 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
- Review Date: May 31, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Western
- 1969
Common Sense Media says
Funny and poignant tale of two famous outlaws.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this classic film's message is somewhat responsible (crime does indeed pay, but not without consequences), but parents should know this movie contains prostitutes, drinking and carousing and lots and lots of shooting.
What's the story?
Butch is the brains and Sundance the levelheaded sure-shot. Together, they've led the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang through so many bank and train robberies that it was just a matter of time before the law came riding hard after them. The gang splits, and for a while Butch and Sundance elude the tireless posse and hole up with Sundance's girl, Etta (Katharine Ross), to plan their next move. Butch decides the best option is for all three of them to head for Bolivia. They'll even go straight if they have to. Traveling with a woman will be good cover -- or so they think, until the posse reappears in South America, eager for blood.
Is it any good?
Just as the real outlaws they portray are said to have been, Paul Newman and Robert Redford are such a charismatic team that it's impossible to watch BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID and not laugh with them, sympathize with them, even want to see them shoot their way out of trouble. What sort of example, parents might wonder, does that set for their children? Before answering, consider the talents of director George Roy Hill (who later reunited the two stars in The Sting) and screenwriter William Goldman, because they do something remarkable here. They construct a sublimely entertaining movie around the plight of two outlaws fleeing justice, but amidst the laughs and the clever exchanges lingers the scent of impending misfortune, an ever-present reminder that these men are criminals.
There's no outright moralizing -- Goldman is far too shrewd a writer for that -- but the message comes through, amidst a hail of gunfire, that crime is only glamorous up to a point. "Your times is over," they're told, "and you're gonna die bloody, and all you can do is choose where." The import of that statement is not lost on the viewer. Academy Awards went to Goldman for his outstanding screenplay, Conrad Hall for cinematography, and Burt Bacharach for his original score and the movie's theme song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the charisma of the outlaws: It's impossible to watch this movie and not laugh with them, sympathize with them, even want to see them shoot their way out of trouble? What sort of example, parents might wonder, does that set for their children? Is it ever okay to break the law if you can get away with it? What do you think of the crimes Butch and Sundance committed?
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AGE
Amazing--
Funny and amazingly exciting coupled with great acting. Real fun movie to watch. One of the greatest movies I have ever seen. 12+ for sexual content.
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AGE
My favorite movie of all time
This movie deserves its acclaim; it's a classic. The acting and writing are wonderful, and there are some outstanding dramatic and comic moments. But most kids will probably think it is too slow. It is a subtle movie with little dialog.
William Goldman wrote in "Adventures in the Screen Trade" that he was fascinated by the idea of two criminals who achieved legendary status in the US, and then went to Bolivia and were even more legendary there. They recaptured their past, as so many wish to do but never manage.
The soundtrack is one of the best ever, too. Burt Bacharach did a great job, not only on "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" but also "South American Getaway" and all the others.
It isn't for kids. It doesn't really have a lot of positive messages, except for presenting an enduring friendship, but it is great anyway.
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| Topics: | adventures, friendship, history |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | George Roy Hill |
| Cast: | Katharine Ross, Paul Newman, Robert Redford |
| Genre: | Western |
| Run time: | 111 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 24, 1969 |
| DVD release date: | April 1, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
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