Robert Redford, the screen legend who has died at 89, was a master at playing with the American myth. Often cast as the hero, the man in the white hat, he brought a modern complexity and ambiguity to traditional archetypes, making them more compelling and relevant for a cynical age.
In many of his most famous roles, he embodied American ideals. As Hubbell Gardiner in The Way We Were, he was the all-American writer and athlete. As the Sundance Kid, he was the charming outlaw of the Old West. In The Candidate, he was the idealistic politician. He had the perfect look and demeanor to represent these aspirational figures.
However, Redford always found the cracks in the facade. His Hubbell was a man who compromised his principles for an easy life. His Sundance Kid was an outlaw running from the inexorable march of progress. His politician in The Candidate was slowly corrupted by the system he sought to change. He was interested in the man behind the myth.
This exploration of the American character extended to his work as a director. Films like A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show are thoughtful examinations of American life, nostalgia, and morality. He was fascinated by the stories America tells about itself and was keen to explore their nuances and contradictions.
Robert Redford’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the American myth. He was an actor who could embody it perfectly and an artist who was intelligent enough to deconstruct it. He wore the white hat, but he always let the audience see the shades of grey beneath it.
