Ryan McNeil
The myth is always so much sexier than the truth.
The myth stokes the fires of desire, idolatry, jealousy, restlessness, inspiration, and want. The myth is what prompts us to believe in heroes – the truth is what allows us to lift the shade, and see our heroes for the fallible humans they really are.
When most people think of BONNIE AND CLYDE, they think about the sex and danger that comes with gun-toting, bank-robbing, pretty people. They think about the image of a couple deep in love, and (almost literally) thick as thieves. It’s a myth that was stoked in the depression era when criminals of their ilk became antiheroes to the American public. The myth really caught fire in the 60’s when Beatty and Dunaway made the characters sexy style icons.
For me though, the most fascinating part of the story has been the frustration surrounding Bonnie and Clyde’s sex life. Not long into the film, Bonnie comes to the realization that Clyde’s abilities as a lover man aren’t all they’re trumped-up to be. This was a deliberate (and daring) choice in the writing of the character. Early drafts of the script played around with Clyde being bisexual, before it finally settled on him being impotent. Not only does it run counter to the character’s stature, but it plays very much against the image of Warren Beatty at the time. But so it was; Clyde Barrow would get his rocks off robbing banks, if not in a bedroom.
That brings me to the image above – the one where Bonnie is confronted with who she has hitched her wagon to. There are few more palpable moments of sexual frustration than that image – one where a couple are on completely opposite ends of the bed. Neither one looks at the other. Clyde stares at the floor frustrated…Bonnie curls up with her head bowed, exasperated. They’re young, free, and dangerous, so one would expect – as Bonnie did when she ran away from her mama’s house with Clyde – that the sex would be hot and heavy. It’s not. It doesn’t work with the myth and the persona of the dangerous boy she met. As they flirted over bottles of Coke, Bonnie instinctively reached for Clyde’s gun. Bet she never thought it’d be loaded with blanks.
Jokes aside, there’s something else I love about this image besides the frustration it represents. It comes down to the question of “Now What?”. It’s a question that Bonnie is likely asking herself in this moment. The myth and the truth have shown how very different they are, and while she’s getting a thrill from being a criminal, she isn’t getting any thrills afterwards in the bedroom. In this moment, with this frame, there’s a moment of truth.
One can almost hear Bonnie asking herself if she was enticed by the myth, or enticed by the man. If it’s the former, she might as well get fixed up and leave. However, because she knows – and we see – that it’s the latter, this moment represents a recalibration. Their intense attraction – indeed, their love – will endure. It was sparked by a myth, but stoked by the truth. If they never realized it before, they certainly do in this instant.
Here’s three more from BONNIE AND CLYDE for the road…
This series of posts is inspired by the “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” series at The Film Experience. Do check out all of the awesome entires in their series so far
Love this, man. A great breakdown of one of the infinite number of things that makes this film one of my absolute favorites. How it dissects its own myth so organically through the story its telling.
Know what the funny thing is? I spent a long time trying to decide between the main image and the image below of the gun. Both images say so much without any words needed, but they both say such opposite things.
It came down to what side of the myth I found most interesting…
Oh how I love this movie. I’ve always thought that Bonnie and Clyde were chasing a feeling, namely feeling powerful, because they didn’t feel that way in life. While Clyde’s motivations and affectations are more obvious connection, I always thought that Bonnie was the more interesting character from a feminist perspective. The other fun examination of this film is to look at it and it’s place in film history with regards to the the rejection of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the rules around it. What better way to rebel than with blood, guns, a handsome young hero who’s impotent, and the beautiful blonde bombshell doubting her choice to follow him?
Bang on, nice job. Makes me want to go home and watch this one again.
Bonnie Parker has always fascinated me in the way that she starts out as the bored southern “farmer’s daughter”, but in short order takes control of the whole gang. There’s such a complexity to how she presents herself and how she interacts with everyone.
In a lesser film, she’d be precious more than a rescued princess, but this multi-faceted look at her makes for such an amazing portrayal.
High points to the film’s editor too, as a lot of Dunaway’s off-the-cuff moments were used to fully shape Bonnie and give her some whimsy to go along with that steely resolve.
Great look at one of my favorite films. This relationship was so incredibly unique; haven’t seen another one quite like it.
I really don’t watch this film often enough – I even stupidly sat out a screening of it at Lightbox last year!