Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - Updated

Not that it matters, but most of it is true...

The film opens with some old sepia toned footage of a notorious gang from the turn of the century and that is when we meet our two anti-heroes Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford). Butch is the brains behind the operation (I got vision and the rest of the world wears bifocals) and Sundance is the brawn with the most accurate gun in the West.

They make a living robbing banks and trains but due to their lifestyle they seldom come out ahead. Life becomes more difficult with tumult within the gang, a crackdown by the authorities and a price tag on the heads of Butch and Sundance.

Soon it becomes evident that their life of crime will never be the same with a professional tracker on their tails and a posse formed to see them hang. They are chased through hills, rock, water and the like before finally getting away in one final desperate attempt at escape.

With one last brilliant piece of inspiration Butch decides they should head for Bolivia to lay low and soon enough they pack their bags and bring along The Kid’s girl (Katharine Ross) to the promised land of South America. They get more than they bargained for thanks to the language barrier and a lack of decent plunder. However, even abroad their legend grows gaining the new moniker Banditos Yanquis. The pair have a stint on the right side of the law for once but it is somehow seems more bleak than their early days as bandits. It is evident that the hourglass is running out on them. And so it does, but not without one final glorious battle to cement the aura around two legends of the West.

I will not go so far as to call Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid a masterpiece because I have read too many reviews to know that there has been a great deal of division over the film with critics despite the general popularity of it with audiences. I can only speak from my own experience when I say that I quickly grew to love this film. This appreciation stems from the spot on chemistry of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Their outlaws are not your typical thugs but lovable buffoons you cannot help but cheer for through all their screw ups and pratfalls. Paul Newman has his ever-present mischievous smile plastered on his face and Redford plays the cool and collected Kid to the tee. Perfect casting for the roles and to think it might have been Steve McQueen and Warren Beatty.

They got together again in The Sting which was another good film, I will always be partial to their first collaboration. William Goldman’s script can only be described as a fun romp that accentuates the comradery of Butch and Sundance. The musical score by Burt Bacharach with the inclusion of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head is often at complete odds with what we have come to expect with classic westerns but that suits the film just fine.

You see this is not your typical western by any means. It’s not supposed to be. Butch and Sundance are working in the twilight of the West. The horse is soon to be replaced with the future which is bicycles, bank vaults are becoming complex, fervor for the Spanish-American War is at its peak and lawlessness is no longer going to be tolerated. Whether people realized it or not this film is one in a final wave of westerns that petered out in the 70s. Now the western genre just like the West before it is dead. A dying breed of genre much like film-noir or even musicals.

That’s why Butch Cassidy works for me. People have criticized the constant change in tones but this story never claims to be the absolute truth and it would not be the same film if it did. This story of outlaws is not a history lesson but a legend about two infamous bank robbers. There are moments where we love these antiheroes and moments where we do not know quite what to think of them. They become disillusioned and beaten down by the changing times. Their ambush in Bolivia has only one apparent conclusion. It ended in a bloody and violent death. However, we do not have to see that for the sake of the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In one mythical moment they regained their previous status. They went out as they came in and they will forever be remembered as Butch and Sundance of the Hole in the Wall Gang. They have been replaced by superheroes on the silver screen but in their day and age they were the original supermen, tarnished as they were.

What is amazing is that the film has not only resonated with audiences for generations, but with the leads themselves who really identified with their roles. That is perhaps the greatest compliment to its characters. 

5/5 Stars 

The Best Films of Paul Newman

1. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
2. Cool Hand Luke
3. The Sting
4. The Hustler
5. Hud
6. The Verdict
7. Hombre
8. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
9. Nobody's Fool
10. Cars
11. Road to Perdition
12. The Long, Hot Summer
13. Harper
14. Slap Shot
15. The Left Handed Gun
16. The Color of Money
17. The Towering Inferno
18. Somebody Up There Likes Me

Hud (1963)

Starring Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, and Brandon de Wilde, the film revolves around a principled, old Texas rancher (Douglas) who has the help of his orphaned nephew Lonnie (de Wilde) and his troublesome son Hud (Newman). Most of the film reveals the conflict between the father and his impatient and often immoral son. On the other hand Lonnie looks at his uncle with admiration. Then the cattle ranch is jeopardized by the possibility of hoof and mouth disease. When not working Hud goes wild in town and after one such night in a drunken stupor he is berated by his father and then makes advances toward the house keeper (Neal). Ultimately, the news about the cattle finally comes and the aftermath leaves Mr. Bannon dead, the housekeeper gone, and Lonnie on the road, with Hud all alone on his ranch. The primary actors were all very good and the black and white cinematography was especially striking.

