Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)

Being born in the 80's meant I missed out on the age of the Western. John Wayne, Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood were just names to me, and the premise of Cowboys and Indians remained in my childhood stories. It wasn’t until recently I decided to quench my ignorance of such a beautiful genre and delve into the world of the Western, having grown tired of the small amount of Westerns my generation has to offer.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is no exception to the wonder this genre holds. Winning multiple awards and currently holding the record for the most BAFTA’s one by a single film, it is a perfect example of a feel good Western. Released in 1969 alongside Midnight Cowboy, True Grit and Easy Rider, amongst others, it was an interesting 42nd Academy Awards, with Midnight Cowboy winning best film and John Wayne finally getting his Oscar for True Grit. 

After an opening credit sequence showing an old film reel rattling through the story of Butch Cassidy, we are taken to a sepia toned blackjack game. The Sundance Kid is the main focus of the scene, and the camera stays firmly on him even though other people are talking and moving in and out of the frame. This prolonged focus allows us to analyse him, watch him and get to know his face as one of our protagonists. Its not until Butch, who we briefly saw enter the room, crouches down beside him does the camera shift focus and follow him around the room. Instantly, we know the other people in the room are not important and the only two worth our attention are Butch and The Sundance Kid. We are launched into a colourful passing of time as the two men galavant through the Western lands on their horses. These young, attractive ‘bandits’ love robbing trains and banks, but when the police start getting a bit to close for comfort the decide to flea to Bolivia with Spanish speaking Mrs. Sundance Kid, Etta, in tow. Upon arrival, they start robbing banks again to get cash and live a life of luxury but the law catches up on them again, resulting in their unfortunate demise.

A simple story, executed with style, Butch Cassidy uses photo and musical montages to propel the story, the most famous being when Butch romantically cycles around with Etta on his handle bars to B.J. Thomas’s ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’.  The previous scene and this one define our characters perfectly, based on their relationships with Etta. Previously we see The Sundance Kid – her current partner – sinisterly telling her to take off her clothes while he wryly points a gun at her, even though a non threatening act, its an uneasy exchange between two lovers. His dark nature, sly attitude and short temper makes his counterpart look like a saint. Butch is quick witted, charming and handsome. If he wasn’t a criminal he would be the perfect man, as demonstrated in the bicycle scene with Etta, where she turns to him at the end and says "Do you ever wonder if i'd met you first, we'd be the ones to get involved?"

The characters of Butch and the Sundance Kid are constructed with precision, whereby bouncing each one off of the other develops their characteristics. These characters are what’s important, the story is neither here nor there, two criminals on the run with a pretty woman in tow. What makes the film so fantastic is the friendship Butch and The Sundance Kid share. We know nothing of their background, and neither do they. He was Butch’s number 1 in The Hole In The Wall Gang, and after the rest of the gang members were killed, Butch showed no remorse or sadness, because he only cares about The Sundance Kid. Their loyalty to one an other and their differing approaches to robbing banks – Butch with his sharp wit and cunning sensibilities and The Sundance Kid with his ruthless quick draw and remorseless attitude toward murder - makes them the perfect criminal duo.

Unfortunately, my generation doesn't have a great deal to offer in terms of a Western. The best one by far being The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) ,which in my opinion encompasses all that is required, generically, of a good Western. All be it a serious and threatening piece of cinema, it kept me thoroughly entertained for its 160 minute duration. Don’t get me wrong, No Country For Old Men (2007), There Will be Blood (2007) and True Grit (2010) are great films, but again, they are so serious, sometimes frightening. I am eagerly awaiting Tarantino’s latest conquest in the form of Django, I’m hopeful that he will inject some humor back into the genre.

Nevertheless, the classic Westerns of the 60's and 70's are entertainment enough for me, with Butch Cassidy paving the way for a comedic attitude towards Westerns which brings us to the hilarious Blazing Saddles (1974) the ultimate Western spoof movie, which draws from Butch Cassidy mainly in the form of The Waco Kid, played by Gene Wilder, who is "The fastest hands in the West", an obvious homage to the quick draw Sundance Kid of 5 years previous. 

Whether you like the Western genre of not, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, is a must watch for anyone. Having aged brilliantly, and still as witty and sharp as the day it was released, it is a timeless classic. Pure entertainment from start to finish, challenging standard cinematic methods of the time and delivering a menial narrative with great delight. There really is no one wonder it  has gone down in film history.

Credits
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)
Directed by George Roy Hill
Starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Katharine Ross.