Butch and Sundance: The Early Days DVD as a double billing with "Death Hunt" on February 1, 2011. It is currently available on BLU-RAY through Timeless Media Group. Butch and Sundance: The Early Days Butch and Sundance: The Early Days is a 1979 Western film and prequel of sorts to the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". It stars Tom Berenger as Butch Cassidy and William Katt as the Sundance Kid. It was directed by Richard Lester and written by Allan Burns. It generally received mixed reviews but was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Wyoming. Wannabe outlaw Butch Cassidy joins
The Legend of Butch & Sundance had died in Bolivia after the shoot-out [in 1908]. I took that contradiction and thought, 'What a great film that would make.'" Fasano later said that the production team strove for historical accuracy. Actor David Clayton Rogers said he practiced gun handling and horseback riding for the role of Butch Cassidy. "True West Magazine"s Henry Cabot Beck reviewed "The Legend of Butch & Sundance" unfavorably stating "I don't suppose this family-friendly picture would offend anyone who wants to see a return of a Kenny Rogers-type Oater, but true buffs who want an adult and ambitious Western had best look elsewhere."