Smokey and the Bandit was the first picture [Hal Needham ] directed, and I knew he could handle it. I had just directed Gator, and he saw my style and used that as a pattern.

My movies were the kind they show in prisons and airplanes, because nobody can leave.

The best way not to fail again is to be absolutely positive that when you do it this time, you're going to do it right.

You're not a man until your father says you're a man.

If you've as many films as I have, and missed as many opportunities as I have to do good work and been pissed off about it, you say, "Well, now you've got to start getting it right." If you get a chance, you really want to cook. And the tragedy is, when you finally feel that way about yourself, about your work, nobody wants to give you a chance. And that happens to a lot of actors. But I'm feeling very wanted these days, so there must be something in the air.

If I want to be up for an Academy Award, I'm either going to have to play a tour de force of some kind or have a tracheotomy just before the nominations.

My acting is a bit like basketball. Most females in my films come off very well. I give great assist. And if I'm lucky, I even score.