Through the viewing of selected films and the review of supplemental materials (such as articles, profiles, reviews, etc.) this SDG will trace Robert Redford’s evolution as an actor, from romantic leading man to political and socially engaged performer. It will explore his transition into directing and his signature themes: family, morality, the American landscape, and institutional critique. Finally, it will seek to understand his broader influence on cinema through the creation of Sundance and support for independent filmmakers.
Early Career:
1. Barefoot in the Park (1967) - Redford’s rise as a charismatic Hollywood star.
Defining Stardom:
2. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - Chemistry with Paul Newman, reinvention of the Western.
Focus on Individualism:
3. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) - Countercultural hero, nature as a recurring theme.
Golden Era of Stardom:
4. The Sting (1973) - Redford as con-man archetype.
5. The Way We Were (1973) - Romantic leading man
Political Cinema:
6. The Candidate (1972) - Politics as a recurring theme
7. All the President’s Men (1976) - Redford’s activism, shaping narratives of power and truth.
Directorial Debut
8. Ordinary People (1980) - Themes of family, repression, and emotional honesty.
The Mature Star
9. Out of Africa (1985) - Myth making, nostalgia, and Redford’s screen persona.
The American Landscape
10. A River Runs Through It (1992) - Nature, family bonds, and lyrical filmmaking.
Media & Morality
11. Quiz Show (1994) - Truth, corruption, and American institutions.
Later Acting Roles
12. The Horse Whisperer (1998),
13. All Is Lost (2013) - From rugged masculinity to vulnerability and silence.
14. The Old Man & the Gun (2018) - Farewell performance, reflection on his career.
The Sundance Legacy
Throughout the SDG we will discuss how Redford reshaped American film culture through the Sundance Film Festival. Clips from Sundance-launched films (e.g., Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Reservoir Dogs, Whale Rider) may be used to illustrate.
Specific films subject to streaming availability. Articles, profiles and reviews to be identified by discussion leaders.