Stuntmen's Ball

Hooper (1978)
directed by Hal Needham
rating: 3 out of 5 cravats
on DVD from Netflix

If you've ever wanted to see Burt Reynolds' Gregory Peck impression, James Best's best Jimmy Stewart, or Robert Klein's Peter Bogdanovich, start here. Percocet, Xylocaine, and Demoral all make appearances by name; the horse drinks beer; everyone else drinks anything. Charles Bronson's fans in the Philippines and Burt's in Waycross, Georgia, might be the only two demographics in the world who like their heroes' movies pan-and-scanned, but the stunts the crew shows up to honor survive with their dignity intact. The Death Proof of its day (Vanessa Ferlito inherited Sally Field's short-shorts), as much for its characters' camaraderie as a love for the men who drive the cars.

But back to the Bogdanovich parody, in case you don't get around to Hooper yourself:

Robert Klein (as Roger Deal): "I know we didn't get along on this picture. I also know you think I'm a tyrannical egomaniac. Well, maybe it's true. But films are tiny pieces of time, and we captured it. I only do it for one reason: to make the best movie I can. Because I'm a pro, just like you. I'm also big enough to apologize, and I know you're big enough to accept."

Burt Reynolds (as Sonny Hooper): "Roger, as usual, you're wrong."