treat. Burt plays W.W. Bright, an ex-S.O.S. gas station employee who goes around robbing his old employers. A conman & loner, well at least he was before he ran into Dixie & the Dancekings. Pretending to be a Nashville music agent, he gets tangled in lies & cons, & before too long he gets attached to the band. Now he'll do as much as possible to help them out. Lots of fun!

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.