Bonnie and Clyde
was an iconic film in the sixties because of its pioneering presentation of sex
and violence. Specifically, the ending was noted as one of the bloodiest death
scenes in cinematic history. Whether it was Clyde shooting the bank manager or
the blatant display of Buck being shot in the head, the audience reacted to the
violence in a positive way. This violence peaked in the closing scene of Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie and Clyde are
located at C.W.’s father’s house by Hamer. Mr. Moss devises a scheme to get his
son off the hook. After staging a flat tire on the side of the road, and
summoning Bonnie and Clyde’s assistance, the duo is brutally murdered via open
fire. How can such a cruel display of violent behavior be so popular among
viewers? In a sense, was this ending the start to the gore and new age horror
movies that have begun to almost demagnetize our generation?
The
film Bonnie and Clyde is forthright
in its display of sexual and violent behavior. The setting of the film takes
place during the Great Depression. It displays a desperate, cruel world. It
allows for almost a connection between Bonnie and the viewers. Making minimum
wage as a waitress, the opportunity arose when Clyde attempted to steal her
mother’s car. Bonnie took him up on his offer, and accepted a position as his
partner in crime. The connection was formed via sympathy from the viewer’s and
Bonnie’s need to make a living. Their outings started out few and rapidly
multiply once the duo came into contact with C.W. Moss, a local gas station
attendant, Buck, Clyde’s older brother, and Blanche, Buck’s wife. Time
progresses and the violence begins to pick up starting with bank robberies.
These outings are the start of the battle versus the law enforcement officials.
The battle ends upon the violent death of the duo. The comic relief instilled
throughout the film by director Arthur Penn, allow for a mild dilution to some
of the horrific and graphically violent scenes, such as the scene in the bank or
the final scene of the film as previously mentioned. Bonnie and Clyde also allowed viewer’s to feel the character’s pain
via fake blood. With each gun shot the viewer served as a witness to a murder.
The shootings were displayed as gore and heartless bloodbaths, which directly
differs from the majority of movies made at the time, portraying shootings as
non-violent. Bonnie and Clyde made strides as one of the first
films to depict graphic realism, particularly in the closing scene featuring
the open fire bloodshed. Referring back to the initial post questions of: how
can such a cruel display of violent behavior be so popular among viewers? Was
this ending the start to the gore and new age horror movies that have begun to
almost demagnetize our generation? The wheels for graphic realism, in regards
to violence, were already in motion. The film Bonnie and Clyde definitely gave these wheels a major push to lead
us to where we are today in the film industry.
Answering your question about why such a violent scene could be so popular could be the reason that the audience was so intrigued at the story being told, that the scene just became an iconic part of the movie. The audience cared about how Bonnie and Clyde and the rest of the gang were going to get out of the some of the situations they were in. So the violence made the scene that more realistic, and left the audience on the edge of their seat. Even though the display was cruel and hard to watch a times, it was something different that the audience wasn’t used to seeing. The fact that more movies began to incorporate such violent aspects into their story lines, shows that audiences and filmmakers are pushing the limits further on what is acceptable to show. If more movies do this, then the audience (like you said) is demagnetized to the violence. If you watch so many movies with the same type of fighting then it shouldn’t faze you. However, it’s important to point out that when this film was first released, it was a sort of taboo to put this kind of gruesome behavior in a movie. I’m sure that it shocked the audience, and it was a talking point of the film. But if audiences become accustomed to watching people being shot and killed, then like you said they become demagnetized to the situation. Now as the years have gone by, it’s not a big deal to show brutality. Agreeing with what you said at the end of your argument, this film was almost the start to the violence we see in movies today; which we have of course come a long way from.
ReplyDeleteGroup 4: Molly Koplos
Whenever you think of Bonnie and Clyde you think of violence. The gruesomeness of the movie, I believe, was one of the main reasons why it was so popular. When we watch this movie today most of us thought it wasn't gory in the slightest, compared to say any of the Saw movies, but back in the time when this movie came out, it was extremely gory, probably the most gory they had ever seen; and that is what made it so popular. It was the shock factor that played such a big part in its popularity. Nowadays it isn't a big deal to show such brutality.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point, when you said it was the beginning of violence. You can obviously see a difference between say Bonnie and Clyde and Saw. But without such a daring movie to start this trend, it makes one wonder where the movie scene would be at today.
I completely agree that the movie was quite violent and sexually-charged for its day. The shooting of the bank manager in the head seemed gruesome enough, but then the overly-bloody shootout at the end took the cake. (Am I the only one who thinks the police over did it a bit at the end?) The young Bonnie and Clyde always had sex in the back of their brains. There was a great example of sexual imagery even before Clyde gets cold feet in the car with Bonnie. It's when he first shows her his gun. She asks to see it and he discreetly takes it out and holds it near his crotch. Shortly after this he robs a local store and escapes with Bonnie for the first time out into a field.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the gore alone is what made the movie popular. I believe it had to do with the realism (realistic scenes with realistic charcaters). Young people everywhere could instantly connect with Bonnie: a young person with a dead-end job who feels completely bored and trapped by her life. Clyde offered a way out. The feelings that young people go through, along with young love, are represented very well in this film. Being able to connect with the characters and show empathy for them, while experiencing a well-known American story first hand (gore and all) is what made this film so popular.