4.5/5 Stars

The Hustler (1961)

Starring Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie, and Jacke Gleason, the film follows a pool hustler named Fast Eddie Felson (Newman). A cocky and skilled player, Eddie travels all the way from Oakland, California to face the legendary Minnesota Fats (Gleason). In an epic pool marathon with very high stakes, Eddie finds himself falling short. After his defeat, he wanders around a bit dead broke. Pretty soon Eddie finds a girl (Laurie) who has her set of problems just like him. But Eddie has the urge for pool again and to ultimately face Fats one more time. He enlists the backing of a successful, if not shady gambler (Scott), and they go off the Louisville to make some money. However, soon the fate of his girlfriend turns tragic. Eddie once again goes head to head with Fats, this time to prove he has changed and that he is indeed a winner. Overall this is a solid movie full of sports, atmosphere, and drama.

4.5/5 Stars

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

In one of his most memorable performances, Paul Newman is Luke Jackson a man put on a chain gang for cutting the heads off parking meters while drunk. Despite the weary and monotonous regiment, Luke will not be cowed and he always keeps his positive demeanor.

Originally the newcomer, Luke quickly earns the respect of everyone including Dragline (George Kennedy), whether he is boxing, eating 50 hard-boiled eggs, or bluffing his way through a card game. Even though he is never quite successful, Luke never stops trying to escape either. His numerous clever attempts lead the Captain (Strother Martin) to utter his famous words about their "failure to communicate." After multiple escape attempts Luke gets beaten, berated, and tortured.

However, he proves that you can never destroy his spirit no matter how hard yo try and so the ending is inconsequential. So ultimately "Cool Hand Luke" is a winner and a likable one at that.

It is necessary to acknowledge this solid ensemble cast including the likes of Dennis Hopper, Wayne Rogers, Ralph Waite, and of course Joan Van Fleet. Furthermore, there is seemingly no film that better depicts the dirt, grime, heat, and humidity that comes from working in a southern chain gang. The cinematography makes even the audience uncomfortable and a shower seems all but necessary.

Although the focus is often on the indefatigable character of Luke it became evident that this is often a taxing and difficult film to watch especially in the second half. In many ways Luke is the savior of these men in the chain gang and he sacrifices a lot of himself so that they might have some hope. Thus, this film is not just about the highs but the lows as well and Paul Newman plays every moment adeptly with the coolness that Luke Jackson embodies.

5/5 Stars

The Sting (1973)

Starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw, the film follows a small time con man (Redford) as he joins forces with an old pro (Newman) to pull an elaborate Sting on a shady banker (Shaw). The two meet after the death of a mutual friend and they set up a complicated plan. With the help of their friends, the two of them make contact and thus begins the adventure. Soon the con man gains the trust of the victim. However, the plan gets even more complicated when a heartless cop and the feds come onto the scene. The double-crossing con is then forced to cross his partners he and faces the consequences. Then, one final twist and you have the worlds greatest Sting. With its ragtime music, 1930s setting, and ensemble cast including Ray Walston, Harold Gould, and Dana Elcar, this film is full of excitement and certainly worth seeing.

                                                          4.5/5 Stars

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Adapted from the Tennessee Williams play, the film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives, with Jack Carson, and Judith Anderson. The film opens with Brick Pollick (Newman) injuring himself while he is drunk one night. The next day he is still constantly drinking and cold to his wife Maggie (Taylor). We learn this is because of the death of a friend. At the same time Big Daddy (Ives) arrives to celebrate his birthday with his family. The evening is full of angst and conflict over Big Daddy's health, lies, truth, power, and love. Maggie wants Brick to look out for his interests based upon the conniving actions of his brother's wife. Brick wants nothing of it and eventually tells his father so. They reconcile and Brick makes up with Maggie ending this film on a positive note. This film was certainly full of unrest and drama showing people struggling in love and figuring out their lives.

4/5 Stars

Paul Newman

Paul Newman is considered one of the coolest actors of all time, however he also had a range of acting ability that others did not. He could do drama and comedy, be likable or rebellious. He showed this skill in films like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Verdict. He came in the wave of young actors including James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Monty Clift. However, importantly his long career lasted well into the 2000s with performances in films like The Road to Perdition and Cars. Furthermore, his Hollywood marriage to actress Joanne Woodward lasted over 50 years which is almost unprecedented in that community. I think the reason Paul Newman was so successful in film was due partly in his good looks and skills as an actor. He also played some characters that were simply hard to dislike and we just wanted to root for a Luke Jackson or Butch Cassidy.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

With the great combo of Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the legendary outlaws, this movie is great fun. The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang became infamous for their exploits with Butch (Newman) being the brains and Sundance (Redford) the fastest gun around. Together these two robbed banks, held up trains, and all the while had a good time. At one point or another the law was after them so they fled to South America with one of Butch's nefarious schemes in mind. However, it was not what they expected and they had to face their biggest challenge ever. With the odds against them, they went out fighting and the legend of Butch Cassidy and Sundance was forever solidified. This film is as much a lighthearted comedy as it is a western. Newman and Redford have hilarious dialogue that brings the film alive and you end up rooting for these two anti-heroes. Although it is a seemingly random addition the song "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" is an added bonus.

                                                           5/5 Stars

Butch: "Ah, you're wasting your time. They can't track us over rocks."
Sundance: "Tell them that."
Butch: "They're beginning to get on my nerves. Who are those guys?"