Monday, September 23, 2019

50 years ago: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid released

Buch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid


Released: September 23, 1969


Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox


Genre: Western


Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 102.31 Worldwide: ?


Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 692.24 Worldwide: 1219.4

Directing: George Roy Hill


Screenwriting: William Goldman


Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin


Review:

“One of the most-popular, appealing, beguilingly star-driven, tragi-comedy Westerns ever made.” FS Goldman’s “witty script” FS is “loosely based” FS on the real-life “charming, turn-of-the-century, train-robbing outlaws” FS and “early 1900’s anti-heroes” FS “Robert Leroy Parker (Butch Cassidy) and Harry Longbaugh (The Sundance Kid) and the Hole in the Wall gang.” FS

“One of the screen’s great buddy teams was born when Paul Newman and Robert Redford saddled up for this rollicking comic western about two legendary outlaws.” TV As the “two handsome leads,” FS they “redefined the buddy movie” A07 with their chemistry. “With a gleam in his baby blues, Newman dazzles as Butch, while Redford became a superstar with his self-deprecating portrayal of the dashing, trigger-happy Sundance.” TV

The story follows the “free-wheeling, non-chalant Butch (Newman) and sharpshooting Sundance (Redford)” FS from the Old West to “their final confrontation in South America.” VD After they “bungle their second attempt on the Union Pacific Express…[they] are relentlessly pursued by authorities in a posse. With Sundance’s beautiful, school-teacher lover Etta Place (Ross), they flee to Bolivia to seek further wealth. In the end, they are outnumbered and die in a blazing, hail of bullets, freeze-frame shootout, reminiscent of Bonnie and Clyde.” FS

“The movie’s key song ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head’ is a fun counterpart to the actual plight of our friends.” A07 The song is featured during a light-hearted scene where Butch takes Etta on a bicycle ride.


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Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists:


Oscars:

Wins: 4 – Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Song (“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”), Best Original Score

Nominations: 7 – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound


Other Awards:


Box Office:


Other Lists/Honors:


First posted 6/29/2020; last updated 5/31/2023.