The Reivers (film)

The Reivers
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mark Rydell
Written by	Harriet Frank Jr. Irving Ravetch
Based on	The Reivers, a Reminiscence 1962 novel by William Faulkner
Produced by	Irving Ravetch
Starring	Steve McQueen Sharon Farrell Will Geer Michael Constantine Rupert Crosse Mitch Vogel
Narrated by	Burgess Meredith
Cinematography	Richard Moore
Edited by	Thomas Stanford
Music by	John Williams
Production companies	Cinema Center Films Duo Films Solar Productions
Distributed by	National General Pictures
Release date	December 25, 1969 (1969-12-25)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5 million

1904 Winton Flyer from The Reivers at Stahls Automotive Collection

The Reivers (also known as The Yellow Winton Flyer in the U.K.) is a 1969 Technicolor film in Panavision starring Steve McQueen and directed by Mark Rydell, based on the 1962 William Faulkner novel The Reivers, a Reminiscence. The supporting cast includes Sharon Farrell, Rupert Crosse, Mitch Vogel and Burgess Meredith as the narrator.

Plot

Set in 1905, the film follows the exploits of the likable but raffish Boon Hoggenbeck, who takes an interest in a new car, a new 1905 Winton Flyer that is the property of a man named Boss, the patriarch of the McCaslin family, who live in the Mississippi area where Boon lives. When the taking of the car, first by Boon, then by Ned — they show themselves to be reivers, or thieves, in the film's start — leads to a public brawl, the local magistrate lets them off on a bond that Boss pays on the condition that both men stay out of trouble and far away from the car while he is away with family to attend a funeral. That is soon changed when Boon takes the car again to go to Memphis to see his love interest Corrie, and talks his young friend Lucius into going for the ride. Ned stows away as well, but Boon grudgingly allows him to come. Other characters include a racehorse that loves sardines, a friendly bordello madam and her amiable employees, and a man with a horse who lives near an impassable sinkhole full of mud for which he charges expensive rates to get both carts and cars through.

Cast

• Steve McQueen as Boon Hogganbeck
• Sharon Farrell as Corrie
• Mitch Vogel as Lucius McCaslin
• Rupert Crosse as Ned McCaslin
• Ruth White as Miss Reba
• Michael Constantine as Mr. Binford
• Clifton James as Butch Lovemaiden
• Juano Hernandez as Uncle Possum
• Lonny Chapman as Maury McCaslin (Lucius' father)
• Will Geer as Boss McCaslin (Lucius' grandfather)
• Allyn Ann McLerie as Alison McCaslin (Lucius' mother)
• Lindy Davis as Otis
• Diane Shalet as Hannah
• Pat Randall as May Ellen
• Diane Ladd as Phoebe
• Ellen Geer as Sally
• Dub Taylor as Dr. Peabody
• Burgess Meredith as the narrator (voice)

Box office

In its first 2 weeks it grossed $4,166,123 from 281 engagements.

Awards

1970 Oscar Nominations:

• Actor in a Supporting Role – Rupert Crosse, making him the first African American to receive a nomination in this category
• Music (Original Score – for a motion picture [not a musical]) – John Williams

Home media

The Reivers was released on DVD by Paramount Home Video on June 14, 2005, in Region 1 widescreen.

The film was later released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

See also

• List of American films of 1969

External links

• The Reivers at IMDb
• The Reivers at the TCM Movie Database
• The Reivers at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• The Reivers at Rotten Tomatoes