by Nick Nash

Created on: January 15, 2010

This film tells the story of Butch Cassidy's Hole in the Wall Gang and their last months. Famed for their train robbing antics Butch and his men rob one train one too many times and the owners of the company set a price on the gangs head. Butch and buddy Sundance go on the run from their nemesis, a mysterious bounty hunter identifiable only by the white hat atop his head, and end up heading to Bolivia to follow Butch's dream of Bolivian wealth. Along for the ride comes Sundance's girlfriend Etta but the three soon realise that the wealth of Bolivia is not quite as lucrative as previously thought and they have failed to escape their trailer.

Directed by George Roy Hill off the back of Thoroughly Modern Millie and prior to The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a thoroughly entertaining and comedic western. Its two main stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford as Butch and Sundance respectively are, beyond their almost unreal good looks, charismatic and charming as the robbing pair. The banter and dialogue between the two sizzles and laughs are aplenty throughout. Share and share alike seems to be the motto between the two and this includes a very strange friendship between Butch and Sundance's girlfriend - one that you never really work out the true story.

The story and direction are exceptional. The tension increases as we follow our unconventional heroes and an impending sense of doom always lurks as they laugh off the potential of their imminent demise. The now famous finale set with Butch and Sundance in a barn surrounded by Bolivian soldiers fills the viewer with empathy for the two despite the fact that what they essentially do is immoral. Other characters come and go including the white hatted bounty hunter of few words or actions but great menace and Etta the loyal girlfriend appearing briefly but ultimately realising the danger and fleeing her man to return home. The latter does little to enhance this movie but also does nothing wrong.

One other factor that makes this an exceptional viewing experience is the Academy Award winning cinematography by famed cinematographer Conrad L. Hall (later working on Road to Perdition - again an Academy winner for cinematography). Shot mostly in Colorado, this is surely one of the most scenic and beautiful westerns ever made and is as much of a visual treat today as when it was made over 40 years ago.

Burt Bacharach and Hal David had already established themselves as world class song and score writers with the score for Casino Royale and hit song from Alfie. It was on this film that they received Academy recognition for both the score and song Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. Both are perfectly pitched with the tone of the movie. Almost bubblegum in feel they equalled and enhanced the comedic mood of this film.

The late 60's and early 70's was a golden age for Hollywood and big screen outlaws popular. With films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch and the spaghetti westerns in force and all portraying a certain brutality, Butch Cassidy was refreshing in its comedic take but still flying the revisionist western flag high. This is an extremely enjoyable while also provoking film. Highly recommended.

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