Themes: Mischievous Children, Journey of Self-Discovery, Unlikely Friendships
Main Cast: Steve McQueen, Sharon Farrell, Will Geer, Rupert Crosse, Mitch Vogel
Release Year: 1969
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Adapted from William Faulkner's final novel, The Reivers top-bills Steve McQueen, but the major character is feisty 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin, played by Mitch Vogel. Growing up in Mississippi in the early 1900s, Lucius finds himself (through a hectic series of circumstances) in a bordello, where he is nearly killed trying to defend the "fast lady" (Sharon Farrell) who has befriended him. He has been brought to the house of ill repute by ne'er-do-well farm hand Boon Hoggenbeck (Steve McQueen), with whom he has been tooling about the countryside in a vintage automobile, together with his very distant African-American relative Ned (Rupert Crosse). This adventure segues into the next, as the three man combine their resources to train a broken-down racehorse. Meanwhile, Vogel's grandfather (Will Geer), who owns the fancy automobile that the "reivers" hope to win back, threatens to reappear at any moment to tan Lucius's bottom. Not exactly as wholesome as a Disney film, The Reivers is nonetheless acceptable family entertainment, with Steve McQueen delivering one of his best and most laid-back performances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lonny Chapman - Maury McCaslin; Juano Hernandez - Uncle Possum; Clifton James - Butch Lovemaiden; Ruth White - Miss Reba; Michael Constantine - Mr. Binford; Dub Taylor - Dr. Peabody; Diane Shalet - Hannah; Diane Ladd - Phoebe; Ellen Geer - Sally; Pat Randall - May Ellen; Charles Tyner - Edmonds; Gloria Calomee - Minnie; Sara Taft - Sarah; Lindy Davis - Otis; Raymond Guth - Uncle Ike; Logan Ramsey - Walter Clapp; Jon Shank - Joe Poleymus; Ella Mae Brown - Mrs. Possum; John McLiam - Van Tosch; Lou Frizzell - Doyle; Roy Barcroft - Ed; Billy Green Bush - Patron; Owen Bush - Pete Hyde; Vinnette Carrol - Aunt Callie; Bert Conway - Billy Hebb; Shug Fisher - Cousin Zack; John "Red" Fox - Heasley; Jimmy Goodwin - W.J. Carver; Michael Hinn - Joe Dobbs; Al Hopson - Al Boyce; Allyn Ann McLerie - Alison McCaslin; Burgess Meredith - Narrator; James Rawley - Paul Hart; Florence Saint Peter - Mary Possum
Credit
Charles Bailey - Art Director, Joel Schiller - Art Director, Theadora Van Runkle - Costume Designer, Alan Levine - Costume Designer, Joanne Haas - Costume Designer, Tim Zinnemann - First Assistant Director, Mark Rydell - Director, Thomas G. Stanford - Editor, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Emile LaVigne - Makeup, Richard Moore - Cinematographer, Irving Ravetch - Producer, Robert E. Relyea - Producer, Robert W. Relyea - Producer, Phillip Abramson - Set Designer, Paul Pollard - Special Effects, Jack Solomon - Sound/Sound Designer, Harriet Frank, Jr. - Screenwriter, Irving Ravetch - Screenwriter, William Faulkner - Book Author
