Compare And Contrast Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are two bank robbers in a Western world. Their lives are all guns, ammo, and fleeing from the law. Written by George Roy Hill, this film follows this pair’s escape from the law. The words “Western Film” bring about thoughts of Sheriffs and men who must strictly follow the laws of the land. This film, however, is different from the rest of its type in very subtle ways. It differs from the likes of Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery in that it provides a commentary of society in the 1960s (The time in which it was written). This commentary comes from the anti-heroic main characters, faceless Superposse, and silent protests of the townspeople.

The use of anti-heroes in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

They don't even break formation.” ( Goldman 99)

Society is faceless just as the Superposse is and constantly exerts its presence on those outside of it. Those who step out of line with its regulations are hunted down relentlessly until they are no longer a threat. Butch and Sundance are always at odds with the threat of the Superposse, a singular force coming at them with inhuman like qualities. It does not need to eat, it does not need to sleep. All it has to do is hunt down Butch and Sundance, the outlaws that defied its regulations.

Not all rebellions have to be loud protests; sometimes silence is capable of sending a message just as powerful. For example, the townspeople silently rebel on pages thirty seven and thirty eight of the script. The townspeople listen to the marshal’s rant, saying he will provide anything they need as long as they take the law into their own hands, they do not respond at all.When the marshal of the town has no idea what to do he tries to get his towns folk to help, it seems they cannot be moved by speeches, they do not say what they feel about the Hole in the Wall Gang, but that they will not trifle with them. The police cannot force them into doing anything, that includes taking on the responsibility of hunting down armed and dangerous bank