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‘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 Sorkin▶ 48:21Listed 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
Bill Simmons▶ 48:52The waterfall scene where Redford reveals he can't swim and they jump
Sean Fennessey▶ 49:25Mentioned waterfall scene, Bledsoe army enlistment scene, and praised the 'I can't swim' line reading as favorite ever

Apex Mountain

Aaron Sorkin▶ 52:50Agrees, adding that Ordinary People is a close second for Redford's Apex Mountain — but if we're just talking about him as an actor, All the President's Men stands
Bill Simmons▶ 52:41Robert Redford in All the President's Men (1976) — his Apex Mountain: probably the biggest star in the world at that point, with the juice to produce his own movie, get it funded, and put himself in it

What's Aged the Best

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

Casting What-Ifs

Aaron Sorkin▶ 59:44Katharine Ross — Provides 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
Bill Simmons▶ 59:06Natalie Wood — Mentions 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:07Katharine Ross — Explains how screenwriter Goldman made Etta a schoolteacher based on photos despite unclear historical record, shares trivia about Ross meeting Sam Elliott on set

Dion Waiters Award

Aaron Sorkin▶ 1:02:09Strother Martin
Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:40Strother Martin — Initially suggests Harvey (the giant character) but then agrees with Strother Martin
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:02:12Strother Martin — Strother Martin (Adam Lockett scene) - notes Martin appeared in all three major Westerns that year

Half-Assed Internet Research

Aaron Sorkin▶ 1:05:00Contributed 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)
Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:49Shared 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:05:11Added 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'

Joey Pants Award

Aaron Sorkin▶ 1:12:06George Furth — George Firth
Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:02George Furth — Considers Strother Martin but leans toward George Firth

Best Quote

Aaron Sorkin▶ 1:16:18Multiple 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'
Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:20Multiple 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:45'I think we lost them' followed by 'I don't think so' exchange

Probably Unanswerable Questions

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

Who Won the Movie

Aaron Sorkin▶ 1:22:40William Goldman — Initially said Redford, then switched to Goldman after another host's suggestion
Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:55William Goldman — Goldman (William Goldman, the screenwriter)

Movies Referenced (36)

The Godfather (1972)

12 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the President's Men (1976)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin▶ 29:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Graduate (1967)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin▶ 31:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

3 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

True Grit (2010)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 35:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

War Horse (2011)

3 mentions · Aaron Sorkin▶ 20:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Few Good Men (1992)

2 mentions · Aaron Sorkin▶ 26:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 37:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fatal Attraction (1987)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

George Roy Hill

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slap Shot▶ 16:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Affleck

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 34:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Fincher

5 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 1:09:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

2 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey · Known for Hancock▶ 20:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Nichols

2 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?▶ 38:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Warren Beatty

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Reds, Heaven Can Wait▶ 39:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (44)

Butch Cassidy

61 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Hollywood Homicide▶ 2:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Redford

39 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid▶ 2:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Newman

25 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Hustler, Road to Perdition, The Verdict▶ 2:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Strother Martin

8 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Slap Shot, The Wild Bunch, Cool Hand Luke▶ 47:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wayne

7 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man▶ 0:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve McQueen

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for The Great Escape, Papillon▶ 37:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hanks

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 21:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Damon

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 34:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brad Pitt

4 mentions · Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons · Known for Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 50:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dustin Hoffman

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for Rain Man, Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy▶ 38:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Edith Head

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for A Place in the Sun, Roman Holiday▶ 53:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeff Daniels

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for The Squid and the Whale, Arachnophobia, The Purple Rose of Cairo▶ 1:02:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (10)

William Goldman

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin, Sean Fennessey · Known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 3:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Aaron Sorkin

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Aaron Sorkin · Known for A Few Good Men, The Trial of the Chicago 7▶ 2:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Larry Gelbart

2 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for Tootsie▶ 28:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Neil Simon

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Odd Couple, The Goodbye Girl▶ 41:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bob Woodward

1 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for All the President's Men▶ 41:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

F. Scott Fitzgerald

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Great Gatsby▶ 26:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mario Puzo

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Godfather, Superman, The Godfather Part II▶ 7:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Scott Frank

1 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for Logan, Out of Sight▶ 34:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stephen Sondheim

1 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for Dick Tracy, West Side Story▶ 25:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Gilroy

1 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for Michael Clayton, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story▶ 34:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (4)

Conrad Hall

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Aaron Sorkin, Bill Simmons▶ 20:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Conrad L. Hall

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Road to Perdition, American Beauty, Tequila Sunrise▶ 53:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Grantland

1 mentions · Aaron Sorkin · Known for The Taking of Pelham 123, The Other Guys▶ 23:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nathan Swingle

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for United 93, Super Troopers▶ 55:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