Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid

“Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid” is a classic example of a film in the genre of “ buddy film ”, the main characters of which are traditionally protesters of “sidekick”. Newman and Redford for a long time maintained friendly relations, and their mutual sympathy is very noticeable on the silver screen. Together they are one of the most memorable couples in the history of world cinema, and their next collaboration, the adventure film “ Scam ”, was awarded the Oscar for the best film of the year.

The film became the culmination of Newman’s film career and overnight made Redford a superstar. The latter named in honor of his character the mountain estate acquired from the film’s fee, where the eponymous ski resort subsequently arose. Now there is held the Redford American Independent Film Festival " Sundance ".

The film is based on real events from the life of Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) and Sundance Kid (1867-1908) - two legendary gangsters of the Wild West , who hunted for an attack on banks and freight trains ^[2] . Butch (played by Newman) is shown in the film as the “brain” of the “Hole in the Wall” gang. He is somewhat older than Sundance and is quite self-confident. Redford's Sundance is a loyal and reliable performer of Butch's ingenious designs; he is incredulous and is considered the best sniper in the Wild West.

The film begins with the fact that Butch and Sundance are returning from the next "businessman" to their lair - the valley of the "hole in the wall." Here they are informed that the gang has chosen a new leader, with whom Butch will have to figure out the relationship in the clash with knives. The outcome of the case is solved simply - Butch kicks his opponent with his foot in the crotch, thereby excluding him from the gang.

Butch announces to Sundance that robbing banks is becoming a dangerous occupation, and that they will now concentrate on looting freight trains. The first such event is a success - the local sheriff is unable to collect the chase, while the robber friends in excellent mood watch his attempts from the veranda of the neighboring brothel. This is followed by several idyllic scenes. In the most famous of them, Butch rides his partner’s friend, the village teacher Ettu Place, on a bicycle .

Trouble begins during the robbery of the next train. It turns out that the owners of the railroad equipped the team of the best trackers, who should hunt down and kill Butch and Sundance. They jump out of the second train, following the robbed one, and rush in pursuit of the bandits. Despite all Butch's inventions and the whole experience of Sundance, they have been unable to break away from their pursuers for several days. When they try to hide in a brothel, they are betrayed. Appeal to a familiar sheriff with an offer of amnesty is also not crowned with success. To observe the movements of the trackers, they wind for a long time and climb far into the rocks. Caught pressed to the edge of the abyss above the rapids, friends must make a choice - to surrender, fight, or jump down from a cliff into a mountain river. Sundance prefers to fight and try his luck in a direct clash with his pursuers, besides, he does not know how to swim, but Butch convinces him to throw himself at the risk of his life from the edge of the abyss down into a mountain river, hoping to survive and float downstream. So they leave from their pursuers.

After a meeting with Etta and studying the latest newspapers, the trinity accepts Butch's offer to move temporarily to Bolivia , a South American country rich in silver. Sundance does not like this proposal, and forebodings do not deceive him. In this southern region it is unbearably hot, but the most important thing is that the bandits do not know Spanish. Although Etta is trying to teach them the basics of this language, Butch has to use a cheat sheet during the first raid on the local bank. The robbery follows the robbery, and soon the whole Bolivian police are searching for two Americans. Butch imagines that the very same pursuers who survived them from the Wild West are following in their footsteps. Under these conditions, he decides to engage in looting and start making money honestly.

Friends are arranged to guard the coolies from the local bandits with a salary, which they take on a mule from the city to remote mining villages. During the next trip in a deserted area, they are attacked by a gang of thugs who kill their guide and boss. The life of Butch and Sundance is in danger, but in the ensuing firefight, they emerge victorious. Whatever they do, they are trailing a bloody trail. Etta feels that this can not last long, and leaves them - according to her, she does not want to be a witness to their inevitable death.

The tragic denouement occurs during their stay in the town of Saint Vincent, where the local police admit they are bandits and ambush them. While Butch and Sundance - already seriously wounded - are trying to shoot back from an abandoned building, army reinforcements are arriving in St. Vincent from neighboring settlements. Even now, when their fate is predetermined, friends find time to exchange jokes and reflect that when they get out of this mess, they will have to move to another country, say, Australia ...

• Paul Newman - Butch Cassidy
• Robert Redford - Sundance Kid
• Catherine Ross - Etta Place
• Stroser Martin - Percy Harris
• Henry Jones - Bicycle Salesman
• Jeff Corey - Sheriff Bledsoe
• George Firth - Woodcock
• Cloris Leachman - Agnes
• Ted Cassidy - Harvey Logan
• Don Kiefer - Fireman
• Sam Elliott Card Player # 2

• 1970 - four Oscars : best original script (William Goldman), best cinematography (Conrad Hall), best original music ( Bert Bacarach ), best original song (“ Raindrops Keep Fallin 'on My Head ”, music Bert Bacarach, Hal David words); and three more nominations: best film (John Forman), best director (George Roy Hill), best sound (William Edmondson, David Dockendorf).
• 1970 - Golden Globe award for best original music (Bert Bacarac), as well as three nominations: best film - drama, best script (William Goldman), best original song (“Raindrops Keep Fallin 'on My Head”, music by Bert Bacarach Hal David words.
• 1970 - Grammy Award for Best Original Music for a Movie or TV Show (Bert Bacarach).
• 1970 - Writers Guild USA Prize for the best original drama (William Goldman).
• 1970 - nomination for the Directors Guild of the United States (George Roy Hill).
• 1971 - nine BAFTA Awards : Best Film, Best Director (George Roy Hill), Best Screenplay (William Goldman), Best Actor (Robert Redford), Best Actress (Catherine Ross), Best Cinematography (Conrad Hall), Best Editing (John Howard, Richard Meyer), the Anthony Esquith Award for music for the film (Bert Bacarach), best soundtrack (Don Hall, William Edmondson, David Dockendorf); and also nominated for the best actor award (Paul Newman).
• In 2003, the film was included in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress .
• Lists of the American Film Institute :
  • Top 100 Films (1998) - 50th Place
  • 100 best action films - 54th place
  • Top 100 Heroes and Villains - 20th Place (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
  • Top 100 songs - 23rd place (" Raindrops Keep Fallin 'on My Head ")
  • Top 100 Films (2007) - 73rd place
  • Top 10 Westerns - 7th place

• In Top Gear Patagonia. Special repeatedly appear references to the film.

• "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (Eng.) On the Internet Movie Database
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (eng.) On the site allmovie  
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