BONNIE AND CLYDE: THE TRUE STORY
A film review by Ken Johnson
Copyright 1992 Ken Johnson
104 min., not rated, Drama/Action, 1992, made for television Director: Gary Hoffman Cast: Tracey Needham, Dana Ashbrook, Doug Savant, Betty Buckley, Billy Morrisette, Michael Bowen, Michelle Joyner, Louanne Stephens
In the 1930's Clyde Barrow (Dana Ashbrook) meets Bonnie Parker (Tracey Needham) in a small town. The two join together with W. D. Jones, Billy Morrisette. They go around robbing stores and banks becoming three of the most famous criminals in U. S. history.
BONNIE AND CLYDE: THE TRUE STORY is a remake of the 1968 film BONNIE AND CLYDE, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. I didn't think that it would be possible to make a television film that would be as good as the '68 film, but FOX did. I highly recommend that if you missed this film that you try to see it if it comes on television again or if it is released on video cassette. On a scale of zero to five, I give BONNIE AND CLYDE: THE TRUE STORY a five. BONNIE AND CLYDE is unrated and made for television but contains scenes not appropriate for small children.
I think that this is one of the best television films that I have ever seen. This film is based on a true story of the infamous criminals. I have always felt that the film has had a sad ending. The acting in this film is great, which raises it above standard televison films. The story is well written, which I have found to be rare in the majority of television films that I have seen.
Hopefully this film will be released on video cassette so that more people can see it. While television films that are useless, like HARDHAT AND LEGS, have been released on video that haven't been worth watching off television, it is a shame when good television films, like BLOOD TIES (1991), are not. I feel that this film would have done well in the theaters, and, I feel, should have been released in the theaters instead, then it could have gotten more exposure.
For those of you who have seen the '68 version, some of the film has been changed, so it is not like re-watching the original. This makes the film better, I feel, because then you don't know exactly what is going to happen next.
*minor spoiler warning*
The biggest let down in the film is the ending. In the '68 version, you got to see the car shot up, which I thought was rather cool. In this film you don't see the car get shot up, and if I remember correctly, you don't even hear a gun shot. I just found this to be a small disappointment. Otherwise this the film is great.
Ken J. blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu
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