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Robert Redford’s Westerns
Robert Redford, who passed away on Sept. 16, appeared in five Westerns, from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ to ‘The Horse Whisperer’
Robert Redford had a thing about the West. He grew up in California and spent a good portion of his life in Utah, where he founded the Sundance Film Festival. From his earliest days in Hollywood, Redford played Western roles, first in TV series as a guest and then as a lead actor. His rugged good looks and insightful character studies added up to a number of powerful performances.
There are spoilers in this article.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
More of an action comedy than a classic Western, George Roy Hill’s popular film won four Oscars but not for Best Picture. As far as acting duos in Westerns go, Paul Newman’s blue-eyed Butch Cassidy and Redford’s mustachioed Sundance Kid are the gold standard. Butch is full of ideas and sly jokes while Sundance has a dour disposition despite being with school teacher Etta (Katharine Ross). When Sundance reveals, “I can’t swim,” before they leap into a raging river, Butch reminds him, “What are you crazy? The fall will probably kill you.”
