Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 Western film which tells the story of two lighthearted outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid who seem more inclined to trade quips than shots. It stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones, Jeff Corey, Cloris Leachman, Ted Cassidy, Kenneth Mars and Donnelly Rhodes. The film's protagonists bore only limited resemblance to the actual Cassidy and partner, but the film popularized their legends nonetheless.

The movie was written by William Goldman and directed by George Roy Hill.

It won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical), Best Music, Song (Burt Bacharach and Hal David for "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head") and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced. It was nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Sound. Adjusted for inflation, it is among the top 100 grossing movies of all time and top 10 for its decade partly due to subsequent re-releases. The film grossed about $102.3 million domestically through 1974 and although no data on its worldwide gross is readily available, it is listed as above Goldfinger (1964) – $124.9 million and below Thunderball (1965) – $141.2 million.

The two starring roles were originally offered to Warren Beatty and Steve McQueen. Even Marlon Brando was considered at one point, who at the time had minimal box-office draw, but had made an intriguing western years before, One-Eyed Jacks. At one point, McQueen and Newman were expected to make the film together and they discussed using the new "staggered but equal billing" they later introduced in The Towering Inferno. When Newman and Redford came aboard, originally their roles were reversed, with Newman as Sundance and Redford as Cassidy. Fox did not want Redford to play the part, but director George Roy Hill persisted. Redford has noted that this film catapulted him to stardom and changed his career forever.

The Sundance Film Festival, begun by Robert Redford, is named for his role in this film, as is his Utah ski resort, Sundance.

In 2003 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Memorable quotes

SUNDANCE: What's your idea this time? - BUTCH: Bolivia! - SUNDANCE: What's Bolivia?
BUTCH: I'll jump first. - SUNDANCE: No. - BUTCH: Okay, you jump first. - SUNDANCE: No, I said... - BUTCH: What'sa matter with you? - SUNDANCE: I can't swim. - BUTCH: Swim?! Are you kidding? The fall'll probably kill you!
I didn't know you were the Sundance Kid when I said you were cheating. If I draw on you, you'll kill me. - SUNDANCE: There is that possibility.
BUTCH: Wait a minute - you didn't see Lefors out there did you? - SUNDANCE: Lefors? No, why? - BUTCH: Thank God for that. For a moment there I thought we were in trouble. (when surounded by a small army of soldiers in Bolivia, not yet realising just how badly outnumbers they are)
BUTCH (about the trackers following them):I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?
SUNDANCE: I'll go. - BUTCH: This is no time for bravery...you go.

External link

Films Directed by George Roy Hill

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