Pomer 1 Katelyn Pomer Beth Caruso English 1103-00311 21 February 2011 Historical Inquiry: Bonnie and Clyde In the

1920s and 30s, the Great Depression led to people becoming financially unstable, resulting in drastic lifestyle changes for most people. Although notorious for their criminal backgrounds, Bonnie and Clyde's leading motivation was to help the suffering community from the hardships of this time. Sometimes after a bank heist, the couple would not see a penny of their labor as they would dispense the money throughout the needy neighborhoods on the way to their safe house. This idea of doing wrong for the greater good of society is a repeating theme throughout history and is viewed as admirable by most people. This concept is present in the life of Frank Lucas, and in the story of Robin Hood1. Robin Hood would steal from the rich and give to the poor, whereas Frank Lucas sold heroin in New York City and would use the profits to help out the poor neighborhoods by providing food, money, and jobs to those in need. The legend of Bonnie and Clyde has since inspired many individuals to give their take on the couple and their crimes through articles, movies, and even songs. Though there are many works about Bonnie and Clyde, most of the writers seem more focused either on the crimes they committed, or the love between the Borrow Gang. Movies during the 1960s were extremely conservative in the since that violence was not that acceptable. The movie Bonnie and Clyde, featuring Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrows, and Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker, was one of the first to show violence in a new form i.e. gun shots, blood, death, etc. This movie explained the timeline of the adventure between Bonnie and Clyde. However, the director appeared to be more interested in exhibiting an exaggeration of the crimes rather than explaining Bonnie and Clyde's complete reasoning for their actions2. By producing dialog and scenarios that might not have been indicative of the pair in reality, the director incorrectly vilified Bonnie and Clyde. Before the film began showing Bonnie and Clyde's spree of robbing banks, Clyde taught Bonnie how to shoot a gun; which became one of the most iconic scenes of Beatty and Dunaway. The publicity photograph taken from the film signifies the power Bonnie had during the adventure. Exaggerating Bonnie's power led the viewer to believe she took a large role in the heist. However, in the 1930s women would not have been accepted or trusted holding a pistol(Harris par 17). This also suggested that during the bank heist, Bonnie would not have been armed, and would not have been held at gun point by the police because she was not a direct threat to their, or anyones, life3. This exaggeration by the director builds up to the first bank heist scene, were the couple were shown shooting towards the officers. Other articles of the investigation debate that, there is no evidence Bonnie and Clyde ever shot a gun directly at a cop(The Red River Historian par 28). In other words, one could assume if a gun was being fired by the Barrow gang, their motive was not to

Pomer 2 kill, as the film portrays, but to escape with little event. Although dramatized for the big screen and with some misinterpretations, the movie propel Bonnie and Clyde to fame and infamy. Bonnie and Clyde became "the worlds most famous gangsters,4" posthumously after being immortalized in the 1964 movie Bonnie and Clyde. Although the film was based on the true criminals, some journalists question whether or not it was the fictional characters who received the fame instead of the real Bonnie and Clyde. In the article Bonnie and Clyde: How a Pair of Two-Bit Crooks Became the Worlds Most Famous Gangsters, the pair are said to have attempted the a life of crime, but failing in the process not only in reality, but the film as well. Claims toward the actors portraying Bonnie and Clyde stated them to be, as much a reign of error as of terror.(Wansell 28) This comment suggests the movie was much more terrifying than it was truthful. The death in the movie depicted a scene of emotion, whereas the actual event was nothing more than an execution. In the film, Clyde was out of the car when the ambush took place. Photographers of the 1930s captured pictures of the bullets alongside the car with both Bonnie and Clyde's remains inside. When being ambushed, Bonnie and Clyde were completely unaware5, where in the film they were able to spot the ambush about to occur. If Bonnie and Clyde were in the car during the real ambush, it would have been impossible for them to have realized the ambush let alone have the chance to defend themselves. Since one of the key tools of the Barrow gang was their (stolen) 1934 Ford flathead V8, a car faster than any police car of the time, it seems illogical that the couple would attempt to flee on foot. Images of the car, coated in bullet holes, would lead one to believe that the couple would have been dead before they had any idea of what was happening. If they would have been outside the car like the film portrays, such excessive amount of bullet holes6 would not have been present on the doors. Although many were aware of the film being fictional rather than the real event, many people where unable to prove what happened in the film was not what occurred in real life. Unable to prove this information, in fact proved the characters of the movie are who became famous instead of the real criminals. Although known as the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, they where not alone but actually were a part of a group known as the Barrow Gang.7 The Barrow gang consisted of nine people; Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, Marvin Barrow, Blanch Barrow, W.D. Jones, Henry Methvin, Raymond Hamilton, Joe Palmer, and Ralph Fults. (Rosenberg par 18). In the web article, Bonnie and Clyde, the couple seemed to have loved more than just themselves. They put them selves in harms way in order to protect someone from their pack. April 13, 1933... a shootout broke out. Blanche, terrified and losing her wits, ran out the front door while screaming. Having killed one policeman and mortally wounding another, Bonnie, Clyde, Buck, and W.D. Jones made it to the garage, got into the car, and sped away. They picked up Blanche around the corner.(she had still been running)- (Rosenberg par 19) Forced to commit heinous crimes, the idea of love kept the clan together. When police were staking out the apartment of

