Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid by William Goldman

 Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid by William Goldman

Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E  and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

William Goldman won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Writing and other prestigious prizes for this work.

He writes about this experience and other fascinating details, aspects about writing, acting in and making movies in his masterpiece Adventures in the Film Trade, one of the best books about this trade or art, depending on how you want to see it.

William Goldman has researched and worked for a long time to accomplish the script, which is based on real events.

Incredible as some scenes may appear, they happened and the author explains in his Adventures that he encountered situations wherein truth beats reality, albeit at other films, such as A Bridge Too Far, where real life occurrences shocked critics, who disbelieved and mocked them in the film, even if they truly had taken place.

Humor is present throughout this film, right to the very end, where the two partners use irony and a jocular tone.

Sometimes it is, actually it appears to be involuntary, being brilliantly included by the author, such as the moments when vital truths are revealed:

-          I can’t swim

This is what the Sundance Kid says in a climactic scene, in which they are followed and cornered and they have to take a decision.

It is actually Butch Cassidy, played magnificently by the wonderful Paul Newman, who is doing the thinking and planning.

In spite of being a gang leader, the character appears to be very likeable and friendly, using little violence:

-          I have not killed anybody- he confesses in another tense situation and I felt like laughing, because there is danger ahead

-          And you decided to tell me now! Comes the obfuscated, natural reaction of the Sundance Kid

In a fight right near the start of the film, Butch is challenged for the leadership of the group by a massive bandit and they have to face each other with knives, but the clever Cassidy knows how to deal with it.

Nevertheless, before getting engaged, he tells his friend:

-          Bet on him!

-          Of course! But who will take it- in other words, all present would bet on the same giant

-          Ok, but if I win lose, kill him

In another, very early scene, the Sundance Kid is playing cards and winning so much that his opponent is accusing him of cheating.

The man invites him to forgive about the money and stands up, in a classic Western posture of an invitation for a shootout.

Butch Cassidy comes to his comrade and says a few words that are intended to increase his fun- this is by the way a man who appears to enjoy life, humor and various situations so much that he could be a role model, if it weren’t for his illicit activities, which might have been a challenge and a stimulant that brought him to a state of catharsis.

Finally, he says the magic word: Sundance…

As soon as the valiant shooter hears the name of the best, fastest gun fighter alive, he loses his determination to challenge him.

Sundance responds to the invitation to show just how fast he is and shoots his belt and pistols off his belly.

  

There is an admirable camaraderie, friendship and esteem that hold this partnership together, under the most desperate circumstances.

There is a strange love triangle that instead of creating an abyss, a conflict between the two men, appears to have made to bond stronger.

Paul Newman had some arguments with the director of the film, which were repeated so much that this became a sort of a joke.

George Roy hill was a skilled pilot, who took part in the Korean War and went on to make other films with William Goldman, one of which is The Great Waldo Pepper, a film that the audiences rejected, and this happens when the character played by Susan Sarandon falls off the plane, which the public does not want, as Goldman explains in his Adventures in the Screen Trade.

In this book, Paul Newman is described as not just a fabulous actor, but also a man of integrity and a Superman.

Whereas Robert Redford, at least in the period after this film and sometime after that is coming across as obnoxious, pretentious and even infantile.

He wanted to start a project for a film based on a book by William Goldman and had him work for a good many months only to cancel after the success of Butch and Sundance made him see things differently:

-          In Sundance I have a strong, virile character and in this project the role will change that image-

-          I don’t want my fans disappointed

And worse, he recidivated later on All the President’s Men