As the world reflects on his own words illuminate the essence of his career as an Oscar-winning actor, director and founder of the Sundance Film Festival who
Redford, who died Tuesday at 89, leaves behind a legacy of freedom, artistry and opportunity. His words 鈥 captured here by The Associated Press over numerous interviews 鈥 reflect the philosophy that guided from 鈥淏utch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid鈥 to 鈥淎ll the President鈥檚 Men鈥 and beyond.
Redford on 鈥淏utch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid鈥
鈥淚 was not a name equal to Paul鈥檚. I was just sort of moving up at that time. There was a big argument that went on for months and months. They said it had to be a star. (Newman) said, 鈥榃ell, I want to work with an actor,鈥 because Paul respected acting. Had it not been for Paul, I would not have gotten that break.鈥
鈥 Redford in 2015, reflecting on how Paul Newman鈥檚 insistence on working with him changed the course of his career and life.
Redford on 鈥淎ll the President's Men鈥
鈥淣ixon had already resigned and the held opinion (in Hollywood) was 鈥楴o one cares. No one wants to hear about this,鈥 And I said, 鈥楴o, it鈥檚 not about Nixon. It鈥檚 about something else. It鈥檚 about investigative journalism and hard work.鈥欌
鈥 Redford in 2006, speaking about the film about how Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein exposed the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to President Richard Nixon鈥檚 resignation.
Redford on Watergate reporting duo of Woodward and Bernstein
鈥淚 wanted to know who these guys were, who created all this disturbance. I thought, 鈥榃ow, one guy was a Jew, one guy was a WASP. One guy was a Republican, the other guy was a liberal. One guy was a good writer, the other wasn鈥檛 very good. They didn鈥檛 like each other, but they had to work together. Now that鈥檚 an interesting dynamic I鈥檇 love to know about.鈥欌
鈥 Redford reflecting on his fascination with Woodward and Bernstein, whose unlikely partnership unraveled the Watergate scandal.
Redford on how his independent streak led to founding Sundance
鈥淔or me, the word to be underscored is 鈥榠ndependence.' I鈥檝e always believed in that word. That鈥檚 what led to me eventually wanting to create a category that supported independent artists who weren鈥檛 given a chance to be heard. The industry was pretty well controlled by the mainstream, which I was a part of. But I saw other stories out there that weren鈥檛 having a chance to be told and I thought, 鈥榃ell, maybe I can commit my energies to giving those people a chance.鈥 As I look back on it, I feel very good about that.鈥
鈥 Redford in 2018, , which became a cornerstone for independent cinema and launched countless groundbreaking filmmakers.
Redford on Sundance becoming too big for its roots
鈥淎s it grew, so did the crowds, so did the development in Park City. Well, at some point, if both those things continue to grow, they鈥檙e going to begin to choke each other. So then I have to think about, oh, do we now risk being who we are in the first place? Do we risk (losing) the heart and soul of what we were when we started against the odds. 鈥 Do we have to now rethink things?鈥
鈥 Redford in 2016, brought both opportunity and risk, questioning whether swelling crowds and Park City鈥檚 development threatened the festival鈥檚 original spirit and authenticity.
Redford on drawing after retirement
鈥淚鈥檓 enjoying it a lot. I鈥檓 going back to the way I started before I became a filmmaker which was to be an artist, a painter and a sketch artist. I missed that. That鈥檚 how I observe the world around me. I come to understand people by sketching them. If you sketch them can you see something deeper in them? It鈥檚 kind of a challenge but it鈥檚 fun.鈥
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Redford on 鈥淭he Old Man and the Gun鈥
鈥淚 just figure that I鈥檝e had a long career that I鈥檓 very pleased with. It鈥檚 been so long, ever since I was 21. I figure now as I鈥檓 getting into my 80s, it鈥檚 maybe time to move toward retirement and spend more time with my wife and family.鈥
鈥 Redford in 2018 that he said would be his farewell to acting. Redford had later on-screen roles in 鈥淎vengers: Endgame鈥 and 鈥淒ark Winds.鈥
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