Bonnie and Clyde remains as influential today as it it was in 1967. This film has been charged with glamorizing criminals and elevating the acceptable threshold for screen violence. Additionally, French New Wave Cinema heavily influenced the film, particularly in its mixture of tones and choppy editing. Director Arthur Penn began a new tradition of auteur-driven projects and capitalized on the weakening Production Code, which permanently changed the Hollywood Studio System. While it was not the first film to depict violence, it was the first do so in the name of art film and in such an extreme manner. The reception of this film was controversial, with some critics praising its innovativeness, while others condemned the explicit violence. These sources lend insight into the controversy surrounding Bonnie and Clyde, the influence of French New Wave Cinema, and the impact of Arthur Penn on New Hollywood. Drawing inspiration from French New Wave cinema, Bonnie and Clyde broke Hollywood taboos by portraying murdering bank-robbers as a glamorous and sympathetic romantic couple.

Boucher, Geoff. "The stickup that shook it up; Warren Beatty and Arthur Penn recall how their cinematic spree of 'Bonnie and Clyde' transformed Hollywood." Los Angeles Times 23 Mar. 2008. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. 26 Mar. 2008. http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:5591/us/lnacademic/returnTo.do?returnToKey=20_T3420152182


The Los Angeles Times article interviews Warren Beatty and Arthur Penn to provide unique insight into the production and impact of Bonnie and Clyde. Boucher describes Bonnie and Clyde as a “jarring film” full of bloody realism, thrills, and anti-establishment themes. While some critics and older viewers saw the film as a sign of amoral society, the film really resonated with young audiences because it was new and different. Penn called the film “part Texas, part Paris”, which signifies the integration of American themes and French New Wave cinema. Additionally, Beatty recalls how Jack Warner consistently reminded him of “who’s name was on the water tower” to assert his power. Regardless, Penn and Beatty agreed not to change the script or the graphic depiction of violence; defying a studio head was a groundbreaking move. Furthermore, instead of filming on the Warner lot, Penn moved production to small towns throughout Texas to enhance the realism of the film and depict the desperation of the rural countryside. Both Beatty and Warner recall how they were unaware of how influential the film would be.
These interviews lend unique, first-hand support to the idea that Bonnie and Clyde changed Hollywood institutions and set new standards. Penn and Beatty both acknowledge that they did things their own way, and not necessarily how things had been done in the past, which contributed to the immense success of this film. They inspired a new generation of filmmakers who had a personal vision, and attracted younger audiences by breaking tradition.

Bernstein, Matthew. "Perfecting the New Gangster: Writing Bonnie and Clyde."
Film Quarterly 53.4 (2000). JSTOR . 26 Mar. 2008

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AdvancedResults%3fhp%3d25;si%3d1;q0%3dbonnie%2band%2bclyde;f0%3d;c0%dAND;wc%3don;sd%3d;ed%3d;la%3d;dc%3dAnthropology;dc%3dArt%20History;dc%3dCl>.

Bernstein’s article analyzes the continual script revision of Bonnie and Clyde to demonstrate how the film integrated characteristics of French New Wave cinema with conventions of Hollywood. Screenwriters David Newman and Robert Benton were great admirers of French New Wave Cinema. In fact, Francois Truffaut even helped edit their script after turning down the position as director. According to Bernstein’s analysis of the script, the French New Wave influenced the original concept, storyline, narrative structure, and character development. Newman and Benton were focused on developing Bonnie and Clyde as endearing bad guys. Similarly, the writers tried to create a mixture of tones through juxtaposition of opposites, such as the combination of comic relief with gory violence. The original script was actually even more European in style, but revisions create a more coherent and Hollywood style by making Bonnie and Clyde more conventionally romantic and strengthening the linear narrative by focusing mainly on Bonnie and Clyde’s perspective. This article also demonstrates how Arthur Penn and his team broke tradition and started a new era in Hollywood. For example, despite offending studio-head Jack Warner, Newman, Benton, and Penn were determined to include gory action sequences and charged language.
This article demonstrates how Newman and Benton used the stylization of French New Wave to create a new American gangster, mainly through a mixture of tones and juxtaposition of opposites (such as love and crime, or comedy and violence). Additionally, the writers knowingly and purposefully broke social conventions of Hollywood. For the first time, brutal criminals were likable, and horrific scenes were integrated with comic undertones. As a result of Bonnie and Clyde, directors earned more power and took greater stylistic risks. Films, therefore, were developed according to new institutional standards with significantly less studio influence.

Hoberman, J. “If You Are a Bonnie-and-Clyder…:The Birth of Radical Chic.” The Dream Life: Movies, Media and the Mythology of the Sixties. New York: The New Press, 2003.

Hoberman discusses the influx of violence in American society, and how Bonnie and Clyde simultaneously changed the depiction of violence on screen. In fact, he uses the term “pornoviolence” to explain the new cultural fascination with violence. Released in 1967, Bonnie and Clyde was preceded by a summer of extreme turbulence, ranging from race riots to the Black Panthers violent crusade. Bonnie and Clyde’s release was extremely provocative (including the slogan “They’re young, they’re in love…and they kill people”). The film endears viewers to the main characters, especially in the beginning with the outlaws’ comic slipups. Furthermore, the criminals are depicted with both symbols of power (such as guns) and freedom (such as fast cars). This heightened the controversy surrounding the film because never before had cold-blooded killers also been seen as likable and alluring. Yet, given the cultural context, the rebellious nature of the main characters was well received by a society full of upheaval and protest.
Hoberman’s analysis clearly supports the idea that Bonnie and Clyde broke taboos and glamorized forbidden lifestyles. Hoberman says that Bonnie and Clyde introduced a carefree, enchanting, yet rebellious “bonnie-and-clyder” attitude in society. More specifically, he says this movie led to “the birth of radical chic," which he defines as a trend away from convention and toward radicalism. Arthur Penn made violence entertaining and created sympathetic perpetrators, which established a new way to portray criminals and violence.

