The Rewatchables: ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Bill’s Dad

Original Air Date: October 7, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Bill Simmons (BS), Chris Ryan (CR), Dr. Bill (Bill’s Dad), with input from Producer Craig

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rewatchables kicks off the show’s “Robert Redford Month” with a deep dive into the 1972 film Jeremiah Johnson. Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and his father, Dr. Bill—as Dr. Bill calls this his all-time favorite movie. The trio, with occasional input from Producer Craig and Gahao, break down what sets Jeremiah Johnson apart in the western genre, its unique structure, gorgeous cinematography, Redford’s iconic performance, and why this story and its themes have endured. The conversation covers everything from the film’s survivalist appeal and historical setting, to its meme-ification, Redford’s career, and standout scenes.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Why Jeremiah Johnson Endures

• Dr. Bill’s History: Asserts it's his favorite film, stemming from the 1970s when he first saw it nearly alone in the theater ([04:13]).
• Gorgeous Cinematography: Multiple hosts marvel at the outdoor scenery shot in Utah, calling it “relaxing to watch” and “as close to a national park as you can get without leaving your house” ([05:01–06:23]).
• Old-Fashioned but Modern: The film blends classic Hollywood epic scale with 1970s sensibility and introspection ([05:39]).
• Survivalism Appeal: The “mountain man” genre and the man-versus-nature themes, which strike a chord for its drama and serene stretches ([06:53]).
• Bill Simmons: “For long stretches you’re just like hanging out with it” ([06:53]).

2. Historical Context and Genre Placement

• Rarely Covered Era: The movie explores the underrepresented post-Mexican War, pre-Civil War American west, focusing on mountain men over traditional cowboys ([08:07]).
• Disillusionment Parallel: CR asks if Jeremiah’s escape from civilization reflected Americans’ post-Vietnam malaise in 1972 cinema ([08:32–09:47]).
  • Dr. Bill agreed, noting Johnson's uniform and need to escape were “subtly commentating on people coming back from Vietnam being disillusioned” ([09:11]).
  • Notable quote: “He was escaping civilization and ... he just wanted to get away from it all.” – Dr. Bill ([09:19])
• Influence on Later Films: Dances With Wolves, The Revenant, and Last of the Mohicans are cited as spiritual successors ([10:30–11:55]).

3. Robert Redford’s Career and Performance

• Redford’s Favorite Film: This was reportedly Redford’s own favorite among his movies, largely because of his connection to the landscape and love of nature ([02:57–05:02]).
• Versatility: The episode notes Redford’s wide-ranging filmography and longevity; this film stands out for showcasing his rugged, physical side ([45:54–46:27]).
• The Iconic Beard: The hosts have an extended riff on his mastery of frontier facial hair, suggesting a new “Best Facial Hair Performance” category ([38:38–39:42]).
• The Meme Factor: The “nodding Redford” GIF is now legendary, creating a new kind of pop culture immortality ([18:08–18:30]).

4. Sidney Pollack’s Directing Legacy

• Director Pollack: Credited for mastering both the naturalistic calm and bursts of violence, as well as drawing great performances from his cast ([14:34–15:05]).
• Noted as a “director we don't really have anymore” for such versatility ([15:01]).

5. Structure and Tone – A Film of Two Halves

• Unconventional Structure: Typically, revenge occurs early in action movies. Here, the vengeance phase kicks in during the final act ([15:36–16:35]).
  • “If you're watching it for the first time, you’re just like, oh cool, this guy falls in love. This is great … then the cavalry shows up … as soon as they go through the graveyard, it all changes.” – CR ([16:22])

6. Notable Scenes and Characters

Most Rewatchable Scenes ([23:28–32:44])

• Hatchet Jack’s Letter: Darkly comic, instantly memorable frontier will ([23:34]).
• Bear Claw and Delgue: Memorable partnerships with quirky dialogue ([24:46–27:01]).
• Building the Log Cabin Montage: A time capsule of domestic, pioneer life ([26:32–26:57]).
• The Wolf Attack: Effective early-70s action scene ([27:09]).
• The Crow Graveyard Sequence: The ominous, fateful mission ([27:16]).
• Murder Montage: The escalation into the mythic cycle of revenge ([28:05–28:32]).
• The Legendary Ending: The ambiguous last standoff and, “And some folks think he’s up there still.” ([29:14–30:27]).

Best Quotes

• “It's partly Redford, obviously. It also rings all the bells in terms of the way he led his life.” – Dr. Bill ([05:02])
• “I read that it was coming out and then I read an article about John Liver-Eating Johnson… they exaggerated how many Crow he killed. One article said 300…” – Dr. Bill ([03:51])
• “This is about as close to a national park as you can get without leaving your house.” – Dr. Bill ([05:01])
• “He shaved his beard for her. He was probably getting used to her cooking.” – Dr. Bill ([17:24])
• “It's such a random movie to be... harvested like that, though.” – Craig, on the meme ([18:32])
• “You just knew he had a bad experience and he had to get away, left civilization to do that.” – Dr. Bill ([09:47])

Notable Moments, Film Facts, and Running Jokes

- Real Historical Inspiration

• Jeremiah Johnson is loosely based on “Liver-Eating Johnson,” a mythologized frontiersman ([03:51], [18:20]).
• Redford even served as a pallbearer when Johnson’s remains were relocated ([19:00]).

