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Is the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) based on a true story?

Avery Davis Avery Davis Jun 20, 2017 · 2 mins read
Is the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) based on a true story?
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Yes, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) is based on a true story. The film portrays the lives of two real-life outlaws, Robert Leroy Parker (Butch Cassidy) and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid), who were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the movie takes some creative liberties with the story, including the depiction of some of the events and characters, and the ending is not entirely historically accurate.

What is the true story behind the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)?

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is a semi-biographical film that loosely portrays the lives of two infamous outlaws, Butch Cassidy (played by Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (played by Robert Redford), who robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches across the American West during the late 1800s.

The true story behind the movie is based on the real-life exploits of Robert LeRoy Parker (Butch Cassidy) and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid), who became known as the leaders of the “Wild Bunch,” a gang of notorious criminals who operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Cassidy and the Sundance Kid pulled off several high-profile robberies, including the Union Pacific train robbery in 1899, which netted them $30,000. They also robbed banks in several states, including Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

In 1901, Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Cassidy’s girlfriend, Etta Place (played by Katharine Ross in the film), fled to South America to escape the law. They settled in Argentina, where they continued to rob banks and stagecoaches. However, the law eventually caught up with them, and in 1908, they were surrounded by Bolivian soldiers and killed in a shootout.

The true story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a mix of fact and fiction, with the film taking some liberties with the characters and events. However, the movie remains a classic of the Western genre, and the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid continues to fascinate audiences today.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)?

Yes, there are several books about the true story behind the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Here are some examples:

  1. “Butch Cassidy: The True Story of an American Outlaw” by Charles Leerhsen

  2. “The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legends of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” by Thom Hatch

  3. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: The True Story of the Outlaw Trail” by Richard Patterson

  4. “The Real Butch Cassidy: A Documentary Biography” by James D. McLaird

These books explore the real-life events and characters that inspired the iconic film, delving into the history of the Wild West, the lives of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and the notorious outlaws’ daring heists and eventual demise.

You can try an audible free trial and search for audiobook versions of those

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Avery Davis
Written by Avery Davis
Unleashing potential with passion and purpose.