Paul Newman’s brutally honest remarks from when he revealed his true feelings for Robert Redford
Even though Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were actual outlaws who got along well, actor Paul Newman acknowledged that he had some animosity against the youthful Robert Redford during the filming.
Redford as Harry Longabaugh, also known as the “Sundance Kid,” and Newman as Robert LeRoy Parker, well known as “Butch Cassidy,” were convincing in their portrayals of the Wild West pals, infamous outlaws who were running from the law following a string of bank and train robberies. This is a genuine monument to their acting prowess.
Based on the real outlaws, the 1969 movie is today hailed as one of the greatest Westerns ever made, having taken home four Oscars. The stars reunited four years later in another caper film, The Sting (1973), featuring two equally gorgeous heartthrobs.
Together, Newman and Redford, who were both legendary in their own right, performed their magic. But have you ever wondered how A-list actors in Hollywood get along when they’re not in front of the camera?The actor who played Butch, Newman, acknowledged at the age of 44 that he had harbored feelings for Redford’s 33-year-old character.
“We bounce off each other really well, and we have a lot of fun together,” Newman said in an interview with BBC Talking Pictures. He went on, “I would have wanted to play Sundance.” That calm, collected quality makes me feel a little more relaxed. I guess that has to be the easier portion.
As a rising celebrity, Redford costarred with Natalie Wood in the film Inside Daisy Clover, which earned him the 1965 Golden Globe for New celebrity of the Year.
Already a sensation, Newman starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Cool Hand Luke (1967).
When Steve McQueen declined a part in the movie, Redford was paired alongside Newman, who was receiving praise for both his acting and directing. The movie was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Additionally, McQueen turned down roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The French Connection, and Dirty Harry.
According to Newman’s memoir, “The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir,” the two superstars weren’t really friends at the time, the BBC writes.
“You can’t depend on Redford,” Newman remarked. It’s never certain if he will show up. That is merely impolite.
Their disagreements may have stemmed from their different working approaches, according to Newman’s youngest child Claire Newman Soderlund, whom he fathered with Joanne Woodward, his second wife.
“My father was a stickler for timeliness, and Bob, that was never really his strength,” the woman added. Dad has a lot of work to do. Bob was more of a free spirit, but he worked extremely hard at it because he wanted to be successful and good.
Redford, who is now 86 years old, reflected on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when he told ABC News after Newman died of lung cancer in 2008, “It was just that connection of playing those characters and the fun of it that really began the relationship.” “And then, once the movie began and we moved on, we found more differences as well as common ground that we both shared, interests, and other things that just kept growing over time.”
After playing famous outlaws and later thieves in The Sting, Newman and Redford explored the possibility of working again on a third film, but it never happened.
It nearly happened in the 1998 novel by Bill Bryson of the same name, A Walk in the Woods, which was made into a film in 2015. The story of this buddy film is around two old men who wish to climb the difficult Appalachian Trail but are out of shape.
With his close friend Newman in mind, Redford selected this script in 2005 for the film, which he produced and starred in.
“It started with Paul,” Redford stated in 2015. “Paul and I had been looking for a third film to do together.” It had been a long time coming, and I still couldn’t find it. I immediately thought of Paul when I read this novel.
Redford, who was 79 years old at the time of the interview, stated that he forwarded the book to Newman, who then decided not to cast him physically and instead chose Nick Nolte for the role.
Newman and Redford are two highly esteemed actors whose connection has grown tremendously since they first collaborated on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The actors, who began acting like brothers after moving into a house a mile apart in Connecticut, are also close with their families.
“We both got to know each other’s flaws pretty well,” Redford remarked in a statement following the death of his friend. Naturally, I was heavier than him in that regard. However, because we were aware of each other’s shortcomings, we would play them up and attempt to fool one another. We would attempt to surprise one another, and it was so much fun that it started to take on the form of its own scenario.
“Paul loves to laugh and he really likes to have fun, and he especially loves to laugh at his own jokes, some of which are just really awful,” he continued. Because you were engrossed in his enjoyment of them, you forgot about the joke and began to laugh along with him.
Robert Redford and Paul Newman have such wonderful chemistry! Share your thoughts with us regarding their on-screen camaraderie and in-person romance!
