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When Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hit theaters, the top cast listing showed Newman, Ross, and Redford. Today, the lineup has shifted—now it's Newman, Redford, then Ross. Robert Redford, as the legendary outlaw, is one of the hottest rising stars following McQueen and Hoffman. But, though passably grateful, he remains largely indifferent.

Redford’s Stance on Hollywood

“I’m not,” he emphasizes, “part of the Hollywood machine. Think of that figure who appears the play by a classic drama, saying, ‘It’s all built on sand—through and through’? That’s, that echoes my sentiment when it comes to Tinseltown. You can’t run a creative medium as if it’s commerce nowadays, yet they persist exactly that. Movies in their eyes are no different from vacuum cleaners or refrigerators. It disgusts me.”

A Passion Project’s hurdles

Naturally, we have heard similar things in Hollywood. However, Redford, in a measured tone, and honestly doesn’t seem to know at the interest in him, comes across as sincere. Much of it stems from he devoted nearly two years into making Downhill Racer and found that fighting the system was tougher than filming itself.

His project, which hasn’t yet been shown here, despite test showings were being given last year, debuted across the Atlantic and has received reviews that indicate that the film is far beyond a simple sports film. “Actually,” he notes, “the focus is athletics and athletes. And the reason I aimed to release it here in Britain as this is not a skiing country. There is more chance of it surviving here as a portrayal of a certain kind of person instead of a certain kind of sport.”

“Producers aimed to premiere it where skiing reigns, for a niche audience. In truth… my project depicting an American competitor winning the top prize in downhill racing. Isn’t that going to wow them? Oh, boy, if only I stay away. I’d be torn to pieces.”

Why This Sport?

“What drew you to skiing? To me an ideal mix of poetry and danger, an excellent means through which to show the impact of competition. You have to be a kind of kamikaze pilot to participate. Having tried it, you’re transformed.”

“Imagine former champions staying around near current athletes. It’s sad. They’re always moving. Nervous habits show the whole time. Physically depleted. Sport can be brutal, for pros and amateurs alike. Frequently it fits you inadequately for life, even breaks you utterly.”

A Competitive History

Having been an athlete himself, formerly an excellent American football and baseball player, potentially famous as a tennis player also. “Wow, I really hated to lose,” he recalls, “eventually I got so that I just couldn’t go on, regardless of outcome. My focus shifted at the guy over the net and wonder—well, his sock is sagging. His footwear will chafe his skin soon, yet he’s so focused on the match he doesn’t notice. Next, I’d spot some spectator or other, wondering: ‘What the hell is he thinking at this moment? Am I merely acting out his dreams?, fighting his fantasy? Then it was 0–40!!’”

The Forgotten Canvas

Another passion, perhaps secretly his main one, is painting. He bummed around Europe for over a year during the 1950s, interacting with bohemian crowds, pseudo and otherwise. He ran out of money in that beautiful city, who introduced him that set up an exhibition of his work which paid for his return trip. Back home, his urge to move resurfaced. He turned to acting, first on Broadway, followed by screen, and finally in films.

Inside Daisy Clover, Barefoot In the Park, a Polonski film, Cassidy, the skiing movie came one after another. Then came Sidney Furie’s Little Fauss, Big Halsey, depicting speed and rivalry with Michael J Pollard. Later, possibly a movie on latter-day rodeo riding. Competition appears staying with him indefinitely.

Did he return to canvases? A pause follows. “Well,” he responds, “It’s been dormant in years. That’s the reason I’d like to take a rest from acting return to it. Is it possible to restart? Probably not. It demands seriousness, is it?. It must become your entire focus. Mind you, my first visit to London has amazed me regarding art. I feel compelled to paint.”

“Notice the illumination across the city. Incredibly beautiful. Every day during my stay I wake early and wandered round with my mouth open. It’s unlike anything this quality. I need to return someday. If it gets a release—if it ever does.”

Respect for a Colleague

“Wish I was as shrewd a cookie as him. He’d have seen to it that my project wasn’t messed around this way. Take Rachel, Rachel? “Absolutely. Even he can’t always buck the establishment.”