The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973)

Burt Reynolds is Jay Brogart, an ex-Army hero and ex-convict, who robs a train of $100,000 with the help of three colleagues — Dawes (Jack Warden), Billy (Bo Hopkins) and Charlie (Jay Verela).

There’s an immediate complication. Catherine Crocker (Sarah Miles), a fine lady riding a thoroughbred, just happens upon the scene of the train holdup and is swept up in the gang’s getaway.

Billy and Dawes have immoral intentions toward her; Brogart puts a stop to that and even passes her off as his wife when they stop by a friend’s ranch to trade for fresh mounts.

After all, the law is on their trail. In this case, it comes in the form of railroad detective Harvey Lapchance (Lee J. Cobb) and his posse. Oh, and tagging along is Willard Crocker (George Hamilton), Catherine’s husband. He shows up with a custom-made, long-range rifle, intent on killing any man who soils his timid wife.

Turns out, Brogart’s gang is not a very tight bunch. They’re constantly bickering and one argument leads to the near fatal beating of Billy by Dawls.

Meanwhile, Catherine is growing fond of the no-nonsense outlaw leader who becomes her protector. She had been fleeing Willard, an abusive husband she married for his money.

As for Brogart, he’s bound for a Shoshone village, hoping for a reunion with the children he had with his Indian wife, Cat Dancing.

Review:

Decent 1970s Western with a plot that gives Sarah Miles’ Catherine and Burt Reynolds’ Brogart time to develop a relationship so that we wind up caring what happens to them.

Catherine doesn’t even know how to make a pot of coffee when she’s first kidnapped by the gang; Brogart scoffs at her lack of useful skills and ignores her request not to trade her prized horse.

She adapts during the course of their journey; he winds up proclaiming her “the damnedest woman” he’s ever known.

As for Brogart’s motivation for robbing the train — that’s considerably murkier. Late in the film, he offers the stolen bounty to the Indian (Iron Knife) who has raised his children.

Jay Silverheels, with long white hair, plays the Shoshone chief in one of his final film roles. Jack Warden turns in a solid performance as the most sordid of Bogart’s gang.

During production of the film, Miles’ personal assistant, David A. Whiting, was found dead in a hotel room. The circumstances were mysterious, but his death was ruled a suicide.

Directed by:
Richard Sarafian

Cast:
Burt Reynolds … Jay Brogart
Sarah Miles … Catherine Crocker
Lee J. Cobb … Harvey Lapchance
Jack Warden … Dawes
George Hamilton … Willard Crocker
Bo Hopkins … Billy Bowen
Robert Donner … Dub
Sandy Kevin … Ben
Larry Littlebird … Iron Knife
Nancy Malone … Sudie
Jay Silverheels … The Chief
Jay Verela … Charlie Bent
Owen Bush … Conductor
Larry Finely … Bartender
Sutero Garcia Jr. … Dream Speaker

Runtime: 114 min.

Memorable lines:

Billy, arriving at the gang’s camp with Catherine and her horse: “Well, you told me to bring the horse.”
Jay Brogart: “That’s what I told you.”
Billy, explaining Catherine’s presence: “Well, she wouldn’t fall off.”

Jay Brogart: “What’s your name?”
Catherine: “Catherine Crocker. Mrs. Williard Crocker. And I expect to be treated gently.’

Billy, after Catherine has bathed: “Well, now, if you don’t look as fresh as a daisy beside an outhouse.”

Jay Brogart after Charlie has died: “He wanted to be a leader like his father. He ended up being an imitation white man.”

Jay Brogart to Catherine: “You are the god damnedest woman I’ve ever known.”

Catherine: “Why do people fall in love?”
Jay Brogart: “Damn if I know. I suppose it’s like two drops of rain that fall. They come together and become one.”

Cocker, after realizing his wife has slept with Brogart: “I intended to kill him anyway. I certainly will now.”