Bonnie and Clyde: Celebrated Criminal Duo

Bonnie and Clyde are arguably one of the most notorious couples in American history, particularly for their life of violence and crime. Before viewing this film, I only knew tidbits of information about this larger-than-life duo. After viewing this film, I had a better understanding of the story of Bonnie and Clyde, and how the time period factored into the lifestyle that they lived. As a history buff, it was pretty cool to see a depiction of 1930s Depression era Texas from the clothing to the cars to the style of the buildings. For a film of its time period (1967), the cinematography was pretty good.

In my opinion, the strongest aspect of this film was the character development and use of setting to tell a story. In the film, Clyde was an ex-convict and Bonnie was a bored waitress. The dismal atmosphere of the Depression and the lack of opportunities in their environment, especially for Bonnie,  were a major reason why Bonnie and Clyde started robbing banks. For example, the scene in which Clyde shot up the farm house that had been foreclosed on by the bank showcases the general feeling of rage that permeated throughout the Depression era.  For Bonnie and Clyde, robbing banks wasn't just for the money (in fact, they only robbed small banks), it was about feeling like they were "somebody."

This idea of feeling like "somebody" connects directly to the theme of criminality and celebrity we discussed in class. Through their criminal exploits, Bonnie and Clyde attained notoriety and became one of the most notorious couples in history. Although the idea of being a criminal is generally viewed as negative in society, it is hard to refute the fascination that the public has with criminals. Think of all the crime investigation shows and murder trials on television. They are shocking to watch, but you can't seem to turn away from the channel. As a whole, I really enjoyed this movie because it gave a strong backstory to Bonnie and Clyde, and showcased their human qualities, as opposed to the glamours of their criminal exploits.