The Reivers (1969)

Director:

Mark Rydell

Writers:

William Faulkner (novel) and
Harriet Frank Jr. (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

25 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

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).

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Mississippi | Automobile | Coming Of Age | Horse | Child Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations

Cast

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
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Alison
Charles Tyner	...	Edmonds
Lindy Davis	...	Otis
Shug Fisher	...	Cousin Zack
Raymond Guth	...	Uncle Ike
Logan Ramsey	...	Walter Clapp
Jon Shank	...	Joe Poleymus
Gloria Calomee	...	Minnie
Sara Taft	...	Sarah
Vinnette Carroll	...	Aunt Callie (as Vinette Carroll)
Lou Frizzell	...	Doyle
John McLiam	...	Van Tosch
Roy Barcroft	...	Ed (The Judge)
R.N. Bullard	...	Patron
Ogden Talbot	...	Man with Derby
Michael Hinn	...	Joe Dobbs
Bert Conway	...	Billy Hebb
Billy Green Bush	...	Patron
John J. Fox	...	Heasley
Owen Bush	...	Pete Hyde
James Rawley	...	Paul Hart
Al Hopson	...	Al Boyce
Wes Fuller	...	Bobo
Ella Mae Brown	...	Mrs. Possum
Florence St. Peter	...	Mary Possum
James Goodwin	...	W.J. Garver (as Jim Goodwin)
Burgess Meredith	...	Lucius / Narrator (voice)

Directed by
Mark Rydell

Writing credits
William Faulkner		(novel)
Harriet Frank Jr.		writer
Irving Ravetch		writer

Produced by
Irving Ravetch	....	producer
Robert E. Relyea	....	executive producer
Rick Rosenberg	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Richard Moore

Film Editing by
Thomas Stanford

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Charles Bailey
Joel Schiller

Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson

Costume Design by
Joanne Haas
Alan Levine
Theadora Van Runkle

Makeup Department
Pat Abbott	....	hair stylist (as Patricia Abbott)
Emile LaVigne	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Jack N. Reddish	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tim Zinnemann	....	assistant director (as Tim Zinneman)

Art Department
Frank Agnone	....	props
Tom Fairbanks	....	props (as Thomas Fairbanks)
Joseph Hurley	....	visual consultant
Glenn Melts	....	construction coordinator
Craig Binkley	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	boom operator (as Gene Cantamessa)
John Oliver	....	sound recordist
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jerry Rosenthal	....	sound effects supervisor (as Gerald S. Rosenthal)
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
A. Paul Pollard	....	special effects (as Aubrey Paul Pollard)

Visual Effects by
Marv Rubin	....	optical effects
Bud S. Smith	....	optical effects (as Bud Smith)
John Urie	....	optical effects

Stunts
Carol Daniels	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunt double: Steve McQueen (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Andrew M. Costikyan	....	additional photographer
Clifford Hutchison	....	gaffer
Edmond L. Koons	....	camera operator (as Ed Koons)
Charles J. Renaud	....	key grip (as Charles Renaud)
Mel Traxel	....	still photographer
David M. Walsh	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrea E. Weaver	....	key costumer: women (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Neil Travis	....	associate film editor

Music Department
Robert Takagi	....	music editor (as Robert Y. Takagi)

Transportation Department
Stanley Hustis	....	transportation

Other crew
Lelia Alexander	....	researcher
Stanley Beck	....	dialogue coach
Meta Rebner	....	continuity
Marv Rubin	....	titles
Bud S. Smith	....	titles (as Bud Smith)
John Urie	....	titles
Dick Webb	....	ramrod (as Richard Webb)
Dick Webb	....	ramrod
Marshall J. Wolins	....	continuity (as Marshall Wolins)

Production Companies

• Cinema Center Films
• Duo Films
• Solar Productions

Distributors

• National General Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• Explosive-Media (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Viacom (????) (USA) (TV) (syndication)

Other Companies

• Ray Mercer & Company  titles & optical effects (as Ray Mercer)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity, language and thematic elements (2004 re-rating)

Runtime:

Germany:107 min | USA:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (2004 re-rating) | UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | UK:AA (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Australia:PG | Norway:16 (1970) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Carrolton, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Trivia:

Charles Aidman was originally cast to play the role of Maury, but Lonny Chapman replaced him when Aidman was called in by CBS temporarily to replace Ross Martin on Martin's TV series "The Wild Wild West" (1965).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Boon, Ned and Lucius begin their trip to Memphis in the Winton the beginning of the scene is filmed in a traveling shot. As the journey proceeds we hear noticeably on the soundtrack the camera truck's motor in addition to the Winton's.

Quotes:

Boon Hoggenbeck:[to Lucius before the horse race] You can be scared if you want to - you can't help that - but don't be afraid, son.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998) (TV)

One of two good film versions of Faulkner

Together with Clarence Browns version of Intruder In The Dust, this must count as one of the few good film versions of Faulkner. The Reivers was his last, his tenderest, his funniest, and his most accessible book, and this is a tender, funny, and accessible film. McQueen gives yet another excellent performance, as does the little used Rupert Crosse.The narration by Burgess Meredith is wonderful. In short, a very good "Southern"