Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – 1969
It has been a long time since I have seen this film. I barely remembered anything before watching it again. Paul Newman and Robert Redford starred as the two title characters, Butch and Sundance. The characters were based on historical figures, and from what my research told me, both they and the film’s plot were a pretty accurate depiction of the real things.
The film followed the two notorious outlaws as they robbed banks and trains, ran from the law, fled to Bolivia, and died at the hands of the Bolivian army. The whole film was presented with an almost carefree feel, something epitomized by the film’s big hit song, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, by Bert Bacharach. The loose and easy feel was also helped along by the casual and sometimes comical relationship between the two bandits.
And it was that free and easy tone that, for me, turned a great movie into just a good movie. The film was really supposed to be a drama with some light, comedic moments sprinkled throughout. But Bacharach’s underscoring somehow removed any real drama. A different score could have easily raised the intensity of the film. The problem was that Bacharach was a Vegas lounge singer. After an exciting chase scene, I kept expecting to hear, “Be sure to tip your waitress.”
I understand, if that was the tone of the film that director George Roy Hill wanted, but surely there could have been other ways to achieve it. The lounge act and the Old West just didn’t quite fit together. The problem was that the music tied the film down to the 60s and prevented it from being timeless.
But that being said, I still liked the movie. I enjoyed the light-hearted feel, the comedic banter, and the larger than life characters. I liked the pacing, the cinematography, and the action sequences. The iconic scene in which Butch and Sundance have to jump off a cliff into a rushing river to escape their pursuers was exciting, as was the climactic gun fight at the end. But unfortunately, 90% of the music had to go.
The only other significant role played in the film was Sundance’s lover, Etta Place, played by Katherine Ross. She was in bed with Sundance, but in love with Butch. Her character was easy going and familiar with her lover’s profession of choice, and even joined the boys on a few of their jobs in Bolivia. But not wanting to see her man die, she left when things started to get too dangerous.
I actually liked both of the characters portrayed by Newman and Redford. One of the things that most people notice about the film is the great on-screen chemistry between the two actors. It is easily evident in the way that they interact with each other. There is an easiness about them that seems effortlessly natural, like the actors had been friends as long as the characters they played.
Newman played Butch Cassidy, a man with a nimble mind who is set up as the brains of the duo. His affable charm and his amusing wit were very likeable. Despite his criminal nature, he is the kind of guy who would be fun to know, never taking anything too seriously. He used humor to get through bad situations, even making jokes during the final scene when the two friends are gunned down.
Redford played another likeable character, but with a completely different personality. He was a little slow but not stupid, and generally didn’t talk much. But he was also the fastest gun in the west. He had an incredibly quick draw and deadly accuracy with his weapons. He had a callous and indifferent disposition when it came to killing but I liked him in spite of that. The fact that he was very handsome with his blond hair and moustache didn’t hurt either.