‘Didn’t want me’ Robert Redford details sacrifice to land Butch Cassidy role
ROBERT REDFORD shot to fame when he featured as the lead role alongside Paul Newman in the Western classic Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
In an episode of BBC Two’s Talking Pictures, viewers got to see a range of interviews from actors who featured in the Hollywood era of Western films. One of which was Robert Redford who starred in the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and The Sundance kid.
During the episode, fans got see a snippet from Michael Parkinson’s interview with Robert back in 1980 touching on his Western role.
The host mentioned that it was Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid that had helped kickstart his career.
Agreeing, Robert said that although he had starred in other films prior, there was nothing that he was in that was to the same degree.
Robert then revealed to the host that he was comfortable starring in the Western despite doubts from the studio.
Robert admitted the studio didn’t want him to star in the film (Image: BBC)
Robert starred in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid in 1969 (Image: BBC)
He told the presenter: “The studio didn’t want me in that film because I was not known.
“They were trying to have a star comparable to Paul (Newman) to be with.
“I practically did it for nothing, that film, because I just felt comfortable playing that role.”
Robert added that he found the process of making the film enjoyable and had the most fun shooting it than any other movie he’s made.
The actor said he wasn’t known before starring in the Western (Image: BBC)
Paul Newman said his wife was behind Robert being casted (Image: BBC)
Elsewhere in the documentary, it was revealed that Robert owed his casting in the Western film to Joanne Woodward, his co-star Paul’s wife.
In an interview with Iain Johnstone, Paul shared that both he and Steve McQueen tried to buy the script before it was given to somebody at 20th Century Fox.
Iain asked if it was him who decided to cast Robert before stating that it was his wife’s idea.
He said: “She read the script and she said, ‘it’s marvellous and the only guy that can play it is Bob Redford.”
“We have a lot of fun together, we bounce off each other real well.”
During his interview Paul revealed that he would have preferred playing his co-star’s part of The Sundance Kid as it was the easier role.
The film, which is loosely based on fact, follows the story of two Western outlaws Robert Parker “Butch Cassidy” and Harry Longbaugh “Sundance Kid”.
After a robbery goes wrong, the duo find themselves on the run as they have a posse tracking them.
As their solution is to try and flee to Bolivia, viewers watch as the film goes on a journey of fast draws, wild rides and outlaw life.
The film won many awards after its release including a BAFTA for for Best Film in 1970 and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay the same year.
Elsewhere in the Talking Pictures episode, the show looked at other names from the Western era including Gary Cooper, James Steward, John Wayne, Yul Brynner and Clint Eastwood.
