The good-natured film from director George Roy Hill, one of the most popular (and highest-grossing) westerns ever made, revived the careers of two 'golden-boy' Hollywood actors:superstar Paul Newman (in most of his previous films, he had been a rebellious loner -The Hustler (1961),Hud (1963), andCool Hand Luke (1967))newcomer Robert Redford - who had previously appeared in stage plays and only a few films (i.Sgt.Elias removed unnecessary items from their packs, and assigned Tex to be in charge of Junior and Chris, who complained about the pairing."Jane demonstrates her knowledge about "why one never finds a dead elephant in the jungle." She describes the secret graveyard of the elephants: "...An elephant can always ell when death is coming for him.And when he hears the call, there's a secret place to which he wanders.A place where he can lay his bones with his ancestors.A place of rest." As they prepare for the journey, Parker tells Jane and Holt that there is "enough ivory to supply the world.The spirited Leslie offered to help sell War Winds (a symbol of herself) by pointing out "all his bad points." Ryan replied: "Welcome to the New World, sir."Ryan returned home, sleeping on his trans-Atlantic flight this time, with a large teddy bear next to him - a gift promised to his daughter.