Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

This prequel to the legendary Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford is not nearly as good but that doesn't make it bad either. If you're going to compare these two, this one is only going to suffer. But if you look at it on it's own terms you'll find there's plenty to enjoy here.

Tom Berenger and William Katt step into these legendary roles as Butch and Sundance and they do remarkably well. Director Lester focuses mainly on the comedic aspects of their relationships and at times the film is quite hilarious in depicting their early years as thieves who work their way up to become train robbers. In the final third the movie goes into serious and dramatic territory which isn't all that interesting nor enjoyable, but it does enhance the characters and give them more of a plight. But it picks up for a grand finale where the pair rob their first train.

With good supporting actors like Brian Dennehy, Christopher Lloyd and Peter Weller on board, Butch and Sundance; The Early Days is a film that should easily entertain most western fans and even admirers of the legendary "sequel" if viewers are willing to accept it on it's own terms.

New version about the known bandits concerning their early days and first robberies , it boasts a youthful casting : Tom Berenger and William Katt giving sympathetic acting as the two legendary outlaws on the lam . Traces the origins of the famous outlaw duo Sundance Kid : William Katt , Butch Cassidy : Tom Berenger who carry out banks robbering , escape , and along the way they're continuously pursued by O. C. Hanks : Brian Dennehy and Joe Le Fors : Peter Weller . It deftly blends noisy action , shoot-outs , spoof Western with delightful performances . This movie is based on real events about But Cassidy and Sundance Kid and previously adapted to cinema by George Roy Hill with Robert Redford and Paul Newman , destinated to become a classic that renewed the buddy film industry . The picture is an enjoyable Western-comedy with interesting characterizing about the celebrated leaders of the ¨Wild Bunch gang¨ of train robbers , they were one of the last old-style bandits of the West . With a clever storyline by Allan Burns based on the characters created by writer William Goldman, including humanly fallible roles and warm, witty dialogue . Besides , appearing veterans actors as Jeff Corey , John Schuck, Peter Weller, Brian Dennehy , Christopher Lloyd, Jill Eikenberry , Vincent Schiavelli , Arthur Hill, Noble Willingham, and Michael C. Gwynne as Mike Cassidy, the Butch's mentor. The film displays a stunning score by Patrick Williams as well as colorful cinematography by László Kovács. The motion picture was competent and professionally directed by Richard Lester though failed at boxoffice.

Other versions about these two popular roles are : ¨The Legend of Butch & Sundance¨ (2004) by Sergio Mimica , this film is well played by a juvenile cast, such as : David Clayton Rogers, Ryan Browning and a gorgeous Rachelle Lefevre, playing to Etta Place. And the classic rendition ¨Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid¨ (1969) with Newman , Redford and Katharine Ross as the beautiful , willing ex-school teacher Etta. Adding more details about the Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid and Etta Place life, their true deeds were the following ones : they were celebrated leaders of the Wild Bunch gang of train robbers, and the last old-style bandits of the West. Cassidy, born in Utah, grandson of a Mormon bishop, his real name was Robert Parker. He adopted the name Cassidy in admiration of Mike Cassidy, a rustler who taught him to shoot and steal livestock , he was dubbed Butch from his short time working in a butcher's shop. He was convicted of stealing horses .By all accounts Butch was a likable fellow, described in a Pinkerton wanted poster as a having a cheerful and affable manner. It is said that, although a crack shot, he never killed anybody, and disliked gratuitous violence. Still determined on a life of crime he formed a gang, known as the Wild Bunch and robbed banks and trains. One of the gang was Harry Longbaugh, known as the Sundance Kid. This notorious pair became rustlers in the mid-90s, and they moved into train robberies, later, gaining fame and fortune but with the Pinkerton and railroad agents hot on their trail. Plus, Etta Place, fabled as the lover of Sundance Kid, it is very likely that Etta did take part in robberies, notably the hold up of Up Train in August 1900, dressed as a man. She did not, however died in Bolivia ambush that killed Butch and Sundance, since she was undergoing surgery on her appendix at the time. The Wild Bunch broke up and Cassidy and Longsbaugh sailed to South America in 1901 and continued their banditry there. It is believed they died in a gunfight with troops in Bolivia, near La Paz or Uruguay.

On a scale of 1-4 I give it a 2 but it is definitely worth watching Tom Berenger has a very strange resemblance to Paul Newman never thought I'd say that. William Katt also has somewhat of a look like Robert Redford. Especially when he grows a mustache the movie definitely looks like it was filmed for television with the violence toned down I though it would be a shoot 'em up western. While it did have some shooting this movie is more about Butch and Sundance meeting up and starting their outlaw careers. After seeing this one for the first time I actually want to watch the original for the umpteenth time to see what was incorporated into it if you are a fan of the first one you will really enjoy this movie.

I have never been a fan of the original Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Though enjoyable, the film has been wildly overpraised for its overly cute script. Are these supposed to feared outlaws or a western Laurel and Hardy. Butch and Sundance the Early Days is pretty much of the same thing. It is fairly entertaining but it is also held captive by an overly cute storyline. This movie pretty much goes through the same territory as the same movie. The actors playing Butch and Sundance, Tom Berenger and William Katt, are very good. There are some enjoyable scenes but they go on forever, like the scenes in the snow that vary from slapstick comedy to an attempt at drama. Basically, if you are not a discriminating viewer and you don't have anything better to do, this is OK.

Gorgeous scenery, well photographed. Good actors. Sweet tone. Inventive bits that echo the spirit of the previous movie. However, I agree with Leonard Maltin on the one flaw: no story. This movie is more or less a collections of vignettes, sometimes with little to no connection with each other. If there had been a developing story to hang these vignettes on, we would have gotten a movie very close to the quality of the previous movie. But as it is now, it's a simple pleasant movie. Even better when you realize the usual quality of sequels.