The lighting in Bonnie and Clyde is very bright and saturated to create a fun and exiting response from the viewer.
Costumes:
The costumes in Bonnie and Clyde are western themed and characters like Clyde are similar looking to cowboy as he is an outlaw.
Setting:
The film takes place in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Missouri. They often change locations due to run ins with the police. The western setting adds to the outlaw theme of the movie.
Props:
Gun Props in the movie include guns that were popular at the time such as the Tommy gun and Revolvers. This makes the shootout scenes more accurate and caries the western theme with it
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.
the women in Bonnie and Clyde were all wearing long dresses and skirts throughout the whole movie, dressed very modestly and listened to their male partners. they were all “wives” or obeying a male in some sort of way. Other from Bonnie they were all married and all very respectful and obedient, as that was the stereotype at the time.
the men in the movie Bonnie and Clyde were all very dressed up, good jobs and would have a wife that they would tell what to do. they would be proper and dominating. unlike the women they would be the automatic “boss” towards their partners.
there was only one person of colour in the movie, a farmer, he was working at the house that got stolen from the bank. he did not say much because he was very low class and had no authority.
there was a lot of working class Americans, a really good example was. C.W Moss, who they picked up along the way of one of their crimes, he was living in a small house with his father. it was a small business that they ran to make a small amount of money.
Made famous by his previous films such as ‘Splendour in the Grass’ (1961) and ‘All fall down’ in 1962, Warren Beatty was already a well known actor for his usual casting as a charmer. Being a producer on Bonnie and Clyde, Beatty set him self the role of Clyde as he wanted to distance himself from his usual roles.
Faye Dunaway –
despite acting in 2 films prior, as well as performing in theatres, ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ was Faye Dunaway’s Breakout role to stardom. Being hired by director, Arthur Penn, he was convinced she was right for the part.
Michael J. pollard –
Similar to Dunaway, he served minor roles in films and TV until his breakout with Bonnie and Clyde. Being a fairly young actor it has been said he was chosen for the role of CW Moss for the naïve nature and unique charm he brought to the character.
Gene Hackman –
Making his first on screen appearance as minor role in the 1964 film, Lilith, Gene Hackman proved to be a great actor in the eyes of Beatty, after this he gained his fame for his role as Clyde’s brother, Buck barrow along side Beatty. He would later go on to star in films such as ‘The French Connection’ and ‘A bridge too far’.
Estelle Parsons –
Before Bonnie and Clyde, Parsons had performed in minor roles in the films ‘The absent-minded professor’ and ‘Ladybug Ladybug’. She wouldn’t receive a role as a main protagonist however until Bonnie and Clyde in which she won an academy award for best supporting actress. This is probably the reason she was chosen for the role as her role as Bucks Wife, Blanche as her performances with other actors stands out.
Denver Pyle –
Staring in a plethora of ‘B’ movies from the 40’s all the way up until the late 50’s, Denver Pyle was most likely selected for his versatility through the numerous roles he played in the numerous amount of his films.
Dub Taylor –
Known previously for being a main role in the film ‘You can’t take it with you’, Taylor like Pyle stared in many ‘B’ films. He was most likely chosen for his old appearance as CW Moss’s father.
Gene Wilder –
Making his debut performance in Bonnie and Clyde, Gene Wilder portrayed good acting skills and demonstrated this on screen playing the frightened undertaker. Due to his unforgettable scenes he would later star as Willy Wonka in 1971.
Bonnie and Clyde was a very realistic movie, as they used actual cars and real shops. there was nothing too over edited to make it seem more realistic, to really get the true story across.
The influence French New Wave storytelling and editing is apparent in this ironic counterpoint. happening in slow motion is created by overlapping the action. For example, Clyde’s fall to the ground is split into three shots
“Editing and Bonnie and Clyde” Immediately in the film Bonnie and Clyde, director Arthur Penn uses editing to l;et the viewer know that the film will be moving at a rapid tempo. As photographs quickly flash across the introduction, it lets the viewer know that the action will be fast paced.
the music in Bonnie and Clyde, most of the movie did not have any music in it, when they would be in a police chase there would be upbeat music and it was very fast pace, to bring up the tension in the atmosphere.
the dialogue in Bonnie and Clyde was very traditional American accents, they would never really whisper, it would always be clear talking. when they were normally talking the volume would be normal but when they were yelling at each other the overall volume of the dialogue would be a lot louder. especially when Blanche was upset the volume of the dialogue would be a lot louder.
location: bonnie and Clyde is set rural 1930s America as they travel through towns in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma. they travel though the south west of America robbing towns and shops. this is set during 1930s so it would be the middle of the great depression.
interior sets: All of the houses in bonnie and Clyde are very nice and aesthetic upon arrival. however when the gang leave the house there are always broken windows and gunshots in the walls and doors. This shows how wanted they are across America.
costumes: Clyde and henry are seen to be wearing suits and waistcoats. this is because this was the suitable clothes for men to wear in America at this time. they also (being bank robbers) would be able to pay for smarter clothes. bonnie is seen in multiple different outfits through the film and these were not as how women would have dressed at the time the film was set but it changed the way women dressed in America
props: most of the props in the film are different handguns that they steal from officers and rangers
I enjoyed this films narrative and plot and thought it was a very well written script that showed good character development in the characters.
My memorable scene would be the ending where Bonnie and Clyde were both shot to death. It was a very quick, sudden and unexpected finish but ended the storyline well.
Gene Hackman who played Cylde’s brother in the film was already a star at the time and stared in movies such as the downhill racer, superman and no way out.
Warren Beatty who played main character Clyde was chosen for the role Due to his past movies like Bugsy.
Faye Dunnaway who played Bonnie stared in movies such as the happening and Hurry sundown and was most likely chosen for the role due to her natural beauty.
The scene was shaped by editor Dede Allen of whom Penn said, “she wasn’t an editor, she was a constructionist.” Jump cuts used inspired by French New Wave directors like Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut show Penn’s Film School background.
He used tempo, timing, along with joining shots to enhance the film. The most renowned scene in the film is the final scene of the film where Pen used various shots to capture several emotions and actions within seconds of film time. He also utilizes narrative sequencing to tell the infamous tale of Bonnie and Clyde.
an example of an editing style is when Bonnie ran out the car and had an argument with Clyde, this editing style is a reverse shot, where you can see their conversation from their point of view, and it jumps to their view point then it jumps to both of them on the screen no longer in their point of view.
