Bonnie and Clyde

Originally released back in 1967 Arthur Penn's Bonnie and Clyde would forever change the landscape of cinema violence.  Telling a somewhat factual (and admittedly romanticized) tale of real life bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the film was a huge risk for first time producer and leading man Warren Beatty.  Now, almost forty-five years later, it is hailed as a true masterpiece, and with good reason.

Having beat out rivals Cher and Ann-Margert, Faye Dunaway gives a daunting performance as the innocently perceived Bonnie Parker.  Swooned by her partner in crime, Bonnie quickly transforms from a small town waitress to a headlining bank robber.

Her partner in crime is played by Warren Beatty.  Involved with the project from the very beginning Beatty wasn't always on tap to act.  In fact as the film's producer, Beatty longed for Bob Dylan to play the role of Clyde Barrow.  Looking back on it now, I couldn't imagine anyone else embodying the role, as Beatty gives a gritty performance of a man who saw violence and death as a mere fact of life, not something to fear.

Together Bonnie and Clyde brought the country to their knees as they robbed banks and shot innocent bystanders, for no reason other than their personal amusement. Years later, when Beatty and Dunaway brought the duo to the big screen, the world once again was smitten with their story.

It is widely known that many facts within the film have been changed from the real life story of our two criminals.  But in Hollywood, rarely do true stories go unchanged.  For the sake of entertainment, Bonnie and Clyde is a unique and landmark film, one that should be seen by any true movie fan!