Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy (2006) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story spans two locations and time periods. The opening sequence takes place in Bolivia in 1908, where outlaws flee from Bolivian police. The main narrative shifts to Circleville, Utah in 1951, a small Western town where the treasure hunt unfolds amid the Utah wilderness.

• circleville
• utah
• bolivia
• setting
• locations
• wilderness

The film is set across two eras. The flashback set in 1908 follows Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in Bolivia, while the main story unfolds in 1951 postwar America in Utah. This dual timeline contrasts the lawlessness of the early 1900s with the more modern, cautious world of 1950s America.

• 1908
• 1951
• time period
• era
• history
• postwar

The legacy theme centers on Roy Parker, the great-nephew of Butch Cassidy, who must confront his family's notorious name. Roy defends Cassidy's legacy against his stern grandfather Sam, who wants the family to move past the outlaw's shadow. The belt buckle map forces Roy to decide whether to honor or reevaluate the Cassidy legacy, creating tension between honoring history and redefining it.

• legacy
• butch cassidy
• roy
• family
• ancestry
• history

Roy Parker is the 16-year-old great-nephew of legendary outlaw Butch Cassidy. He is curious, brave, and driven by the treasure map embedded in Cassidy's belt buckle. Roy leads the expedition to find the treasure, seeking to prove Cassidy's better side to his family while defending the outlaw's legacy against his stern grandfather Sam.

• roy parker
• butch cassidy
• great-nephew
• protagonist
• leader

Roy wants to find the treasure to validate his belief in Butch Cassidy's legacy. Rather than seeing his ancestor as merely a criminal, Roy believes Cassidy had a better side. The treasure hunt becomes his way of proving this to his family, particularly his grandfather Sam who resents the Cassidy name and wants to move past it.

• roy
• treasure
• motivation
• legacy
• butch cassidy
• family

Ellie is Roy's love interest in the film, portrayed as bold and quick-thinking. She joins the treasure hunt and isn't afraid to take risks for her friends. Her presence challenges Roy to balance romance with courage and responsibility as they navigate the dangerous quest together.

• ellie
• roy
• love interest
• character
• supporting role

Sam Parker is Roy's stern grandfather who resents the Cassidy legacy and wants the family to move past the outlaw's shadow. He distrusts the treasure hunt and pushes for a more conventional life for Roy. His conflict with Roy highlights the burden of a famous family name and represents the older generation's desire to leave the past behind.

• sam parker
• grandfather
• roy
• family conflict
• authority

Garrison is a corrupt museum official who serves as the main antagonist. He will stop at nothing to seize the treasure for himself, embodying the pursuit of wealth through underhanded means. His relentless drive creates constant danger for the young explorers throughout their quest.

• garrison
• villain
• antagonist
• corrupt
• museum
• treasure

The pursuit theme revolves around Garrison's relentless chase for the treasure, which creates constant danger and high-stakes action. The young protagonists' escapes via river raft, train rooftop, and biplane showcase youth daring under pressure. The chase ultimately exposes each character's true nature and tests their courage, friendships, and loyalty.

• pursuit
• chase
• action
• danger
• treasure
• escape

Butch Cassidy appears as the legendary outlaw whose legacy motivates the present-day quest. The treasure map left behind hints at redemption and unresolved tensions. Though the main story takes place in 1951, Cassidy's myth influences the youths as they chase the treasure and confront his memory, serving as both inspiration and historical weight.

• butch cassidy
• legend
• outlaw
• history
• sundance kid

The belt buckle map is the key artifact that drives the entire treasure hunt. It was left behind by Butch Cassidy and contains a hidden map to his lost treasure. The buckle bears the treasure map and was the item the outlaws were guarding in Bolivia in 1908 when they evaded the Bolivian police.

• belt buckle
• map
• treasure
• artifact
• butch cassidy
• clue

The Sundance Kid appears as the legendary partner of Butch Cassidy, with his myth influencing the youths throughout their adventure. Tales of his daring deepen the sense of history guiding the kids and add motivation to the quest. His connection to Cassidy reinforces the Western legend theme and the weight of the legacy Roy is trying to uphold.

• sundance kid
• legend
• butch cassidy
• partner
• history