The Reivers (1969)

In turn-of-the-century Mississippi, an 11-year-old boy comes of age as two mischievous adult friends talk him into sneaking the family car out for a trip to Memphis and a series of adventures.

Director:

Mark Rydell

Writers:

William Faulkner (novel), Harriet Frank Jr.,

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Sharon Farrell, Ruth White

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve McQueen	...	Boon Hogganbeck
Sharon Farrell	...	Corrie
Ruth White	...	Miss Reba
Michael Constantine	...	Mr. Binford
Clifton James	...	Butch Lovemaiden
Juano Hernandez	...	Uncle Possum
Lonny Chapman	...	Maury McCaslin
Will Geer	...	Boss
Rupert Crosse	...	Ned McCaslin
Mitch Vogel	...	Lucius McCaslin
Diane Shalet	...	Hannah
Pat Randall	...	May Ellen
Diane Ladd	...	Phoebe
Ellen Geer	...	Sally
Dub Taylor	...	Dr. B.F. Peabody

Storyline

An old man looks back 60 years to a road trip from rural Mississippi to Memphis, a horse race, and his own coming of age. Lucius's grandfather gets the first automobile in the area, a bright yellow Winton Flyer. While he's away, the plantation handyman, Boon Hogganbeck, conspires to borrow the car, taking Lucius with him. Stowed away is Ned, a mulatto and Lucius's putative cousin. The three head for Memphis, where Boon's sweetheart works in a whorehouse, where Ned trades the car for a racehorse, and where Lucius discovers the world of adults - from racism and vice to possibilities for honor and courage. Is there redemption for reivers, rascals, and rapscallions?

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Plot Keywords:

mississippi | automobile | coming of age | horse | child nudity | 

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Taglines:

Boon is a reiver (that's a cheat, a liar, a brawler and womaniser) and he had just four days to teach young Lucius the facts of life (like cheating, lying, brawling and womanizing).

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity, language and thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boon il saccheggiatore

Filming Locations:

Carrolton, Mississippi, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Center Films, Duo Films, Solar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mitch Vogel broke a shoulder during the shooting.

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Goofs

On the packaging for the 1993 VHS release of the movie, the music credit is given to Lalo Schifrin. John Williams wrote the score for the film and received an Oscar nomination for his efforts.

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Quotes

[Boon giving directions to Ned on how to use the Winton Flyer]
Ned: Boon, when do you think I can have it?
Boon Hoggenbeck: String bean you so much to lay a hand on this automobile, I'll jump down your throat, and tap dance on your lungs!

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Crazy Credits

and introducing Mitch Vogel as Lucius

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Connections

Referenced in AFI's Master Class: The Art of Collaboration: Steven Spielberg and John Williams (2011)

User Reviews

Mississippi Story

This was a great film written by the famous writer William Faulkner dealing with an old man going back to his youth sixty years ago. Steve McQueen, (Boon Hogganbeck) along with a few of his friends decided to take a trip from Mississippi to Memphis in an old time car which was relatively new during this period of time and taking along a very young boy named Lucius, (Mitch Vogel). Boon takes Lucius into a brothel where he stays over night in Memphis and learns a great deal about the birds and the bees and especially from a sweet kind lady named Carrie, (Sharon Farrell) who is a gal very much in love with Boon. There is a horse race and lots of laughs and drama to go along with the rest of the picture. There was a great deal of problems between the director of this film Mark Rydell and Steve McQueen, but the film was finally completed but the producer would never direct another picture with McQueen.