Robert Redford, known for his multifaceted career as an actor, director, producer, and activist, had a significant connection to the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring alongside Paul Newman. Despite this fondness, Redford initially disapproved of one key element: the song
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.”
This song, featured in a memorable scene, raised questions about its fit within the Western-themed film when it premiered over five decades ago.
The Film, Its Creators, and the Famous Song
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid marked the first of two famous collaborations between Robert Redford and Paul Newman, depicting the exploits of two outlaws across the Wild West and Latin America. Directed by George Roy Hill with a screenplay by William Goldman, the movie combined historical fiction with charming performances that captivated audiences. The score was crafted by Burt Bacharach, who, together with lyricist Hal David, created the cheerful track
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,”
famously sung by B.J. Thomas for a lighthearted sequence involving Newman and Katharine Ross.
The Controversial Bicycle Scene and Its Impact
The bicycle scene, showing the playful courtship between Newman and Ross under sunlit lanes, is now regarded as one of the film’s most iconic moments. However, its upbeat tone contrasts sharply with the grittier parts of the movie, like shootouts and cliff-diving stunts. At the time, Robert Redford questioned the appropriateness of including this song, expressing his doubts shortly after the film’s release.
“When the film was released, I was highly critical,”
Redford told USA Today in 2019.
“How did the song fit with the film? There was no rain. At the time, it seemed like a dumb idea.”
The Song’s Success and Changing Perspectives
Despite Redford’s early objections, the song achieved remarkable success. Bacharach only found out about the studio executives’ concerns—who almost voted to remove the song—after B.J. Thomas’s recording had topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks. The track went on to win an Academy Award and sold over three million copies worldwide, becoming a cultural milestone during an era of shifting American popular culture in 1969 and 1970.
Redford later acknowledged that his initial judgment was mistaken, admitting that the song’s popularity proved him wrong.
“How wrong I was, as it turned out to be a giant hit,”
he reflected.
Significance and Legacy of the Song in the Film
The unusual pairing of a breezy pop song with a Western film was unconventional for its time, yet it helped define the mood of a transformative period in cinema and music. The blend of comedic romance and outlaw drama allowed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to stand out as a classic oddity, cherished by audiences and critics alike. Robert Redford’s eventual acceptance of the song’s role highlights the evolving nature of film art and its reception.
The film’s continued popularity and the enduring success of
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”
ensure its place in cinematic history, demonstrating how unconventional creative choices can leave a lasting influence on culture.
