The Reivers (film)

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The Reivers
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark Rydell
Written byHarriet Frank Jr.
Irving Ravetch
Based onThe Reivers, a Reminiscence
1962 novel
by William Faulkner
Produced byIrving Ravetch
StarringSteve McQueen
Sharon Farrell
Will Geer
Michael Constantine
Rupert Crosse
Mitch Vogel
Narrated byBurgess Meredith
CinematographyRichard Moore
Edited byThomas Stanford
Music byJohn Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byNational General Pictures
Release date
  • December 25, 1969 (1969-12-25)
Running time
107 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[2]
1904 Winton Flyer from The Reivers at Stahls Automotive Collection

The Reivers (also known as The Yellow Winton Flyer in the U.K.)[3] 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.[4] The supporting cast includes Sharon Farrell, Rupert Crosse, Mitch Vogel and Burgess Meredith as the narrator.

Plot[edit]

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[edit]

Box office[edit]

In its first 2 weeks it grossed $4,166,123 from 281 engagements.[5]

Awards[edit]

1970 Oscar Nominations:

  • Actor in a Supporting Role – Rupert Crosse, making him the first African American to receive a nomination in this category[6][7]
  • Music (Original Score – for a motion picture [not a musical]) – John Williams

Home media[edit]

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

The film was later released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1] [dead link]
  2. ^ "AFI|Catalog". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  3. ^ "The Reivers (1969)". 2.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Steve McQueen: The Actor and His Films". Empireonline.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  5. ^ "A Reiver is a Rascal. A Reiver is a Rogue. A Reiver is a Box Office Smash Hit (advertisement)". Variety. January 14, 1970. pp. 14–15. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Mapp, Edward (2008). African Americans and the Oscar: Decades Of Struggle and Achievement (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8108-6106-0.
  7. ^ "The Reivers". Fandango.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.

External links[edit]