Review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) by Danny R — 19 Oct 2015

George Roy Hill's exceptional highly entertaining western is one of the most popular films ever made which bends adventure, romance and comedy into a mostly true story of the legendary outlaws Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, two infamous bank and train robbers, brilliantly played to perfection by two of Hollywood's greatest leading men, the late great Paul Newman and Robert Redford in their first irresistible screen pairing.

Butch and Sundance make their living robbing with their "Hole in the Wall Gang" crew, but things are about to become more difficult for them. The authorities have finally had it, and began a crackdown on them, they have hired a team of professional trackers and lawmen to kill them.

In a desperate attempt to escape the posse they pack up and head to Bolivia, South America with Sundance's school teacher girlfriend, wonderfully played by Katherine Ross. Once they are there they will try for a short time to be on the right side of the law, but soon running short of money Butch and Sundance will begin to take banks down again, and will become known as the Banditos Yanquis.

Roy Hill's inspired Academy Award nominated direction, the marvelous supporting performances by Strother Martin, Henry Jones, Jeff Corey, George Furth, Cloris Leachman, Ted Cassidy, Kenneth Mars, Donnelly Rhodes, and Sam Elliott, but it's the spot on chemistry from Newman and Redford that makes this film work so well.

William Goldman's sensationally witty Academy Award winning script which also is quite compelling. The late great Conrad L. Hall's Academy Award winning cinematography is breathtaking, and Burt Bacharach's terrific Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe Award winning score, along with his memorable Academy Award winning Best Song: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, which is superby sung by B.

J. Thomas. An American classic. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture & Best Director: George Roy Hill. Highly Recommended.