Bonnie and Clyde

This film was bending the rules of traditional American Cinema. American cinema prior to this never routed for criminals. The plot line followed Bonnie and Clyde and made these characters very likable. Bonnie and Clyde were bank robbers and murderers, but the viewer wanted to see them succeed. In films today this is a very common theme, however in 1967 when this film was produced this was practically un heard of in Hollywood. This makes Bonnie and Clyde a very innovative film that paved the path for thousands of following Hollywood films.

In class the professor mentioned that the original screen play for Bonnie and Clyde was even more provocative. In the actual film Clyde was impotent, this was an ongoing theme and joke throughout the film. Instead of sex scenes we saw Bonnie's frustration and Clyde's inability to make love. In the original screen play Clyde was bi-sexual and had a love affair with C.W. There were certainly under tones of this in the actual film. One example that sticks out in my head is the checkers game in the lodge. C.W is sitting in between Clyde's legs and Clyde is playing with his hair. Bonnie is standing behind the two men with an incredibly ornate look on her face. This certainly is not how two heterosexual men typically behave.

In conclusion, the main characters were both criminals, one was impotent and possibly bi-sexual, the other was sex- driven and very turned on by the site and use of guns. This is not average 1967 Hollywood characters in film.