The timeless appeal of Sundance Kid: Remembering Robert Redford on screen

The death of Robert Redford at 89 has prompted many to return to the films that defined him — and none more so than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Released in 1969, the western paired Redford with Paul Newman and reimagined the genre with wit, charm and a cathartic sense of finality. More than half a century later, it remains one of the most beloved films of its kind, endlessly revisited by audiences who find in it both nostalgia and timeless entertainment.

Alongside All the President's Men (1976), in which Redford played journalist Bob Woodward unpicking the Watergate scandal, Butch Cassidy stands as a touchstone of American cinema. Where the latter captured the playful spirit of two outlaws out of time, the former became an emblem of accountability and the power of the press. Both films showcase Redford at his peak, balancing charisma with a thoughtful seriousness that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.

While Redford's career stretched from 'The Sting' to directing the Oscar-winning 'Ordinary People', these two works are perhaps the most enduring. They continue to be shown, studied and streamed, testament to a star whose appeal went far beyond his golden-boy looks. His passing has only reinforced how deeply his films remain interwined with popular culture, reminders of an actor and filmmaker who helped shape modern cinema.