The Reivers

"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)."

1969 1h 46m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 59

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“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).”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Steve McQueen
Boon Hogganbeck
Sharon Farrell
Corrie
Ruth White
Miss Reba
Michael Constantine
Mr. Binford
Clifton James
Butch Lovemaiden
Juano Hernández
Uncle Possum
Lonny Chapman
Maury McCaslin
Will Geer
Boss

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mark Rydell
Writers: Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch
Languages: Italian, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

57 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mark Rydell, shot by Richard Moore. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Thomas Stanford shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Steve McQueen and Sharon Farrell and Ruth White carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing 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).".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0064886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mark Rydell directs. Richard Moore behind the camera. John Williams scores. Thomas Stanford cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Italian, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

157 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
3Directed by Mark Rydell, shot by Richard Moore. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by John Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Thomas Stanford shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Steve McQueen and Sharon Farrell and Ruth White carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing 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).".
8IMDB entry: tt0064886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 59 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Richard Moore
Original score: John Williams
Editing: Thomas Stanford
Production design: Joel Schiller
Costume design: Theadora Van Runkle
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The Reivers (1969)

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Mark Rydell

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2022-11-07
★ 6/10
McQueen hams it up in Faulkner’s early 1900’s Southern misadventure In northern Mississippi, 1905, the first automobile is brought to town, a yellow Winton Flyer, bought by the patriarch of the McCaslin family (Will Geer). A likable rapscallion named Boon (Steve McQueen) talks the 11 year-old McCaslin grandson (Mitch Vogel) into going to Memphis in the “borrowed” vehicle for a few days while gramps is out of town for a funeral. Rupert Crosse joins the fun trip and Sharon Farrell plays a woman of ill repute in Memphis. Based on William Faulkner’s last novel, "The Reivers” (1969) is a picaresque tale that’s worth seeing just for the primitive automobile. Steve called the vehicle “the real star of the picture” and acquired it after filming for his personal collection. Yet the exploits of the colorful protagonists are entertaining in a fun way. However, the tone is initially jarring, combining the air of a Disney kid’s flick from that era with adult bits, like staying overnight at a brothel and everything that goes with it. I should add that there’s no nudity except for a full-bodied painting on the wall in the boy’s bedroom, which he amusingly gazes at with fascination. Being too adult-oriented for children and not meaty enough for adults, the movie unsurprisingly failed to connect with audiences at the box office, leading McQueen to later lament that it made him look like “the village idiot.” While it is true that he comes across as an “Aw shucks” simpleton, the character of Boon IS a man-child, an adult who still behaves like an irresponsible child. Meanwhile the kid is the real star since it’s his coming-of-age story. On the female front, Sharon Farrell is reminiscent of Ann-Margret and was one of the most beautiful women to walk the earth in her prime. Meanwhile redhead Diane Shalet is on hand as Hannah. If what I said interests you, check it out, but "Paper Moon" (1973) is a better choice for this kind o’ flick. It lacks the curious hammy approach of McQueen (and a couple others, to lesser degree). The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes, and was shot in Greenwood & Carrolton, Mississippi, with the horse racing sequences (obviously) done at Walt Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, which is located in the high country just north of Hollywood and east of Santa Clarita. GRADE: B-/C+
CinemaSerf2025-07-15
★ 6/10
This reminded me of one of those live-action films that Disney put out in the 1960s and 70s. A big star (Steve McQueen) is friends with a young lad (Mitch Vogel) and together with his cheeky friend “Ned” (Rupert Crosse) they “borrow” the bright yellow Lincoln motor car of his grandfather (Will Geer) and head off for some adventures. First things first, to Memphis they travel where “Boon” (McQ) is hoping to see his gal (Sharon Farrell) who works in an house unsuitable for an eleven year old boy! Whilst they are preoccupied, “Ned” hits upon the idea of trading in the car - remember that roads aren’t so prevalent and mud still is - for an horse! When “Boon” discovers the news, he knows he has to get the car back before they go home and all hell breaks loose. All the while, the shy and decently brought up “Lucius” (Vogel) is having his eyes opened! There looks like there is only one way to get the vehicle back, and that’s for them to win the local derby. Neither “Boon” nor “Ned” really know one end of an horse from the other, whereas “Lucius” is not only no slouch on that front, but he also weighs a good deal less. Perhaps if he can win the race, they can get the car back? Quite why anyone would want a luminous yellow car in this territory in the first place is anyone’s guess, but this one soon gets used to mud! This is a very gentle coming-of-age story that’s not just about the young man, but his older friend too and it’s peppered with daft scenarios that showcase the charm of the star and the quality of the creatively designed production as it moves along in a fashion for an admittedly overdone two hours. It isn’t especially original, no, but everyone here looks like they are having fun (except, perhaps, the goldfish in the brothel) and it’s mischief tempered with a hint or moral sentiment is watchable enough.
CinemaSerf2025-07-15
★ 6/10
This reminded me of one of those live-action films that Disney put out in the 1960s and 70s. A big star (Steve McQueen) is friends with a young lad (Mitch Vogel) and together with his cheeky friend “Ned” (Rupert Crosse) they “borrow” the bright yellow Lincoln motor car of his grandfather (Will Geer) and head off for some adventures. First things first, to Memphis they travel where “Boon” (McQ) is hoping to see his gal (Sharon Farrell) who works in an house unsuitable for an eleven year old boy! Whilst they are preoccupied, “Ned” hits upon the idea of trading in the car - remember that roads aren’t so prevalent and mud still is - for an horse! When “Boon” discovers the news, he knows he has to get the car back before they go home and all hell breaks loose. All the while, the shy and decently brought up “Lucius” (Vogel) is having his eyes opened! There looks like there is only one way to get the vehicle back, and that’s for them to win the local derby. Neither “Boon” nor “Ned” really know one end of an horse from the other, whereas “Lucius” is not only no slouch on that front, but he also weighs a good deal less. Perhaps if he can win the race, they can get the car back? Quite why anyone would want a luminous yellow car in this territory in the first place is anyone’s guess, but this one soon gets used to mud! This is a very gentle coming-of-age story that’s not just about the young man, but his older friend too and it’s peppered with daft scenarios that showcase the charm of the star and the quality of the creatively designed production as it moves along in an amiable fashion for an admittedly overlong two hours. It isn’t especially original, no, but everyone here looks like they are having fun (except, perhaps, the goldfish in the brothel) and it’s mischief tempered with a hint or moral sentiment is watchable enough.