The film is hailed as one of the greats of the genre (Image: 20th Century-Fox)
Buckle up for a wild ride of life in the American wild west as this film takes the Western genre to great heights, making it many movie buffs all time favourite.
Defining an era in cinema, this Western buddy fim, directed by George Roy Hill, didn’t make waves upon its initial release, but has since rocked the boat a fair bit. At least, enough for it to be selected as one of greatest American films by The American Film Institute.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is the film on your screens tonight, a 1969 American Western loosely based on the story of famed wild west outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker and his partner Harry Longabaugh.
Their nicknames, provided the title of the film, as Parker was better known as Butch Cassidy and Longabaugh, The Sundance Kid, famous for going on the run after a series of train roberries.
The writer of the film, William Goldman first came across the story of Butch Cassidy in the 1950s and soon enough, he dedicated his life to research and study his work for eight years, before the screenplay came to life.
The classic film was released in1969 (Image: Getty Images)
Having seen the film, a fan shared their thoughts on the review site Rotten Tomatoes. They said: “One of the best movies I’ve seen. It’s a fun watch, and it’s a movie that I can keep on watching when it’s on TV. A little clunky, but the acting duo is well worth it.”
Playing Butch Cassidy is Hollywood icon Paul Newman, alongside his partner in crime played by Robert Redford, and the two have received much praise for their believable on-screen dynamic.
One viewer wrote: “Arguably the last of the classic western movies and one of the earliest modern buddy movies. The movie is focused more on the friendship between the charming lead trio with Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Katherine Ross, as the most likeable and wholesome outlaws ever.”
The two charming outlaws living in the 1890s American West make a living robbing banks and trains. That is until, after a series of several successful robberies, a highly skilled federal posse is hired to hunt the duo down, and they are hot on their trail.
The posse won’t stop until the pair are seen dead, and so in a bid to escape the law and save their lives, they flee to South America with their gang. The question is, will they start a fresh one, or will their crimes follow them wherever they go?
It is widely considered one of the greatest American films (Image: 20th Century-Fox)
One review characterised the film as an “ageless gem”. They wrote: “Never grows old – the banter and playoff between Redford and Newman is gold.”
Meanwhile, another reviewer claimed: “One of the greatest movies of all time acted out by the best actors in the industry at the peak of their fame. Classic western, you can watch over and over.”
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid went on to win a large number of accolades, walking away with four Oscars and nine BAFTAs the year it was released.
Now, you can watch the classic movie from the comfort of your home, as it is set to appear on BBC2 tonight at 10pm.
