Locations

The use of location in Bonnie and Clyde is used as a way to communicate the feelings and atmosphere at any given part of the movie, for example, when Bonny and Clyde are rid of the others they live out their life as they wanted in the beginning: alone, robbing banks together. The bliss they feel in this part of the movie is communicated by the ‘perfect’ and pleasant locations such as this field.

The use of this external shot in this location, being a typical town centre, ensures the verisimilitude of the movie. As the plot is central to how Bonnie and Clyde rob Banks, the audience are aware of what is about to happen, but the surrounding civilians aren’t, therefore creating a sense of dramatic tension in the movie.

Sets (interior)

The use of set design in Bonnie and Clyde translates to the audience how the characters feel in a particular moment in the movie. This scene where Bonnie feels helpless and isolated in her sadness, the set is dimly lit, suggesting her low mood as a result of the dark themes of their crimes.

One of the first scenes Bonny and Clyde share is set in a typical café, the set isn’t fancy or over elegant, showing how they both want a happy life with each over, bot one full of riches etc. The light being dim but shining over them both signifies how they both feel a sense of hope and safety in each over; how Clyde has met a women who interests him, and how Bonnie has found a man who excites her and promises her a better, more fulfilling life.

Costumes

Costumes in Bonny and Clyde tell a story of how characters change over time in a subtle, yet effective way. The first appearance of Bonny depicts her in a simple and plain dress, which she, quite literally, throws on. This shows how she feels her life lacks excitement and how she, before meeting Clyde, is a stereotypical, working class women of good moral and pretty, sensible character. her hair is experimental, including a swirl pattern, Clyde tells her to remove it, showing her attempts of living a more exciting life is nothing in compare to the life he can offer.

Once Bonnie starts to be influenced by Clyde and his radical and dangerous ways, Bonnie wears more designer, expensive clothes. Firstly showing their sudden influx of money and wealth as a result from stealing from banks, but also to show how she feels more herself in the way that she expresses herself. She now takes on a more ‘iconic’ and fancy appearance, aligning with how she is one step closer to living the life she longed for in the beginning of the movie.

Props

The way in which guns are presented in Bonnie and Clyde tell the spectator lots in regard to how Bonnie views violence vs. how Clyde views violence. As seen in the scene with the Sherriff, Bonnie uses Guns as props for photos, hinting towards how she uses this type of life as a statement, rather than a thirst for killing. She holds the gun haphazardly, careless to what they do, this foreshadows her demise in the end of the movie, and how she got carried away in the feeling and fashion that being a runaway brought whilst forgetting the real consequence of her actions.

The use of food as a prop in this scene communicates how Bonnie and Clyde aren’t against normal, working class people, rather the system and how the government exploits normal people (hence the reason they rob banks). They treat there ‘hostages’ in a arguably comedically ‘nice’ way by feeding them, showing how they are nice people deep down, whilst evoking the spectator to sympathize with Bonnie and Clyde.