Pomer 3 Blanche and Marvin, which was the headquarters for the Barrow gang, they were spotted by the gang, initiating a shootout. Even though Blanche was said to have ran, the group could not move on until they retrieved her. Through Bonnie's poem, The Trials End, she places Clyde and herself at the top of the pact. Now Bonnie and Clyde are the Barrow gang / I'm sure you all have read, (Parker 6-7) influences the reader to assume Bonnie is conceited with the knowledge that Bonnie and Clyde also had seven other members of the gang. She also suggests that everyone was aware of their crimes. Knowing a select few people knew the treasures from the bank heist were actually going towards the community suffering from the Great Depression, certain people were uninformed of their good deeds. Bonnie and Clyde did not make up the gang, but they did contribute a lot of help towards the success of the crimes. Another form of love present in the gang that was not fully acknowledged by most people, was the marriage between Blanche and 'Buck.'8 Married in July of 1931, Blanche and Buck have a similar story of how the met with Bonnie and Clyde. Both women married to a criminal, eventually divorced when meeting the Barrows after an escape from the state penitentiary. Although in love with the Barrows, Blanche and Bonnie had a different idea of showing their love for them. Aware of their escape, Blanche pleaded buck to turn himself in so that he would not have to avoid being caught in the future. Bonnie, on the other hand, risked a lot in order for Clyde not to go back to prison. Unsuccessful, Clyde eventually joined his brother in prison serving the rest of his prison sentence. Both men came out in the year 1931 and met up with their significant other. Even though just leaving prison, Clyde still inspired to become criminals alongside his love, Bonnie. [Bonnie] knew that to stay with Clyde meant death to them both very soon(Rosenberg par 13)," but the thought of separation never crossed her mind. Throughout the movie, Bonnie and Clyde's love seemed to grow more and more as the timeline began to unfold. During the first bank heist, Clyde tells Bonnie to be prepared if he needs her(Penn 1964). Although risking her life, she stands prepared for anything while guarding his back. A woman of the 1930s was not exposed to much violence, so this act of selflessness expressed the extreme extent love forced Bonnie to commit. Even though Bonnie and Clyde committed their crimes in the 1930s, many people of the present are still able to relate to their story. Bonnie and Clyde on the run and how they influenced the perspective of love to quite a few individuals. All [he] needs in this life of sin, is [his] girlfriend(Jay-z 19) in the song Bonnie and Clyde related the poet to his own experiences. The chorus, appears to explain the love between someone, no matter what happens now or in the future, will last if not only for the present, but eternity as well. "Put us together, how they gon' stop both us? / What ever she lacks, I'm right over her shoulder(Jay-z 15-16)," implies the balance involved in a relationship9. Bonnie and Clyde were constantly trying to help each other, without each others help they lacked a trait the other carried. I'm right over her shoulder,(Jay-z 16) portrays the feeling of comfort. When Clyde tells Bonnie to be prepared during the first heist, Bonnie is put in the position of watching Clyde's back incase a situation caused them to protect themselves. Along with the first heist, when retrieving Blanche after the ambush at their apartment shows another form of protection10. Together proves

Pomer 4 without each other, the gang would not have lasted; evident when the gang splits, going their separate ways11. Bonnie and Clyde, as well as the gang, had to face sacrifices when pursuing their love for each other in both relationship, and friendship. Bonnie and Clyde had a vision of becoming successful criminals. With the support of their history, it is evident that they blurred the line between good and evil. Individuals have debated whether or not Bonnie and Clyde deserved to be put on the pedestal of great criminals that the media put them on. Although the media has exaggerated some events and focused on concepts other than their physical crimes, Bonnie and Clyde proved to be more than the average criminals. The couple together proved their love for each other, while the Barrow gang proved they cared greatly about the community by risking their lives. When examining a criminal, people should focus on their crimes rather than over analyzing their psyche and lives. However, with Bonnie and Clyde's extreme passion for each other and the community, it was hard not to. Bonnie and Clyde should not only be thought of as a couple in love, but a couple that committed crimes in order to feed their desire to be criminals, secondary to helping the community.

Valerie Horton 2/29/12 11:53 AM Comment [1]: I think the casting of B would be hard to find. I mean to find a re genuine girl who like to get rough and be typical women of the time period or even todays. I mean Bonnie is a tough girl who to shoot pistils and not be the typical housewife. The actress would have to be of similar in order to get the right feel of character in order to have the real feeling across the movie.

