It is strange that even though Bonnie Elizabeth Parker only lived 23 years and Clyde Chestnut “Champion” Barrow only 25, but this week of May 23, 2024, the world remembered their iconic and tragic death 90 years ago. Even stranger is that – although they were robbers and murderers – they are still seen today as symbols of rebellion. And yes, for nine decades!

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, better known as Bonnie and Clyde, are famous for their criminal exploits during the Great Depression in the United States. They gained notoriety as a criminal couple who led a gang that committed several bank robberies, small store robberies and even murders from 1932 to 1934. And they were shot at a crossroads, after being betrayed by an accomplice who handed them over to the police.

Outlaws romanticized by the media

The idea of a romantic couple on a crime spree captured the imagination of the public thirsty for “real” stories and both their partnership in crime and their love story were sensationalized by the media of the time, turning Bonnie and Clyde into a kind of Popular heroes to some during the difficult economic times of the Great Depression.

Their story gained national attention when newspapers and other media outlets extensively covered their exploits, often exaggerating their actions and creating a grandiose image. Photos of Bonnie and Clyde, especially a famous photo of Bonnie with a cigar in her mouth and a pistol in her hand, contributed to their legendary status, an image that was reproduced in the film with Faye Dunaway and Warren Beaty.

The attraction towards the two only grew as the intense manhunt by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, generated news about them. The violence of the ambush that ended their lives, in Louisiana, on May 23, 1934, turned them into legends.

Cinema, of course, loved the romantic version and retold it in various forms of popular culture, including films, books and songs. Bonnie and Clyde, from 1967, helped to establish the duo as iconic figures in American history.

Bandits seen as rebels

During the Great Depression, many people saw Bonnie and Clyde as symbols of rebellion against a flawed system and the group’s daring adventures were all the more attractive because they challenged authority and – in doing so – represented the underdog of the game.

The film directed by Arthur Penn revived interest in criminals in a decisive way. But do you know the best tip? The 2019 Netflix film, The Highwaymen, which portrays the manhunt from the Law’s point of view. It becomes another story!

Pesquisar

Pesquisar