    Arthur Penn began two very important trends in Hollywood filmmaking with Bonnie and Clyde, specifically introducing a new type of gangster film and creating a signature director’s style. First, audiences were attracted to Bonnie and Clyde, even though they were the gangsters. He describes Bonnie and Clyde as folk-heroes “who live from their spontaneous impulses, not from any codified morality (80).” He identifies several scenes in the film, such as the reunion with Bonnie’s mother, that humanize the gangsters and portrays conventional society as abnormal. Secondly, the French New Wave inspired Penn’s use of slow motion, special photographic textures, and free intercutting to create a sense of tension, excitement, and escalating violence. But, Cameron argues the “released” his artistic signature and desire for a distinguishable style. Penn really applied his own "mark" to his films through editing.

    Cameron’s analysis explains that despite the unequivocal evidence that crime does not pay, the film is still very likely to encourage spectators to like Bonnie and Clyde because these outlaws are attractive, spontaneous, and even seem fun. Cameron believes people do not identify with their criminal nature, but rather their carefree sense of independence. This essay supports the notion that Penn glamorizes the perpetrators of violence by creating endearing characters. From Cameron's perspective, there are sociological and cultural implications that the audiences identify so intensely with outlaws, which up until this film was nonexistent.

Berkowitz, Leonard, Ronald Corwin, and Mark Heironimus. "Film Violence and
Subsequent Aggressive Tendencies." The Public Opinion Quarterly 27.2
(Summer 1963). 3 Apr. 2008
sici?sici=0033-362X%28196322%2927%3A2%3C217%3AFVASAT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U>.


    This article states that media violence negatively affects audiences because it attracts the innocent and incites crime. On the other hand, some researchers say violence can have beneficial effects by serving as a vicarious outlet for aggression. But, this (and supporting studies) indicates that screen violence does not function as a method of symbolic catharsis. Instead, movie violence can instigate aggressive behavior right after the scene, but most likely not long term. Furthermore, if movie violence is socially justified or the criminals are likable, people may be less inhibited to commit acts of violence.
    Though this article does not directly discuss Bonnie and Clyde, one can conclude the film’s depiction of violence is worrisome and could increase the probability of aggression. Bonnie and Clyde are, to the majority of viewers, very likable and sympathetic characters, which this study says may increase one’s own propensity towards aggression. Instead of the extreme and graphic violence in this film serving as a vicarious outlet for aggression, it may actually spur more aggressive behavior. Following this corollary, the new standard of screen violence that Bonnie and Clyde created is dangerous and could lead to more violence.

Crowther, Bosley. "Bonnie and Clyde." The New York Times 14 Apr. 1967. 5 Apr.
     2008 <http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/
     review?res=EE05E7DF173CE361BC4C52DFB266838C679EDE>.

    Bosley Crowther’s original New York Times review condemns Bonnie and Clyde, most famously declaring, “This blending of farce with brutal killings is as pointless as it is lacking in taste.”  His review criticizes both the lead actors and director for combining slapstick comedy with gory violence, which he finds neither entertaining nor purposeful. This review clearly demonstrates how appalled Crowther was with the level of violence and “ridiculous” portrayal of crime. Not only does he find the combination of comedy and violence horrific, but says the film is not at all representative of the real story of the Barrow Gang. Lastly, Crowther attacks the portrayal of a “sleazy, moronic pair” as fun-loving, carefree, and sympathetic characters.
    This review lends unique insight into the immediate and controversial reception of the film. Crowther clearly represents those critics who belive this movie was too graphic and insensitive in its glamorization of crime. It is significant to note that despite such scathing reviews, the film was a huge success, which demonstrates Bonnie and Clyde’s ability to speak to and attract audiences.

Goldstein, Jeffrey. "The Attractions of Violent Entertainment" Media Psychology 1.3 (1999). 05 Apr. 2008
http://www.informaworld.com/10.1207/s1532785xmep0103_5.

    This study considers why violence is a successful and prominent aspect of entertainment. Goldstein analyzes the roles of sensation-seeking, context, justice motive, and social control as elements that affect our consumption of violence. He uses Gerbner’s cultivation theory to explain that media violence is a means of social control. This theory posits that because of media violence, people see the world as a frightening and dangerous place, and therefore want to support law and order. Even if violence is “scary”, viewers can enjoy violence in certain contexts. In addition for the need to feel safe, the audience must understand cues that the violence is just for entertainment, such as sound effects or editing that remind people “this is not real”. Additionally, violent entertainment has different appeals during different time periods. Real violence activates aggressive association and can increase the preference for more violence. For some viewers, particularly the rebellious and young, violence is taboo and therefore engaging. Goldstein’s study concludes that people can enjoy watching violence and simultaneously be scared away from a criminal or aggressive lifestyle.
    The findings in this study are applicable and relevant to the portrayal of violence in Bonnie and Clyde, and subsequent commercial success of the movie. According to this study, Bonnie and Clyde is a critique of crime and the outlaw, instead of glamorization of this lifestyle. For instance, both characters are ruthless robbers and murderers, who ultimately die because of their actions. According to Goldstein, this portrayal would frighten viewers, which in turn would lead them to support a civil, responsible lifestyle. Regardless, the violence was still entertaining and the movie was successful because of the editing cues, rebellious time period, and taboo associated with crime.