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Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy

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Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy
2008 DVD cover
Directed byRyan Little
Written byDavid Pliler
Produced by
  • Ryan Little
  • Adam Abel
Starring
CinematographyT. C. Christensen
Geno Salvatori[1]
Edited byJohn Lyde
Music byJay Bateman
Release date
2006
Running time
87 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy is a 2006 American adventure film, produced and directed by Ryan Little.[2] It is loosely based on legends arising from the fate of real-life Western outlaw Butch Cassidy, the alias of Robert LeRoy Parker, whose gang robbed trains and banks in the 1890s. Cassidy fled to South America in 1901, where he is believed to have died in 1908.

The film continues the Butch Cassidy saga beyond the ending of the 1969 Robert Redford–Paul Newman hit film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in 1908. The protagonist, Cassidy's teenage grand-nephew, Roy Parker, sets out in 1951 to find the treasure he believes Cassidy left behind in Utah. Overcoming his unforgiving grandfather's opposition, Roy and friends are involved in several chase scenes, pursued by criminals.

The film was produced on location in Utah by GO Films from a screenplay by David Pliler. The music score was by Jay Bateman. The film stars Ryan Kelley, Arielle Kebbel, Dan Byrd, and Brent Weber, and features Bruce McGill and James Gammon. The film was released in North America in 2006 and is available on DVD.

Plot

The film starts with a prologue scene set in Bolivia in 1908. Butch Cassidy writes a letter to his family, enclosing a belt buckle engraved with a treasure map. Cassidy and his accomplice, Harry Longabaugh (the "Sundance Kid"), attempt to elude capture when their hideout is surrounded by Bolivian police.

The film then shifts to Circleville, Utah, in 1951, where Butch Cassidy's 16-year-old great-nephew, Roy Parker, defends his infamous ancestor's reputation despite the opposition of Sam, his stern grandfather, Cassidy's younger brother. Sam resents Roy's interest in Cassidy, even acquiescing in the boy's brief jailing on a trumped-up charge, where he scolds him, "I spent the better part of my life trying to live down the reputation that your hero has laid out for the Parker name and you grow up worshipping him."[1] Young Roy believes that Cassidy was trying to make amends by returning to the U.S. from Bolivia. He discovers the belt buckle left by Cassidy and learns that it is a map to the treasure buried by Cassidy somewhere in the Utah wilderness.

After Roy is rescued from jail by Jess, his best friend and fellow Boy Scout in Circleville Troop 14, they embark on a quest for the treasure. Joining the two in the hunt are Ellie, with whom Roy is becoming infatuated, and Martin, who reluctantly goes along after Roy takes his truck during the jailbreak. The four are pursued by Garrison, a corrupt museum official who will stop at nothing to get the treasure for himself. Intense scenes proceed to play out, such as automobile chases, a desperate escape down a river in a raft without paddles, jumping onto the roof of a moving train, Roy and Ellie tied up and gagged, and even a harrowing biplane ride, interspersed by gun fights, as the undaunted youths vie to find Butch Cassidy's treasure first.[2] Roy also embarks on a personal mission to learn the truth about his infamous ancestor's death.[3]

Cast

Roy Parker (Ryan Kelley) and friend Ellie (Arielle Kebbel) perch precariously atop a moving train, one of the film's chase scenes, as backlighting by cinematographer T. C. Christensen imparts a halo effect
  • Ryan Kelley as "Roy Parker": The 16-year-old great-nephew of Butch Cassidy
  • Arielle Kebbel as "Ellie": Roy Parker's romantic interest.
  • Dan Byrd as "Jess", Roy's best friend and fellow Boy Scout in Circleville Troop 14, whose outdoor survival skills help the quartet of treasure hunters overcome various wilderness challenges in their search for gold.
  • Brent Weber as "Martin", the arrogant son of the mayor and Roy's nemesis
  • Bruce McGill as the unscrupulous villain, "Garrison", who uses his position as a museum curator to steal archeological artifacts and then gives chase to Roy Parker on the trail of the Cassidy treasure.
  • James Karen as "Butch Cassidy", whose real name is LeRoy Parker
  • James Gammon as "Sam Parker", LeRoy's youngest brother and Roy's grandfather
  • Shauna Thompson as "Lorraine", Roy's mother
  • Rick Macy as "Mayor Blanding" of Circleville, Utah
  • James D. Hardy as "Stewart"
  • Brian Peck as "Clay"
  • Ron Melendez as "Vince"
  • Michael Van Wagenen as "The Sundance Kid"
  • Brian Wimmer as Young "Butch Cassidy"

Production

Former Union Pacific Railroad steam locomotive #618, used in the train sequence

Principal photography began in 2005. Filmed on location in Utah, it received production incentives from the Utah Film Commission, a state agency providing funding to promote development of the film industry in the western state.[2][4] The waterfalls scene was filmed at Utah's Bridal Veil Falls. In addition to the towns of Circleville and Kanab, scenes were shot in Kane and Tooele Counties, as well as scenic Bryce Canyon.[1] The Stearman biplane used in the aerial sequences was provided by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Costume designer Anna K. Findley used authentic, 1951-period Boy Scout uniforms in the costuming of Roy Parker (Ryan Kelly), including such details as the 16-year-old hero character's Life Scout badge.

The train sequence was filmed on Utah's Heber Valley Historic Railroad, using 2-8-0 "Consolidation"-type steam locomotive #618.[1] The engine's original owner was the Union Pacific Railroad – whose trains were sometimes the target of Cassidy's larcenous ways in the 1890s.[5][6][7]

Release

The film was released in 2006 by GO Films and then as a direct to video movie on DVD in 2007. Film critic David Cornelius rated it one of the ten best direct-to-video movies of 2007, saying, "Those seeking old fashioned family fun should look no further than this rip-roarin’ tale of Butch Cassidy’s teenage nephew, caught up in a wild race to find hidden gold".[8]

Awards

Ryan Little and Adam Abel won the Heartland Film Festival's Crystal Heart Award for independent filmmakers in 2006, for Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy (DVD). Feature Films for Families. 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Mikita, Carole. "'Saints and Soldiers' Creators Filming Next Movie". Salt Lake City, Utah: KSL-TV. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  3. ^ Cornelius, David (October 24, 2007). "Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  4. ^ Ross, Matthew & Marks, Josh (February 9, 2006). "State film incentives". Variety. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  5. ^ "Alleged Train Robber Taken" (PDF). The New York Times. October 23, 1899. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  6. ^ Phillips, William T. (1986). The Bandit Invincible: The Story of the Outlaw Butch Cassidy. J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah: Rocky Mountain Home Press. p. 12. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  7. ^ "Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid: The Monpelier, Castle Gate, Wilcox and Winnemucca Robberies". Wyoming Tales and Trails. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  8. ^ Cornelius, David (December 29, 2007). "The Best and Worst Direct-To-Video of 2007". eFilmCritic. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
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