Why a lukewarm Western became a cultural titan and birthed an indie film empire
In short: When released in 1969, critics dismissed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as a slick, hollow exercise in style. Yet, this tale of two outlaws fleeing to Bolivia defied its poor initial reception to become a defining American classic, eventually inspiring the creation of the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival.
Screenwriter William Goldman spent eight years researching the lives of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, drawn to the rare narrative arc of their flight to South America. He famously viewed their escape as a rare 'second act' in an American life. Despite his vision, the script faced significant studio resistance; executives were wary of protagonists who ran away, a departure from the stoic, unyielding archetype exemplified by actors like John Wayne. Only after Goldman made minor adjustments did the project gain traction, eventually securing Paul Newman and Robert Redford for the lead roles.
Upon its September 1969 release, the film encountered a harsh critical landscape. Reviewers like Vincent Canby and Roger Ebert found the film's tone jarring, particularly criticizing the inclusion of the Burt Bacharach song 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head' as anachronistic and manipulative. Ebert, who remained a vocal detractor for decades, felt the film's quality plummeted once the 'super-posse' began their pursuit. Even the stars were initially skeptical; Redford famously admitted he thought the song choice was a 'dumb idea' at the time, though he later conceded his error as the track became a massive hit.
The film's legacy, however, far outstripped its rocky critical start. It became the highest-grossing film of 1969, eventually earning over $100 million in the United States. Its cultural footprint expanded significantly when Robert Redford renamed his Utah ski resort after his character, establishing the Sundance Institute in 1981. This initiative evolved into the Sundance Film Festival, cementing the movie's status as a cornerstone of American cinema. Today, the film is preserved in the National Film Registry and is widely celebrated for its jaunty screenplay and iconic performances, proving that even a 'turkey' in the eyes of contemporary critics can evolve into a cinematic legend.
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