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. Sources: A07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” TV TV Guide (August 8-14, 1998 issue). “50 Greatest Movies on TV and Video” VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: 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.

The World According to Garp opened

The World According to Garp Released: July 23, 1982 Studio: Warner Bros. Genre: comedic drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 29.71 Worldwide: -- Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 126.30 Worldwide: --

Directing: George Roy Hill Screenwriting: Steve Tesich Starring: Robin Williams, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Mary Beth Hurt Review: This comedic drama directed and produced by George Roy Hill and starring Robin Williams was based on the 1978 novel of the same name by John Irving. Jenny Fields (Close, in her film debut) is a feminist who wants a child but not a husband. As a nurse during World War II, she gets herself impregnated by a brain-damaged ball turret gunner Technical Sergeant Garp, resulting in the birth of the movie’s titular character, T.S. Garp (Williams). A grown-up Garp is interested in writing, wrestling, and Helen Holm (Hurt) – the daughter of the wrestling coach. Mom copies her son’s interest in writing and publishes Sexual Suspect, which makes her a feminist icon. Garp publishes his first novel, marries Helen, and becomes a writer and stay-at-home dad to their two sons while Helen becomes a college professor. At his mother’s retreat for women, Garp meets and befriends Roberta Muldoon (Lithgow), a transgender, ex-tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. He also learns about the Ellan James Society, a group of women who cut out their tongues to show solidarity with a young girl who was raped and mutilated. Horrified, Garp writes a book condemning them. Several tragedies ensue for Garp’s family, including a car accident under bizarre circumstances. Garp’s book and his mother’s feminism both make them lightning rods for controversy. Critic Roger Ebert said, “I thought the acting was unconventional and absorbing…I thought the visualization of the events…was fresh and consistently interesting. But when the movie was over…all I could find to ask myself was: What the hell was that all about?” WK As one of my personal favorite movies, that was exactly the point of the movie. It took unconventional characters and had them react to absurd, and at times horrific, events in their lives. Robin Williams injects Garp with a fascinating mix of righteous anger and unexpected comic turns (when he and his wife are house shopping and a small plane crashes into the home they are about to buy, he says, “We’ll take it. What are the odds of that ever happening again?”) Close infuses Jenny’s feminism with naivety and indignation. Lithgow gives astounding warmth to Roberta at a time when it was unheard of to feature a transgender character, much less one that was more than comic relief. Sources: WK Wikipedia

Rating: 3.761 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Accolades: Oscars: Wins: 0 Nominations: 2: Best Supporting Actress (Close), Best Supporting Actor (Lithgow) Lists: First posted 9/25/2026.