Paul Newman & Katharine Ross

It was back on October 24th, 1969 that much of America became familiar with Robert Leroy Parker and Harry Alonzo Longbaugh in the persons of Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

That was on that date 40 years ago that 20th Century -Fox Released Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. It was one of the most popular films of that time and remains one of the most popular westerns of all time.

It tells the story of Parker-Butch Cassidy, and Longbaugh-Sundance, and their lighthearted train and bank robbing adventures. Throughout their escapades they are accompanied by the Kid’s beautiful girlfriend, Etta Place (the gorgeous Katharine Ross).

Like most westerns that are any good, it’s a mixture of both fiction and fact.

Although it’s considered a classic today, the film  received decidedly mixed reviews at the time of it’s release.

Time magazine said, ”Every character, every scene, is marred by the film’s double view, which oscillates between sympathy and farce. As Butch and the Kid, respectively, Paul Newman and Robert Redford are afflicted with cinematic schizophrenia. One moment they are sinewy, battered remnants of a discarded tradition. The next they are low comedians whose chaffing relationship—and dialogue—could have been lifted from a Batman and Robin episode.”

New York liked the film far better. “Mr. Goldman ( screenwriter) makes the stuff of legend human, telling the tale of two men who run their crooked route with gusto and guts…. And not the least of the pleasures is the emergence of Redford as the fine actor he is in a role worthy of his talents, which include keeping Newman from making the entire movie his own.”

Butch Cassidy was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Sound; it won for Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Score and Song (”Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”).

The brits liked it a lot more. Over there, it received British Academy Awards for Best Film, Actor (Robert Redford), Actress (Katharine Ross), Cinematography, Direction, Music, Editing, Screenplay, and Soundtrack. Newman was also nominated for Best Actor.

Butch is the #73 Greatest Movie of All Time by the American Film Institute and #7 on its 2008 list of the greatest Westerns. It’s also listed on the National Film Registry and will be preserved in the Library of Congress.

I owe a lot to the film. Had I not seen it, I would have never heard of the mysterious Etta Place and would never have written my novel, Etta. Although my Etta is almost totally different from the one in the movie, I can’t deny that Katharine Ross was my original inspiration (and quite a heart throb at the time for a 17 -year old).

Let’s share our memories of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. Where did you see it (for me it was the Town Theatre in New Rochelle, New York)? When? Is it one of your favorites or are you more like the Time Magazine guy?

Write back. And happy 40 to Butch & Sundance (and Etta)!

Best,

GK