Product Details

• Actors: Steve McQueen, Sharon Farrell, Ruth White (II), Michael Constantine, Clifton James
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: May 19, 1993
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301802357
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,530 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Reivers, based on a William Faulkner novel, is a spirited comedy-drama starring Steve McQueen in a rare character part as Boon Hoggenbeck, a ne'er-do-well, turn-of-the-century Mississippi farm hand and cousin of 11-year-old naif Lucius McCaslin (Mitch Vogel). The arrival of a handsome new automobile purchased by Lucius' grandfather, Boss McCaslin (a golden performance by Will Geer), causes an uproar when Boon and another cousin, Ned McCaslin (Rupert Crosse), who is half African American, vie to drive the vehicle around town. Boss's departure by train for a funeral gives Boon, Ned, and Lucius an opportunity to drive in style to Memphis, where young McCaslin's eyes are opened to a larger world of hard-core racism, prostitution, corruption, and the tyranny of the powerful over the vulnerable. In short order, Lucius finds his innate decency and integrity lessen the sting of disillusionment and helplessness. Director Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond) keeps things brisk and breezy, but never loses sight of the long shadow of adulthood that blots out Lucius' innocence. Presented in widescreen. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Faulkner Classic, February 15, 2000

By 

Steve R. (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reivers [VHS] (VHS Tape)

William Faulkner was one of America's greatest authors. His Pulitzer Prize winning works are renowned for his ability to capture, with affection and fascination, the culture and people of Mississippi...Southerners of all color, class, and gender. Many of Faulkner's stories evoke a somber tone of Southern Gothic tragedy based on his observations of racial intolerance, and the decline of traditional Southern values before the forces of greed and modernization. In contrast to his more serious works, "The Reivers" is light-hearted, comic, and thoroughly entertaining.

The movie captures, with rich authenticity, the colorful characters of Faulkner's Mississippi. The cinematography and music evoke the sites and sounds of a picturesque South in 1905. The cast, including narration by Burgess Meredith, is impeccable. The movie centers on the joyriding adventures of 11-year old Lucius McCaslin, his cousin Boon Hogganback (Steve McQueen) and their black relation (Rupert Crosse). The story involves a stolen car, a 4-day odyssey from northern Mississippi to the `red light" district of Memphis, a horse race, and the life-changing experiences of young Lucius. Will Geer, as Lucius' grandfather "Boss," offers a memorable performance when he confronts the young boy with his misdeeds, proving again that the word is mightier than the hand. William Faulkner would be proud of this movie.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American classic..., December 22, 2005

By 

R. Gawlitta "Coolmoan" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Reivers (DVD)

I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before, but this is one of the most well-made films of 1969. Period detail is well-presented, acting is excellent, wonderful Panavision widescreen makes this DVD a treasure. William Faulkner wasn't known for his lightness of heart, but this precious memoir shows love, spirit and excitement that sets this film aside. I won't blab away the plot, but Steve McQueen, at the height of his career, is having a ball in a fine performance. Sharon Farrell is so lovely; where did her career go? Mitch Vogel, as young Lucius, gives one of the best kid performances ever; I hate bad kid-actors. Where did his career go? And the most auspicious debut performance came from Oscar-nominated Rupert Crosse, knowing everything, wanting to be included, causing the most trouble, and, ultimately, saving the day. Best in the film! And where did his career go? There's also the great Juano Hernandez, and a really great performance by a horse. And it's always good to see Ruth White, the most reliable character actress since Jane Darwell. Non-obtrusive narration by Burgess Meredith is a plus. The odds seem insurmountable, but they all emerge victorious and young Lucius has life-affirming experiences; shocking, painful and ultimately exciting. And memorable. This film is nothing but fun, and I enjoy it a lot. 1969 brought about some magnificent films: Midnight Cowboy, Anne of the Thousand Days, They Shoot Horses Don't They, Butch Cassidy...and The Reivers is right up there with the best of 'em.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A FORGOTTEN CLASSIC, June 3, 2005

By 

Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Reivers (DVD)

Based on William Faulkner's sweetest novel, THE REIVERS (Paramount) is set in Mississippi, circa 1905.

Steve McQueen is Boon Hogganback, a cousin and handyman to the McCaslin family. When grandfather "Boss" McCaslin buys a new car, a yellow Winton Flyer, Boon talks eleven year old Lucius, "Boss's" grandson, into his scheme to "borrow" the car for a quick trip to Memphis to visit a prostitute with whom he's in love.

When "Boss" leaves for the weekend, the two reivers -- an old fashioned word for "thieves" -- take off in the car. Unknown to them, a black relation has stowed away under a blanket in the back seat. The four day odyssey is a coming of age adventure for young Lucius. He spends the night in a brothel, has a knife fight over a prostitue's honor, and races a horse to win back the car.

Beautifully photographed with one of John William's best scores, this fine film adaptation would probably delight Faulkner himself. McQueen is memorable as a lovable scamp and he seems to be having fun in the role.

The narration, from the perspective of an adult Lucius, is by Burgess Meredith and the poetic, wise words are Faulner's.

This wonderful, mostly forgotten film is worth seeking out.