The Reivers

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 1969

1h 47m

Comedy

Drama

List

83%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin (Mitch Vogel) embarks on a journey he will remember for years to come. When Lucius' grandfather, Boss (Will Geer), buys an automobile, local handyman Boon (Steve McQueen) chomps at the bit to get behind the wheel. He gets the chance when Boss takes the train on an out-of-town trip. Approaching the impressionable Lucius, Boon is able to talk the youngster into a road trip with him and his friend Ned (Rupert Crosse).

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Aug 22

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent The Reivers on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Frank M

When I saw this in the theaters in 1969, what struck me most was how colorful the film was. The colors throughout are stunning. All the performances are solid, and the overall feeling is upbeat and fun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very charming coming-of-age film about a boy's trip into the city and the characters that he meets along the way. The performances in this film were pretty good, yes the film becomes a bit too slapstick and overly silly at times but I thought it fit in, for the most part, with film's tone. Steve McQueen and Mitch Vogel do a great job at portraying these adventure seekers in the latter character's grandfather's new car. The scenes in the whorehouse have some funny moments and also some more dramatic moments between Connie and Lucius. I thought that Lucius trading the car for the horse and hoping to win it back in a race was out-of-character for Ned and I felt it too much of a stupid and mean-spirited move for the character. However, I did enjoy the gang's planning for winning the race and the whole outrage regarding who won the first race. The lessons that Lucius learned from his grandfather at the end of the film also served as a nice conclusion. Although, I never understood how the grandfather heard about the race and turned up in time. Rupert Crosse was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar but lost to Gig Young in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" I don't think his performance was as good as Young's but I thought it was better than Gould's performance in "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice". Overall, a charming and mostly entertaining film coming-of-age film that I would not mind watching again.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

steve d

Far too straightforward with little to say.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Much better than i expected. Great warm Americana look and feel to it. Excellent performances all around, especially by Rupert Crosse, and an effective non cutesy one from Mitch Vogel. Only critique is how it bogs down in the middle with any of the brothel scenes. And could they not have found any of the vast flat areas of California to film the race scenes at? They are supposed to be in Memphis, and there are clear southern CA hills and mountains in the background.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/19

Full Review

Martin V

A wonderful heartfelt movie from1969 starring Steve McQueen. Highly underrated by critics, but well worth a viewing. This film has a large beautiful heart.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/09/17

Full Review

Audience Member

The Reivers gives us a glimpse of an America entering into the modern era. The Hand built Winton Flyer, kerosene lamps, waiting for the inevitable electric light, No social security for retiree's, the ugliness of racial hatred. Will Geer's performance as the wise patriarch of the McCaslin family is touching. All the actors in this movie meshed into the story line so well. Even the music was memorable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Mark Rydell

Director

Steve McQueen

Boon Hogganbeck

Rupert Crosse

Ned McCaslin

Mitch Vogel

Lucius McCaslin

Sharon Farrell

Corrie

Will Geer

Boss

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

100%

74%

The Hospital

65%

79%

Husbands

85%

55%

The Flamingo Kid

57%

50%

Garbo Talks

29%

54%

Short Time

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Myles Standish

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Under Mark Rydell's direction and with a good screen play by producer Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., it is a refreshing, likable and rib-tickling film. McQueen has grown in stature as an actor and Crosse, a television actor, is a comic find.

Jun 15, 2022

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The Reivers is a pleasant, wholesome, straightforward movie of the sort (as they say) they don't make anymore.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Richard Schickel

LIFE

A rambling and pointless movie.

Oct 2, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

A well acted adaptation of William Faulkner's last novel, offering good roles for Steve McQueen and Rupert Cross, only the second black to receive an oscar nomination by 1969.

Rated: B

Jul 18, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Fine adventure tale.

Rated: B-

Sep 13, 2010

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin (Mitch Vogel) embarks on a journey he will remember for years to come. When Lucius' grandfather, Boss (Will Geer), buys an automobile, local handyman Boon (Steve McQueen) chomps at the bit to get behind the wheel. He gets the chance when Boss takes the train on an out-of-town trip. Approaching the impressionable Lucius, Boon is able to talk the youngster into a road trip with him and his friend Ned (Rupert Crosse).

Director: Mark Rydell
Producer: Robert E. Relyea
Distributor: National General Pictures
Production Co: Solar Productions, Cinema Center Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Brief Nudity|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2020
Runtime: 1h 47m

Most Popular at Home Now