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.
| Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy | |
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2008 DVD cover
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| Directed by | Ryan Little |
| Written by | David Pliler |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | T. C. Christensen Geno Salvatori[1] |
| Edited by | John Lyde |
| Music by | Jay Bateman |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
