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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
This film is far from your usual Western, unlike the works of Leone and Ford this films takes a different approach to the genre under the direction of George Roy Hill, it is a feel good, enjoyable film made that way by focussing on the loveable relationship between its two lead stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
The two play a pair of infamous train robbers, the leading men of the ‘Hole in the Wall gang’ with the history of the duo shown in an enjoyable silent film as the film opens. In fact the duo have become so good at what they do that E. H. Harriman hires a ‘supper-posse’ to track them down due to the costs they are causing his rail company from their robberies.
The first half of the film focussed on introducing us to the two characters whose dialogue allows for some humorous and enjoyable moments, we see Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy ride around in his new bicycle to the tune of ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ in one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
From about the half way point the story completely changes, the plot that we have been given now becomes less focused on what is happening and more focused on the relationship setup between the three main characters (the third is Sundance’s lover Katherine Ross ) as we have to endure what feels like a never ending chase between the lead duo and the posse.
From a production viewpoint I can understand the complaints about the film, with the middle ending in particular seemed to be exaggerated as much as possible, the focus on this could have been used elsewhere with a stronger plot to make this film truly great.
The film’s downsides thankfully don’t decrease our enjoyment for our film that much, the relationship of Newman and Redford dominates the film, once they get hired to transport money working in Bolivia we once again get to see their chemistry and great dialogue at the strongest with some great scenes again.
The film won Academy Awards for its song and score but also for best original screenplay and cinematography, these are two of the film’s strengths – the screenplay has some of the most memorable and funniest quotes between Newman and Redford and the cinematography creates some beautiful landscapes for us to enjoy in the scenes such as the posse chase and the rural terrain in Bolivia. And although the ending has been criticised I feel it sums up the film perfectly, we see the duo in an extremely difficult situation and the two exchange conversation with such brilliant and humorous dialogue -“For a moment there I thought we were in trouble".
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is one of the most unique Western films that there is, and it is one I would definitely recommend watching to fans both of the genre, it is definitely one of the most likeable and enjoyable films of its kind despite its flaws.
RATING:
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This film is far from your usual Western, unlike the works of Leone and Ford this films takes a different approach to the genre under the direction of George Roy Hill, it is a feel good, enjoyable film made that way by focussing on the loveable relationship between its two lead stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
The two play a pair of infamous train robbers, the leading men of the ‘Hole in the Wall gang’ with the history of the duo shown in an enjoyable silent film as the film opens. In fact the duo have become so good at what they do that E. H. Harriman hires a ‘supper-posse’ to track them down due to the costs they are causing his rail company from their robberies.
The first half of the film focussed on introducing us to the two characters whose dialogue allows for some humorous and enjoyable moments, we see Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy ride around in his new bicycle to the tune of ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ in one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
From about the half way point the story completely changes, the plot that we have been given now becomes less focused on what is happening and more focused on the relationship setup between the three main characters (the third is Sundance’s lover Katherine Ross ) as we have to endure what feels like a never ending chase between the lead duo and the posse.
From a production viewpoint I can understand the complaints about the film, with the middle ending in particular seemed to be exaggerated as much as possible, the focus on this could have been used elsewhere with a stronger plot to make this film truly great.
The film’s downsides thankfully don’t decrease our enjoyment for our film that much, the relationship of Newman and Redford dominates the film, once they get hired to transport money working in Bolivia we once again get to see their chemistry and great dialogue at the strongest with some great scenes again.
The film won Academy Awards for its song and score but also for best original screenplay and cinematography, these are two of the film’s strengths – the screenplay has some of the most memorable and funniest quotes between Newman and Redford and the cinematography creates some beautiful landscapes for us to enjoy in the scenes such as the posse chase and the rural terrain in Bolivia. And although the ending has been criticised I feel it sums up the film perfectly, we see the duo in an extremely difficult situation and the two exchange conversation with such brilliant and humorous dialogue -“For a moment there I thought we were in trouble".
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is one of the most unique Western films that there is, and it is one I would definitely recommend watching to fans both of the genre, it is definitely one of the most likeable and enjoyable films of its kind despite its flaws.
RATING: