Super Short Summary : Set in the West, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid are both leaders of the Hole-in-The-Wall Gang. Butch and Sundance are totally opposite characters, but both bring different skills to the table, Butch is smart, and Sundance is fearless. After robbing a train, Butch and Sundance are chased by a well trained gang that is fearless and always one step behind Butch and Sundance. After escaping the gang, Butch and Sundance flee to Bolivia. In Bolivia, they are chased by the law and are shot trying to escape.
Best Lines : - "Kid, the next time I say, "Let's go someplace like Bolivia," let's GO someplace like Bolivia" (Butch Cassidy).
- "Kid, there's something I ought to tell you. I never shot anybody before" (Butch Cassidy).
"One hell of a time to tell me!" (Sundance Kid).
- ''Butch and me have been talking it all over. Wherever the hell Bolivia is, that's where we're off to" (Sundance Kid).
"Yeah, we'll go down there and play it safe'' (Butch Cassidy).
- "Alright. I'll jump first" (Butch Cassidy).
"No" (Sundance Kid).
"Then you jump first" (Butch Cassidy).
''No, I said'' (Sundance Kid).
"What's the matter with you?" (Butch Cassidy).
"I can't swim" (Sundance Kid).
"Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill you" (Butch Cassidy).
Thematic Connections : The theme of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid is, with the support of friends, anything is possible. This theme represents the film because Butch and Sundance support and help each other escape the gang trying to kill them, and also travel to Bolivia. Butch and Sundance support each other when they jump off the cliff into the river even though Sundance can't swim, Butch helps him. Another example is when Butch goes to get ammunition from the horses and Sundance gives him support by killing the enemies. The theme of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid reminds me of a movie I saw recently. In Star Wars Rogue One, Jyn and other rebel fighters escape the imperials and go to the Space Station to try and steal the plans to destroy the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. The themes are similar because in both films friends team up and risk their lives to help each other achieve their goals.
Style Analysis : Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid does a good job of capturing images. The Cinematography in the film is very different than newer films. In Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid there are many scenes where the camera stays in one spot, and either pans, zooms, or tilts. For example when Butch and Sundance are escaping the gang when riding the horse the camera is in one spot and pans with Butch and Sundance riding the horse away from the gang (49:55). Mise en Scene, or setting the stage is also very different from newer films. For example Visual Effects are used when Butch and Sundance are riding their horses around, when the film changes from black and white to color (9:08). Nondigetic sound or sound characters can't hear is used when Etta and Butch are riding a bicycle around and music plays in the background (26:55). Editing or the process of arranging shots in order and transitioning between them. A fade where a scene dissolves into next scene, is used when Butch and Sundance run out of the building and get shot (1:49:08). The scene freezes and goes to credits.
Critique : What was great about Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid was how it shows the relationship and the brotherhood between Butch and Sundance. Escaping the gang, the film shows how the characters support and believe in each other. For example at the end Butch believes that Sundance can give him cover when he goes to get more ammunition from the horse. What could have been better is if there was more action with the Hole-In-The-Wall Gang, like more robberies, and more conflict. I would recommend this film to a friend because it has a really good plot and there is always conflict and is never boring. Also, the film is has very good actors that have great chemistry and play their roles well. The film is good for anyone who loves brotherhood and wants a story about trust and support.
Citation : Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Directed by George Roy Hill, featuring Paul Newman, Robert Redford. Twentieth Century - Fox Film Corporation, 1969.