Romance and Murder: The Sad Story of Bonnie and Clyde

When it comes to crime American attitudes appear schizophrenic. Gallup polls, show we consistently rate crime as one of our worst fears. But at the same time we tend to mythologize the worst of our criminals and over time grant them almost mythical status. From Billy the Kid to Jesse James to Al Capone, books and film treatments become decidedly sympathetic if not actually romanticized. A great case in point is that of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, two of the more noteworthy figures of the Great Depression’s Gangster Era. Barely out of their teens they embarked on a three year crime spree that involved the murders of nine police offices and several civilians. Yet these cold-blooded killers have fascinated the American public, spawning books, films and even a Broadway Musical that present them in a far different light. They were gruesomely killed on May 23rd, 1934 and on the 90th anniversary of their demise we’ll examine the lives of these two famous outlaws.