Blackthorn: new Butch Cassidy film

[Bob Boze Bell]

September 23, 2011

Just saw a sneak preview of a new Butch Cassidy film called "Blackthorn." It's about Butch in Bolivia in 1927. Sam Shepard is dead on. Spectacular scenery and gunfights. It's three hats from perfect. Details to come.

 

"I've been my own man. There's nothing richer than that"

—Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard), when asked if he's ever been rich

[Jim Holden]

Downloaded and watched the whole movie. Flippin' awesome.

[Jim Holden]

Downloaded and watched "Blackthorn" starring Sam Shephard - as a post San Vicente Butch Cassidy.  This is a South American film, actually made down there with stunning photography, and mostly South American actors, except for the three who play Butch, Etta (Ethel) and Sundance (in flashbacks), the Pinkerton Agent, and Sam....

It is a fanciful story.  Etta (Ethel) returned to San Francisco because she was pregnant.  Sundance was wounded at San Vicente, but they escaped - though Sundance was suffering so that Butch put him out of his misery.  Butch then becomes James Blackthorn, small rancher and horse breeder, and trades letters with Etta, and later after her death with Etta's son.  He's planning his return to the US when he is involved in another adventure with a Spanish Outlaw. 

Good acting, costumes, guns, horses and scenery.  An entertaining story, but you probably have to suspend your belief in the "real" Butch & Sundance story....but as I said, perhaps this is how I would have liked them to be.....

[Jim Holden]

You know, this latest "kerfuffle" with the William Phillips/Butch Cassidy controversy got me started again.  I'm right in the middle of the latest revision of the Ann Meadows/Dan Buck "Digging Up Butch & Sundance" book, along with re-reading some Kelly/Horan, etc. information.  The whole thing, along with this new movie has re-opened my interest in the whole "Wild Bunch" era with a thirst for more knowledge about some of the lesser know characters, like Elza Lay, Matt Warner, etc.  I even purchased the "collectible" True West issue that Dan/Ann "hosted" that was built around Butch/Sundance.  Has BBB ever thought about an "Illustrated Life & Times of Butch & Sundance"?

[Bob Boze Bell]

That is a great idea, Jim. I too, am jazzed about Butch and Sundance again, and it's because of this movie. Amazing. I'll have a full review later today.