This unnecessary prequel to a seminal western is still fairly enjoyable on its own and the two leads (Tom Berenger and William Katt),then virtually unknown, mimic Paul Newman and Robert Redford, respectively, surprisingly well; Jeff Corey is even on hand to reprise his role from the earlier film! Good-looking if forgettable entertainment - and curiously straightforward, given the stylization of the original and the involvement of Richard Lester (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT [1964], PETULIA [1968]) who, earlier in the decade, had also directed two rousing adventures, THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973) and its sequel, THE FOUR MUSKETEERS (1974)!
Butch and Sundance: The Early Days
1979
Action / Comedy / Western
Butch and Sundance: The Early Days
1979
Action / Comedy / Western
Plot summary
The early partnership of outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, better known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in the late nineteenth century American frontier is told. Just paroled from a Wyoming prison on a vow to the state's Governor, affable and otherwise honorable Butch returns to his old stomping grounds of Brown's Hole, Utah, where he meets Longabaugh in a casino shootout gone wrong, the event initiated by Longabaugh. Despite baby-faced and more volatile Longabaugh not looking for a professional union, Butch, impressed by his shooting prowess and eventually renaming him the Sundance Kid, is able to convince him into that partnership for what each can do for the other, Butch to be the brains, and Sundance to be the shooting brawn. Despite wanting some notoriety both as an outlaw but also as an all 'round good guy who deserves some respect, Butch is trying to ween himself off criminal activities largely for the sake of his wife Mary and their two young sons, while Sundance is heading in the opposite direction wanting to commit as much lucrative crime as they can muster. In their somewhat opposing views, they agree to start with small robberies, ultimately, if possible, working their way up to more lucrative robberies, such as of trains. With various people after them for some of their past deeds, including one of Butch's former criminal associates, they will find through their criminal and non-criminal ventures if there is a future for them as partners.
Uploaded by: OTTO
Director
Top cast
Christopher Lloyd as Bill Tod Carver
Tom Berenger as Butch Cassidy / Robert Leroy Parker
Peter Weller as Joe Le Fors
Brian Dennehy as O.C. Hanks
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
BUTCH AND SUNDANCE: THE EARLY DAYS (Richard Lester, 1979) **1/2
Reviewed by
Not great, but the cast keeps this watchable
BUTCH AND SUNDANCE: THE EARLY YEARS is a western prequel to BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID; they couldn't make a straight sequel to that movie for obvious reasons. This one sees the notorious duo just starting out, with William Katt (of CARRIE fame) a lot of fun as Sundance and Tom Berenger slightly wooden and uncomfortable as Butch. The film is directed by Richard Lester, of THE THREE MUSKETEERS fame, and much in the spirit of those movies, i.e. very silly, over-directed, and barging its way through genre tropes with high energy and low wit. What does keep this watchable are the minor roles for future greats, with Christopher Lloyd playing a typically goofy role (he gets one of the film's funniest lines),future ROBOCOP Peter Weller a lawman, Vincent Schiavelli a bad guy, and the great Brian Dennehy a typically larger-than-life presence.
Reviewed by
Fun western
I Was surprised by Butch and Sundanese: the early days, since I'm not a big fan of westerns, but this movie was fun. I haven't seen the original Butch Cassey and the Sundanese kid yet, but I'm sure this movie is just as good. MY favorite parts were the snow, taking out a billet out of someone, a skunk spraying his oder at someone, the mountains, the scenery. The movie stars Tom Berenger as Butch Cassidy and William Katt as the Sundance Kid this time around and they did a pretty good job replacing Paul Newman and Robert Redford. John Schuck from McMillan and Wive has a bit part. He is fun to watch- I GIVE BUTCH AND SUNDANCE: THE EARLY YEARS *** OUT OF **** STARS.