Director Hal Needham made some of the most popular action comedies of the 1970s, and his frequent collaborations with Burt Reynolds were often his best films. Needham started his Hollywood career as a stunt actor, and that keen eye for action eventually landed him a spot in the director's chair. Reynolds was one of the biggest stars of the '70s, and together they created several amazing films that personified the decade and had a fair amount of laughs to go along with the pulse-pounding action. Though none of their collaborations were Oscar candidates, some were box office smashes that have stood the test of time.

First collaborating in 1977 on Smokey and the Bandit, the duo made a total of seven films together over a span of 20 years. Though Burt Reynolds worked with great directors in his career, his partnership with Needham was a consistent source of hits, and many...