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This week has been so incredibly hectic that I did not have time to post my usual "Film Friday" article on schedule. As a result, we are having instead a "Film Sunday," in which I am celebrating Robert Redford's 80th birthday, which was on Thursday, by telling you a little bit about one of the films that he is most widely associated with. Directed by George Roy Hill, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) tells the story of notorious bank robber Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), the leader of the Hole in the Wall Gang, and his loyal companion, the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford). As they return to they hideout in Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming, they discover that the rest of the gang, annoyed at Butch's long absences, have selected Harvey Logan (Ted Cassidy) as their new leader. Butch contests this decision, leading Harvey to challenge him to a fight, which Butch quickly wins by distracting his opponent. Still, Butch embraces Harvey's idea to rob the Union Paci...

Keeping with both my Oscar-themed «Film Fridays» and my James Dean-themed week, this week on «Film Friday» I bring the only James Dean film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Incidentally, this was the last film he appeared in. Directed by George Stevens, Giant (1956) begins with Texas cattle tycoon Jordan «Bick» Benedict Jr. (Rock Hudson) falling in love with Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor) while on a horse-buying trip to Maryland. They marry and return to Texas to live on the Benedict family ranch, Reata, where Leslie finds an unwelcoming sister-in-law, Luz (Mercedes McCambridge), and a handyman, Jett Rink (James Dean), who despises Bick. When Luz dies following a horse-riding accident, Jett learns that she has left him a small piece of land on the Benedict ranch, which he makes his home and names Little Reata. After refusing the Benedict family's offer to buy Little Reata, Jett discovers oil on the land, making him a rich man. Meanwhile, Leslie and Bi...

Theatrical release poster Directed by Sam Wood, Saratoga Trunk (1945) begins as Clio Dulaine (Ingrid Bergman) returns from Paris to her crumbling ancestral home in New Orleans, accompanied by her faithful Haitian maid, Angelique (Flora Robson), and her dwarf manservant, Cupidon (Jerry Austin). The illegitimate daughter of an aristocratic New Orleans Creole man and a part-Creole woman who was his placée, Clio is determined to achieve wealth and respectability so that she can avenge her recently deceased mother's mistreatment at the hands of her father's family. Shortly after she arrives in New Orleans, Clio meets Clint Maroon (Gary Cooper), a handsome Texan gambler in a white hat with an agenda o f his own , and a whirlwind courtship soon begins. Although she is in love with Clint , Clio plans to marry a rich and powerful man to prove that she is as good as her father's family. As she continues to embarrass the Dulaines at every opportunity she gets, Clint grows t...