University of Virginia Library

Death Scene

Scene after scene displays remarkable
artistic brilliance. When
the Barrow gang gets together
with Bonnie's mother and family
for the last time, the film assumes
a grainy, brownish tint which accurately
duplicates the blurred-over
vision of memory reminiscing.
Bonnie and Clyde's death scene
ambush culminates in rapid-flash
views of their faces and then
switches to slow motion as their
bodies are riddled by ten seconds
of merciless machine gun fire. Inevitably,
the audience exits the
theatre stunned and silent.

In the final analysis, it is the
taut, honest, believable characterizations
that so thoroughly captivate
the audience. Each member
of the Barrow gang-and the supporting
cast as well-is finely
etched: Warren Beatty's slow-talking,
tousled-hair, easy-going,
boyishly-handsome Clyde Barrow;
Faye Dunaway's beret-wearing,
big-eyed, sensually-alive, utterly-devoted
Bonnie Parker; and
Michael J. Pollard's simpleminded,
Elmer Fudd-impish C. W.
Moss.

Bonnie and Clyde is a rare
work of the cinematic art developing
its potential.