Smokey and the Bandit II As he did in the first movie, Reynolds breaks the fourth wall after being reunited with Frog, by addressing the camera and saying, "She still loves me." Many of the movie's scenes take place in northern Palm Beach County, especially at Burt Reynolds' ranch in Jupiter, Florida. Although the Bandit again sticks to a Pontiac Trans Am, this time a 1980 Turbo model with 5 color decals unlike 1981's single color decals, Snowman switches to a 1980 GMC General, silver with blue trim with the same mural on the trailer as on the original film. This "new rig" suggests that
Burt Reynolds car chase film, "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" (1975), and a tough cop drama with Aldrich, "Hustle" (1975). He did a cameo for Mel Brooks in "Silent Movie" (1976). Reynolds made his directorial debut in 1976 with "Gator", the sequel to "White Lightning", written by Norton. "I waited 20 years to do it [directing] and I enjoyed it more than anything I've ever done in this business," he said after filming. "And I happen to think it's what I do best." He was reunited with Bogdanovich for the screwball comedy "Nickelodeon" (1976), which was a commercial disappointment. Aldrich later commented,