Valerie Horton 2/29/12 11:39 AM Comment [2]: I think the male charac your movie would have a hard persona in the sense that they can take on the consequences of the crimes they committ with pride. It would be interesting to see had jobs or if their job was nothing more criminals. As for the women, I think they should be similar to the men, but maybe slightly more refined. In the time period t took place in, a women being a criminal be SUPER unusual, so it would be intere to see a comparison of the normal hous and a women like Bonnie who assisted h husband in serious crimes. And I think th extent of the love of the relationship is extremely important for this movie.

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Works Cited Harris, Carol. "Women Under Fire in World War Two." BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwtwo/women_at_war_01.shtml>. Jett, Robin C. "Bonnie and Clyde: Of Romance, Crime, and Lonely Roads." Red River Historian. Redriverhistorian.com. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. <http://redriverhistorian.com/home.html>. Knowles, Beyonce. "Bonnie and Clyde." Bonnie and Clyde. Jay-z. Roc-a-Fella Def Jam, 2002. CD. Even though Bonnie and Clyde committed their crimes in the 1930s, many people of the present are still able to relate to their story. Jay-z describes the life of Bonnie and Clyde on the run and how they influenced his perspective of love. Jay-z has the chorus that appears to explain the love between someone, no matter what happens now or in the future, will last if not only for the present, but eternity as well. The poet related to the experience of Bonnie and Clyde's bond of love when he stated, "all [he] needs is [his] girlfriend(19)." By doing this, the poet understands the sacrifices Bonnie and Clyde had to face when pursuing their love for each other. Leonard, Elmore. "Crime Does Pay." Web. Moss, Debborah. "Blanche Barrow: Photos of Her Life with Bonnie and Clyde ~ Official Website." Debez Webz ~ Home Page. Jan. 2006. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://debez.com/blanche/index.html>. Parker, Bonnie. "Bonnie Parker's Poems." Bonnie & Clyde. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://texashideout.tripod.com/poem.html>. Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Bonnie And Clyde." About.com 20th Century History. About.com. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/bonnieandclyde.htm>. Rosenberg describes the timeline of Bonnie and Clyde's adventure as criminals. The web article discuses a brief history of Bonnie and Clyde, as well as the meeting between them. The author focuses on how love has the power to change an innocent person into a person of crime. Even though Rosenberg manly stated facts, she managed to elaborate on the help of the couple during the great depression. An interesting aspect of this webpage, however, not only focused on the love of Bonnie and Clyde, but the help of close friends. The author expanded the idea, not only the physical emotion of love can be in a relationship, but a friendship as well. Wansell, Geoffry. "Bonnie and Clyde: How a Pair of Two-bit Crooks Became the World's Most Famous Gangsters." Mail Online. Dailymail.co.uk, 23 May 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1186790/BonnieClyde-How-pair-bit-crooks-worlds-famous-gangsters.html>. This web article describes how Bonnie and Clyde became "the worlds most famous gangsters," after their death in 1934. The author believes the movie produced in 1967 helped to boost their names to the top of the 1900s criminals. Wansell believes this believes this would not have occurred if the viewer knew the whole story. The author also discuses the difference between the real thing verses the fictional lies we were told in the movie. Wansell took a negative view towards the movie of Bonnie and Clyde when he began describing the exaggerated crimes the movie.

1 Similar to these modern day takes, I plan to change the roles of Bonnie and Clyde and apply it to someone or something that people can relate to easier.

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2 By doing the opposite of other writers, explaining there reasoning for the crimes not only from Bonnie and Clyde's point of view, but the Barrows gang as well, will help the view/ready to better understand my concept. 3 It is important to have accurate information. Studying pervious writings or scripts will help me to avoid portraying false information. 4 Gangsters seems like an interesting new take on Bonnie and Clyde. 5 An alternative ending could be the opposite resulting in a successful escape from Bonnie and Clyde, resulting in life forced to be on the run. 6 An interesting idea would involve the police being ambushed instead of Bonnie and Clyde. 7 Point of view idea: the story could be viewed from a different member of the Barrow gang instead of Bonnie and Clyde. Explaining their roll in the bank heist would be interesting, and unheard of. Normally sidekicks do not get the main roll. 8 Blanche and Buck are possible characters for my final project. They would be the alternative ending to Bonnie and Clyde if they would have ended there spree of crime. 9 Things might have been differently, had the couple not been so compatible. Normal relationships of our time either end up in extreme arguments or divorce. That would be an interesting twist on an old time story. 1 0 Had the Barrow gang not retrieved Blanche, Buck would have been miserable. Along with a different perspective, what if someone from the relationship did not survive? 1 1 When the gang split, they never intended the death of their accomplices Bonnie and Clyde. If they never split, it be an interesting ending to see how they would end up. Would they all be on the run? Or would they all end up dead?