I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It's hard to believe Steve McQueen turned down the roll of Sundance in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid simply because he would have been billed second behind Paul Newman. Oh the enormous egos of Hollywood. Instead, he accepted this film which is rather forgettable judging by the lack of reviews on IMDb.He constantly fought with the director, walked off the set, and even demanded the director be fired from the project. The studio refused. Ego somewhat back in check Steve finished the film.It's a simple coming of age story based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by William Faulkner. Plenty of character actors do their best to carry the load but it's ruined by McQueen's constant overacting.A couple of highlights were the early score by John Williams and the excellent photography, but neither were enough to give this anything better than a so-so rating. Best to read the book instead.

I have to say that I was surprised about how much I liked the film. William Faulkner (American Nobel Prizewinner) wrote "The Reivers." The story is about a boy, Lucius, and Boone played by Steve McQueen. They take the 1905 car that Boone promised not to take out for a joyride while his bosses were away at a family funeral. Boone, Lucius, and an African American co-worker who I forget his name but sneaks aboard the car on the way to Memphis to visit friends like Miss Corey played by Sharon Farrell and the brothel's matron, Miss Reba, played by the wonderfully talented Ruth White who died shortly after the film. The film is more of a mix of comedy and drama. There is the story of the 1905 yellow car and a horse and about horse-racing with Lucius in the saddle. There are some serious moments like Lucius discovering that he is staying at brothel and Miss Corey who he grows to bond with.

"Oh, Reivers…that's an old-fashioned word from my childhood," explains narrator Burgess Meredith, "In plain English, I'm afraid it meant… thieves!" The narrator is fondly recalling an adventure he had as an 11-year-old boy, "coming of age" in Mississippi. Young Mitch Vogel (as Lucius Priest) is the lad; he accompanies father-figure/handyman Steve McQueen (as Boon Hogganbeck), who steals the family's first automobile - a brand new, yellow-colored 1905 Winton Flyer. Rupert Crosse (as Ned McCaslin) makes "The Reivers" a trio by stowing away in the car's trunk. Their main destination is a bordello, where Mr. McQueen wants to hook up with prostitute girlfriend Sharon Farrell (as Corrie). Meanwhile, Mr. Crosse swaps the trio's prized vehicle for a slow horse named "Lightning"… Mark Rydell's direction of William Faulkner's final novel is a qualified success. The principal cast members work very well together, with Vogel and Crosse exhibiting as much star presence as the more famous McQueen. The supporting cast is great; the participation of Will Geer, Burgess Meredith, and Juano Hernandez add to the film's old-world charm. Richard Moore's Mississippi photography is beautiful. Although it doesn't ever go quite far enough, "The Reivers" main strength is in its depiction of real, flawed characters. Faulkner's portrayal of race and gender, as much as they show, are noteworthy. The most touching moments occur when young Vogel learns that women are not viewed the same way, after adolescence. His obvious difficulty accepting the degradation of women (through prostitution and beating) portends a different future for the younger generation. ******* The Reivers (12/25/69) Mark Rydell ~ Steve McQueen, Mitch Vogel, Rupert Crosse, Sharon Farrell

My favorite Steve McQueen film has to be The Reivers. He was so right for the part of Boon Hogganbeck, handyman and general all around troublemaker, he should have been considered for an Oscar nomination. It's definitely by far his funniest film.The Reivers is a posthumously published novel by William Faulkner and it's set in the Mississippi in the turn of the last century. The protagonist is a child Mitch Vogel, a most properly brought up child and grandson to the big kahuna in that delta county, Will Geer. Geer is a man who believes in progress, in fact he's brought the first automobile into his area, a brand new yellow Winton Flyer. That car proves way too much temptation for McQueen who'd like to use it to go courting his girl friend, a hooker who works in Michael Constantine's and Ruth White's Memphis bordello, Sharon Farrell. But to hatch his scheme, McQueen entices Vogel to tell some well placed lies about which relative the young man might be staying with and then taking Vogel and the car to Memphis after McQueen's been left in his charge. Stowing away in the Winton Flyer is Rupert Crosse.Crosse who did get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor is a mixed racial cousin of Geer's family and it does entitle him to some perks in the racist society that was early 20th century Mississippi. But Crosse is as smart and resourceful as McQueen and knows how to play up to people and make the racism work his way. Unfortunately Crosse lost his Oscar bid to Gig Young for They Shoot Horses Don't They. And sad to say Crosse died a few years later at too young an age, very much like star Steve McQueen.It's one rollicking ride our intrepid trio is on from the bordello to a horse race where Crosse swaps Geer's new automobile for a race horse that he discovers runs like lightning with a trick gimmick. Laughs mixed with some serious Faulkner social commentary.One person who does not credit enough in this film is Sharon Farrell. Her role as McQueen's girlfriend is tender and touching and in the end she actually becomes an honest woman. But a great deal of the enjoyment of The Reivers is in how that is accomplished.For any fan of Steve McQueen, The Reivers is an absolute must. And I guarantee you, one will become a fan of Steve McQueen after seeing this fascinating, tender, funny film.