Just about a year ago, Robert Redford passed away at the age of 89, leaving behind a life of accomplishments, struggles, and good work.  A normal life, you might say, except this was a man who was a household name, a movie star, an American icon. Despite his cheerful, handsome face and jaunty presence, Redford was a serious man. He chose his roles carefully, he loved nature and fought for the environment, he nurtured young artists whose films might never have seen the light of day had it not been for the Sundance Institute. He lived a good and decent life.

He had a wonderful sense of humor (“health food may be good for your conscience but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better.”). He was respected and loved by his formidable co-stars (Streep, Fonda, Dunaway, Streisand, to name a few) and used his celebrity for the betterment of humanity.

We will start with a biographical overview of Redford’s life followed by four of his best movies: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor, and All the President’s Men. A one-hour session will round out the course to provide an opportunity to discuss the films and how Redford might have deliberately chosen them to make a statement about morality and the importance of doing the right thing.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.