Home/Episodes/Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ With Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, and Sean Fennessey

September 2, 2019 · Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) · Adventure · Biography · Crime · 1:25:35 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Aaron SorkinListed multiple scenes including first Redford scene, train robbery scenes, Bolivian scenes, and Butch never having shot anyone before, but didn't pick a single favorite▶ 48:21
Bill SimmonsThe waterfall scene where Redford reveals he can't swim and they jump▶ 48:52
Sean FennesseyMentioned waterfall scene, Bledsoe army enlistment scene, and praised the 'I can't swim' line reading as favorite ever▶ 49:25

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsButch Cassidy and the Sundance KidBrilliant movie star - this was his Apex Mountain▶ 52:41

What's Aged the Best

Aaron SorkinThe dialogue - wouldn't change a word of it, it's perfect▶ 55:19
Bill SimmonsWidescreen - the movie looks gorgeous on modern TVs with proper aspect ratio after suffering on square TVs for decades▶ 53:10
Sean FennesseyRobert Redford's performance in the movie and the love story dynamic between Butch and Sundance▶ 54:46

Casting What-Ifs

Aaron SorkinKatharine RossProvides context about Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross's age difference in The Graduate, discusses historical accuracy of Etta's character, agrees Ross was getting the better parts▶ 59:44
Bill SimmonsNatalie WoodMentions Natalie Wood was considered for Etta Place role, discusses Katharine Ross's career trajectory and how she could have prevented Ali MacGraw's rise but chose to step back from Hollywood▶ 59:06
Sean FennesseyKatharine RossExplains how screenwriter Goldman made Etta a schoolteacher based on photos despite unclear historical record, shares trivia about Ross meeting Sam Elliott on set▶ 1:00:07

Dion Waiters Award

Bill SimmonsStrother MartinInitially suggests Harvey (the giant character) but then agrees with Strother Martin▶ 1:01:40
Sean FennesseyStrother MartinStrother Martin (Adam Lockett scene) - notes Martin appeared in all three major Westerns that year▶ 1:02:12

Half-Assed Internet Research

Aaron SorkinContributed context and commentary on the trivia, including discussion of the bicycle scene's impact, Newman-Redford chemistry, and connection to his own career (Social Network wouldn't exist without this movie inspiring him)▶ 1:05:00
Bill SimmonsShared trivia including: body count of 30, 1979 prequel with Tom Berenger, Katherine Ross-George Roy Hill conflict, Bolivia scenes shot in Mexico with cast getting sick, Newman-Redford friendship, Bob Dylan was approached for 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head', movie motivated David Fincher to become director▶ 1:04:49
Sean FennesseyAdded details about Conrad Hall-Katherine Ross marriage connection, discussed the bicycle scene sequence and its cultural impact, mentioned George Roy Hill and Goldman's later collaboration on 'The Great Waldo Pepper'▶ 1:05:11

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsGeorge FurthConsiders Strother Martin but leans toward George Firth▶ 1:12:02

Best Quote

Aaron SorkinMultiple quotes including 'For a moment I thought we were in trouble' (last line), 'I can't swim' (first line), and 'Next time I say, let's go someplace like Bolivia, let's go someplace like Bolivia'▶ 1:16:18
Bill SimmonsMultiple quotes including the bifocals speech ('Boy, I got vision. The rest of the world wears bifocals'), 'This is no time for bravery', and Catherine Ross's monologue about not watching him die▶ 1:15:20
Sean Fennessey'I think we lost them' followed by 'I don't think so' exchange▶ 1:16:45

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Aaron SorkinFavored Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, also suggested Clooney and Pitt, Ryan Gosling pairing, and Ryan Reynolds as Butch▶ 1:18:54
Bill SimmonsSuggested multiple pairings: Damon as Butch and Affleck as Sundance, Leo as Sundance, questioned Tom Cruise and Denzel with his son▶ 1:19:27
Sean FennesseyLeo as Butch and Gosling as Sundance, also suggested Ethan Hawke as Butch▶ 1:21:16

Who Won the Movie

Aaron SorkinWilliam GoldmanInitially said Redford, then switched to Goldman after SPEAKER_01's suggestion▶ 1:22:40

Movies Referenced (38)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
The Godfather (1972)IMDb ↗Lb ↗12Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:09
All the President's Men (1976)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin▶ 29:25
The Graduate (1967)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin▶ 31:52
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 1:37
John Wick (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 0:09
The Judge (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Aaron Sorkin▶ 9:41
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:24
True Grit (2010)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 35:26
War Horse (2011)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Aaron Sorkin▶ 20:22
A Few Good Men (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Aaron Sorkin▶ 26:21
Barefoot in the Park (1967)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 37:59
Cool Hand Luke (1967)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 6:02

Directors Referenced (6)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
George Roy HillIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean FennesseyThe Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slap Shot▶ 16:36
Ben AffleckIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinArgo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 34:17
David FincherIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Aaron Sorkin, Bill SimmonsSe7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 1:09:59
John ColoradoIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Aaron Sorkin, Sean FennesseyHancock▶ 20:01
Mike NicholsIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Aaron SorkinThe Graduate▶ 38:12
Warren BeattyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsHeaven Can Wait▶ 39:04

Actors Referenced (45)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Butch CassidyIMDb ↗Lb ↗61Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 2:18
Robert RedfordIMDb ↗Lb ↗39Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean FennesseyThe Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid▶ 2:43
Paul NewmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗25Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean FennesseyRoad to Perdition, The Verdict▶ 2:42
Strother MartinIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsSlap Shot, Cool Hand Luke▶ 47:54
John WayneIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill SimmonsThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance▶ 0:09
Steve McQueenIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinThe Great Escape▶ 37:51
Tom HanksIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinCast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 21:03
Matt DamonIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinGood Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 34:17
Brad PittIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Aaron Sorkin, Bill SimmonsFight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 50:17
Dustin HoffmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinRain Man, Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy▶ 38:01
Edith HeadIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsRoman Holiday▶ 53:42
Jeff DanielsIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Aaron SorkinThe Squid and the Whale▶ 1:02:41

Writers Referenced (9)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
William GoldmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗20Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean FennesseyButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 3:28
Larry GelbartIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Aaron SorkinTootsie▶ 28:09
Neil SimonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 41:08
Bob WoodwardIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Aaron SorkinAll the President's Men▶ 41:48
F. Scott FitzgeraldIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Great Gatsby▶ 26:54
Mario PuzoIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Godfather, The Godfather Part II▶ 7:57
Scott FrankIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Aaron SorkinOut of Sight▶ 34:17
Stephen SondheimIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Aaron Sorkin▶ 25:28
Tony GilroyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Aaron SorkinMichael Clayton, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story▶ 34:17

Cinematographers Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Conrad HallIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons▶ 20:51
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Aaron SorkinThe Other Guys▶ 23:15
Nathan SwingleIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyUnited 93▶ 55:46