Warren Beatty was very easy on the eyes and had a commanding presence in Hollywood. His interpretation of the notorious story of Bonnie and Clyde would be another big budget studio film, and one in which he was eager to make. He pairs up with the cool and uncanny Faye Dunaway as Bonnie and the two prove to have an undeniable dynamic which screams on the screen. The adrenaline rush of a film is set in the 1930’s in America and is a depiction of the real life story of Bonny Parker and Clyde Barker, historic criminals for which this film gained them even more of a cult following. It is glorified violence in perfect Hollywood fashion. They feed off of each other with Clyde committing the robberies at first to impress and drive the object of his affection, Bonnie crazy with this feeling of possibly getting caught met with lust and desire for her man which seems to grow as the crime wave hits full swing. They are on the run terrorizing everyone who comes their way hitting up small town to small town they will not be caught but instead consider themselves not only above the law but untouchable. Their ego and drive are fueled by one another and they are as magnetic as they are as foolish as love is blind.
They tangle with the law back and forth. The public is concerned, frightened and fans all at the same time. Kidnapping a Texas Ranger they join forces with some unlikely comrades and the film then becomes a classic gangster film similar to which was so ever present in Hollywood some 30 years prior. It captures 1930’s America effortlessly and transcends the viewer into another time and place with simplicity yet features violence like never before seen on the big screen up until this point. There is blood, there is gore, and the public find this fascinating. In watching this film some 50 years later it is still considered to be very violent. It had to be a shock to the system of America and Hollywood when it first came out. Warren Beatty played Clyde with a youthfulness and attitude which helped solidify his star status. The beauty and rough around the edges style that is Faye Dunaway helped the cavalier and cool actress to not only get noticed but become bankable in Hollywood. The best case scenario for this big budget film was to be able to gross a ton of money and by doing so it was the acting of these two that carried it into such a successful spot. The shock and awe was just a byproduct of this.
It also was made to appeal to a much younger audience much in the same way many of the most popular films during this era were. Because the film relayed the message that it was honorable to perhaps steal from the rich while giving to the poor just fueled the fire of defiance of the norms and values that was ever-present in 1960’s America where there was a clear division of young and old but also of the classes. Younger people in America were focusing less on material things and money and wealth therefore they were able to read that message in this film and recognize its worth and appreciate it. The violence in the film however was contradictory to this and showed that aside from all of the new ideals and trials and tribulations that people were still able to be amazed and entertained by the shocking effects of cinema. One might think that in a society so hell bent on non violence and peace and one that was in strife over the effects of the Viet Nam war and our perception of it being never ending that it might not have been appropriate for this movie to have taken such a violent approach. Movies are interesting for a variety of reasons to an audience and one of the reasons that the film was to be so successful is perhaps America wanted to be entertained wanted an escape from al of the conflict unanswered questions and distrust that we held in the government. Movies seek to entertain and captivate., This could be by telling the tale of a beautiful love story which touches our heart, taking us to a place we have never been before, making us feel an emotion that we normally do not entertain like fear or lust or even, although shocking, by violent means.
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