Burt Reynolds had been kicking around Hollywood since the late 1950s, playing supporting roles in TV series and B movies before his career exploded with the release of Deliverance in 1972. He knew his audience and crafted his films to please the heartland of America. In doing so, he became one of the top boxoffice stars of the decade. Some critics griped that his range was limited, but then again, could Laurence Olivier have raced a speeding sports car over a chasm while being chased by police and chatting on a CB radio with one arm draped around Sally Field?
In previous decades, it was customary practice for sexy starlets to be photographed provocatively for a new film- even if they didn't appear that way on screen. This 1967 publicity shot for In the Heat of the Night features comely Quentin Dean, who scored a Golden Globe nomination for the film. She also appeared with Elvis in Stay Away, Joe and Charlton Heston in Will Penny as well as numerous TV series. The real mystery is what happened to her? Dean dropped out of show business in the late 1960s, foregoing a promising career. If any reader can provide any updates, please let us know.