W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings 1975

In 1957, Burt Reynolds plays W.W. Bright, an easygoing crook who robs only Southland Oil System (SOS) gas stations. He meets the Dixie Dancekings, a country music band; Conny Van Dyke, their singer, lends him an alibi as he claims to be in the music business and ends up promoting the group. The band’s guitarist, Wayne, Jerry Reed—the sharp-eyed leader—does not trust him at first, but the rest of the troupe places their faith in him, hoping his street savvy can turn their fortunes around.

The SOS chairman calls in a Bible-thumping ex-lawman to handle the situation: Deacon John Wesley Gore, a hard-edged figure who sees W.W. as a convenient target to take down. Meanwhile, the newly branded group heads off to seek out Country Bull Jenkins, a wildly successful singer-songwriter who is willing to write them a tune for $1,000. Country Bull Jenkins, portrayed by Ned Beatty, is impressed by their sound and agrees to help, sparking a plan that seems simple on the surface but quickly spirals into trouble.

W.W. persuades the Dancekings to attempt a bank robbery, tapping into SOS’s expansion into the banking business—a stunt that goes awry and does not unfold as neatly as planned. Gore catches wind of the getaway and broadcasts a description of the car on a radio revival show, forcing W.W. to improvise and burn his rare, distinctive vehicle in a desperate bid to erase the trail. Despite the growing danger, W.W. begins to feel loyal to the band and its newfound camaraderie, and he weighs stepping away to shield them from the consequences of his schemes.

As the group’s momentum builds, Wayne’s new song impresses Country Bull so much that he arranges to feature them on the Grand Ole Opry radio show, a moment the band has dreamed of for years. The plan reaches a critical turning point when Gore corners W.W., using an exact replica of the burnt car as bait to pull him toward the law. Caught between loyalty and his own risk, W.W. is driven toward the police station, but just as they arrive, Sunday has begun, and Gore, choosing to honor the Sabbath, decides to let him go—along with the car, leaving the fate of the Dancekings in a tense, unresolved balance.