- Meme & Internet Culture

• The nodding Redford GIF now introduces new audiences to the film ([18:08]).
• Hosts joke about social media, cross-over memes, and “Jeremiah Johnson” as fantasy football nickname ([18:30], [18:48]).

- Casting and Direction What-Ifs ([64:00–65:11])

• The role nearly went to Lee Marvin, then Clint Eastwood with Sam Peckinpah directing. Steve McQueen and Burt Reynolds are also considered “what-ifs.”
• The Redford “nature connection” is cited as irreplaceable.

- 1972 Aesthetic Flashbacks

• Discussion of overtures and intermissions—period signifiers no longer used ([34:25–35:54]).

- Humor & Reference Callbacks

• Several running gags: trading daughters for gifts, trading bear pelts for draft picks, and “Vanity projects” for actors wanting to live in the mountains ([12:08], [12:28–13:09]).

- Modern Streaming & Audience

• Producer Craig notes its slow pacing and meditation might be a tough sell to younger audiences, but calls it “a beautiful screensaver of a movie” ([90:08–90:41]).

Standout Quotes

• “He was escaping civilization and … he just wanted to get away from it all.” – Dr. Bill ([09:19])
• “For long stretches you're just hanging out with it.” – Bill Simmons ([06:53])
• “The overture really sets the mood. … It actually works. It’s just crazy to watch.” – Chris Ryan ([35:33])
• “He’s got five o’clock shadow. He’s got a beard where it almost looks like it’s on his cheeks it’s so high… The way they use his facial hair, it really feels that way where it’s like he shaved, his wife’s dead, and then when he goes to get the crows, he’s got the right amount of facial hair.” – Bill Simmons ([38:38])
• “It's a movie I avoided.” – Dr. Bill on Eyes Wide Shut ([73:43])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:45]: Redford's love for nature and why this film was his favorite.
• [04:13]: Dr. Bill’s first encounter with the film in 1972.
• [05:29]: The appeal of the outdoor scenery.
• [08:32]: Vietnam allegory and disillusionment theme.
• [15:36]: Unconventional revenge structure.
• [18:08]: Nodding Redford meme.
• [23:28] - [32:44]: Most rewatchable scenes.
• [38:38]: Facial hair as a character.
• [45:54]: Redford’s unique place in film history and Mount Rushmore actor debate.
• [88:38]: “Best life lesson” segment: Don’t go through the Crow burial ground.
• [90:08]: Producer Craig’s review: “screensaver of a movie,” a tough but beautiful watch for modern audiences.

Rewatchables Categories & Their Takeaways

• Best Use of Food/Drink: Swan’s “Hot Pockets” that Johnson can barely eat ([49:31]).
• Best Cinematic Shot: Delgue’s head sticking out of the sand as he’s rescued ([50:01]).
• Best Character Name: Paints His Shirt Red, with nods to “Jeremiah Johnson” ([50:41]).
• Dion Waiters Award: Bear Claw and Delgue debated, but Bear Claw stands out, as does Hatchet Jack’s letter.
• Best Life Lesson: Don’t go through a burial ground. Don’t leave your frontier family unattended ([88:38]).

"Picking Nits"/Weak Links

• The plausibility of Johnson choosing to go through the Crow burial ground is roundly criticized ([53:00–53:46]).
• How did Johnson survive so many wounds and lack of medical care? ([54:28])
• Some desire for an outside-the-mountain prologue/scene to ground the film’s start in “civilization” ([54:49]).

Lasting Impact & Final Thoughts

• Jeremiah Johnson remains a unique, beautiful outlier in both the Western and adventure genres. Its melancholic tone, naturalism, and understated lead performance have helped it build a passionate cult following.
• Its iconography (the beard, the nod), internet afterlife, and patient, meditative pacing mark it as a film that found its audience in the years after release.
• Dr. Bill: “I'm not sure Hollywood would make this movie today, which is a shame. Maybe that's why I rewatch it.” ([92:56])
• Jeremiah Johnson is both a relic of its time and, with its themes of disconnection and renewal, perhaps timelier than ever.

Who Won the Movie?
Unanimous: Robert Redford.

Double Feature Suggestions:
The Revenant (CR, Bill), Outlaw Josey Wales and The Searchers (Dr. Bill), Cast Away (Bill).

Final Word:
Jeremiah Johnson is "the movie that proves you can’t grow a legend—or a beard—without surviving a few winters in the mountains."

For further Redford analysis, keep listening during Redford Month on The Rewatchables!