LAST OF THE GREAT WESTERNS

Rating: 10/10 (28 April 2001)

George Roy Hill's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is a Western like no other. It's so much more than your standard cowboys and indians shoot-em-ups that we've grown accustomed to. This film is about character and Hill provides us with two of the most likable outlaws in screen history and we care about them for two hours, not an easy task.
Paul Newman and Robert Redford are cast as Butch and Sundance. I cannot think of more perfect casting. However, we have the stars to thank for that. The odd thing was that Newman was cast as Sundance and Redford as Butch originally. Newman suggested that they switch roles and Redford agreed. I think, that by playing against type, it shows that Newman and Redford are so much more than good looking leading men. They are fine actors as well.
Ordinarily, a normal Western would have comedy relief. But the great thing about "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is that it is one big comedy itself, although how much you find funny depends entirely on personal taste.
In the one line summary, I said that this film is the "last of the great westerns". I think that is true. There were several good westerns that came out after this (There Was A Crooked Man, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, Two Mules for Sister Sara, Junior Bonner, The Outlaw Josey Wales), but until Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" and Lawrence Kasdan's "Silverado", both released in 1985, came out, there were no truly great ones. Along with Sam Peckinpah's brilliant "The Wild Bunch", 1969 was the year of the last great Western.
**** out of stars