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  Home Page » Opinion » Columnists » My Turn » Getting To Meet Redford The Sundance Kid

Getting to meet Redford, the Sundance Kid

by Charlie Langdon
My Turn

At the time he was filming “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” here, I had the opportunity of interviewing Robert Redford.

I found him to be an unassuming young man. I also learned

that he had

attended the University of Colorado. He said he hated it. He said he was wasting his time, and he cut many classes in hopes they’d toss him out. And, of course, they did.

He revealed his vast ambition. After completing “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” he was preparing to film “Downhill Racer.” He was to be both the star and the director. It turned out to be a darned good movie. That effort led eventually to the Sundance Film Festival. I’ve never attended it, but wish I had. My son, Matt, stopped by two or three times.

Before our interview, it had been darn near impossible to get on the set. The PR man kept saying, “don’t worry, we’ll come through.” But they didn’t. Finally, Herald editor Ian “Sandy” Thompson said,

“I don’t care how you do it. Swim the river, push the cops aside.” With that kind of backing, I and one or two other reporters boldly walked up to the entrance gate, “Sorry, get out of the way.” The people there responded, “Go on in.”

The set was along the Florida River. The train that was going to be robbed sat there chuffing all day. It was full of extras, all locals making good money for sitting around every day.

Finally, director George Roy Hill announced “Mr. Newman, Mr. Redford, we’re ready for you.” The two actors left their dressing rooms and walked to the train. Inside the railroad car, actor George Furth spoke, “You know, Butch, I’d be proud to be robbed by you, but Mr. Harriman wouldn’t like it. In fact, he’d be darned mad. I’ll give you the money, if you ask for it.”

The scene was hilarious. I wasn’t surprised. Furth was a very funny guy. I interviewed him, also. He was very creative. He’d co-authored the Broadway hit, “Chorus Line.”

I saw an obituary notice of his death earlier this year in The New York Times.

I also interviewed Katherine Ross. She was very shy, and very small. Smaller than me. For a few moments, I feared that the interview would be a disaster. Then I recalled that she had performed at the Marine’s Memorial Theatre in San Francisco when I was in the Army. I’d had a friend in the cast, Joe Rhine. When I told her that Joe and I were longtime friends, she perked right up and we had a wonderful interview. Then I took a photo of her sitting on a rock on the set. I understand she was in love at that time with the cameraman.

During the shooting here, the town was buzzing over movie stars. Ross was seen walking her dogs in Town Plaza.

Word got around that they were going to shoot a scene at Bakers Bridge. Butch and Sundance were going to jump from the bridge into the Animas. Of course, the jump was made by stuntmen, who had a jolly time tumbling through the rapids.

A few months later, the film opened here at the old Kiva Theatre. It was exciting seeing all the local scenes. Audiences loved it. Of course, there was great rapport between Newman and Redford.

I hadn’t seen it again, until a couple of weeks ago, when I saw part of it at the El Rey Inn in Santa Fe.

Charlie Langdon is the Herald’s senior critic. He can be reached at langdons@gobrainstorm.net.