Film Quarterly Perfecting the New Gangster Article Paper

In his article for Film Quarterly, “Perfecting the New Gangster: Writing Bonnie and Clyde,” film historian Matthew Bernstein writes:

[With Bonnie and Clyde] we see how an innovative film, whose original concept, storyline, narrative structure, and characters’ psychology were all inspired by the French New Wave, ultimately became a New Hollywood film, and how the sensibility and aesthetics of the two were so closely intertwined.

Think about Bernstein’s quote as critical context to this simulation exercise. In particular, focus on themes that deal with:

1. European Art Cinema and its Relationship to the American New Wave
2. True Crime and Representation of Violence
3. Auteur Theory
4. The Role of Film Criticism

PART ONE: Simulation

As with the previous simulation, you need to access the simulation via a third party website here: https://learn.branchtrack.com/classes/p6ds (Links to an external site.) (I’ll give you the login.)

Note: If hyperlink does not work, please copy and paste into a new window.

In this simulation, you are playing the role of John Bustin, who held the amazing title of “Amusements Editor” at the Austin Statesman newspaper for several decades. You/Bustin have been tasked by the paper to research and write the story surrounding the pre-production, production, and release of the 1967 Warner Bros. film, Bonnie and Clyde.

The era in which Bonnie and Clyde was released witnessed a growth in the number, and importance, of film critics in the United States and around the world. You are to think of yourself as Austin’s film critic. The questions you will be asked ultimately, are HOW you would cover this complicated, rich story of the film to the 1960s Austin community.

Your sources include the feature film and simulation, and, additional primary sources via:

• Video Clips: The video clips play a *very* important role to understanding the core components of the exercise you will need to discuss in your response. As you go through the simulation, if you are returned to segments with embedded video that you have already viewed several times, you can skip forward. But, if you are looking for a good grade, don’t skip the videos!
• Additional Readings: Newspaper reviews and letters-to-editors, largely from the 1960s, have been uploaded to Canvas in the “Files” section.(I’ll send you the videos) Although we don’t get a chance to delve too far into this aspect of the film’s distribution and exhibition, the critical response to Bonnie and Clyde proved controversial, high profile, and, ultimately, impacted the success of the film by encouraging a re-release of the feature due to public/media demand.

READ AND QUESTION THESE ARTICLES as if you really were a reporter/historian/sleuth researching how to think about the film!! There are numerous perspectives there for you to review and consider.

PART TWO: Short Answers

1. As a reporter, how would you cover the importance of the “real” Bonnie and Clyde and the role of true crime as this topic relates to Texas readers of the Austin Statesman? Your answer MUST reference the newspaper clippings provided to you (i.e., primary sources) as well as specific information provided by the simulation and from the viewing of the film itself. (25 points maximum – 1500 character limit)

2. How would you apply (or challenge) the “auteur theory” as it relates to Bonnie and Clyde in your article for the Statesman? Use specific examples from the simulation to explain your answer… (25 points maximum – 2000 character limit)