Once again we visit the intersection of sex and guns. Unfortunately for hot Bonnie, Clyde isn’t much of a lover boy. Downright impudent in fact. But Bonnie sticks with him anyhow. Soon a gas station attendant, Clyde’s brother (Gene Hackman), and his frumpish wife join the gang. They target banks because banks are bad, what with all of the farm foreclosures.
At once both stylish and awkward, Bonnie and Clyde was clearly influenced by the French New Wave. An early scene where our heroes try to get it on was clumsy as hell. But this serves the narrative well. They try to be Robin Hood-esque saviors but they’re not. Cool, cute, and stylish, but no substance. Just criminals to the end. Impudent, if you will.
Denver Pyle plays the Ranger on the hunt for our Heroes. No relation to Gomer. Prolific and weird looking character actor Michael J. Pollard played the recruited gas station attendant, and got nominated for an Oscar. He was in a ton of stuff but I remember him most from that Star Trek episode and Scrooged. He passed last December. And so it goes. Prolific and weird looking character actor Dub Taylor played his dad. This is also Gene Wilder’s film debut. He played, well, Gene Wilder.
It isn’t a coincidence that I watched Bonnie and Clyde directly after Gun Crazy. A recent cable box upgrade allows me to record (almost) to my heart’s content, so now I have a serious library to choose from. Also, I seem to be home a lot recently. Go figure. While Gun Crazy was partially inspired by the real Bonnie and Clyde, this is the first feature film on the couple. I had recorded and deleted it several times in the past because of space issues.
Bonnie and Clyde doesn’t shy from the blood, considering the year, but it is mostly unremarkable in that regard by today’s standard. But it’s most remarkable in every other way. Faye Dunaway astounds. With its style and content, Bonnie and Clyde heralded in the American New Wave of cinema, and nothing would be the same. AMRU 4.
“We rob banks.”
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