Monday, February 17, 2014

For Many Into Bonnie & Clyde History-- It Seems People Will Believe Just About Anything

A quick post-- to say I went to YouTube in search of replacements for links posted here, which have been removed along YouTube way.  "Ah"-- that YouTube.  What I found was a stunning new assortment of Bonnie & Clyde hearsay, invention and gobbledegook-- posted since the last time I reorganized links here.  Everything from seminars given by 9th Cousins-- to comments expressing disappointment in artifacts on display at The Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum, by some without appreciation for what they're looking at-- to comments touting the 7th man at the ambush scenario, which I couldn't find enough traction to believe in. 

Then, there are all the links re: the latest Bonnie & Clyde TV movie-- which people seem to be taking as gospel.  Too bad-- for that hotchpotch of a train wreck, did little to aid Bonnie & Clyde History-- except it seems, to prompt a renewed interest in fictionalized Bonnie & Clyde melodrama.  "Real" history needs to be learned-- not through sensationalized theories espoused in books meant to enrich their authors-- and not through sound bites, meant to see how many views and likes can be garnered as their goal-- but rather by working to gain a sound foundation in Bonnie & Clyde History-- and paying attention to those who credibly present this history-- without agenda, and with an open mind to reasonable possibilities.  

But just as in life-- Bonnie & Clyde History has it's share of those in it for themselves-- be they right, wrong or indifferent regarding the truth.  That's human nature and that's fine, as long as in the end-- the truth as best we can figure it out is told.  Then there are those who will follow any theory off a cliff, and believe just about anything-- as long as it sounds cool and they can repeat what little they know-- via social media and outlets such as YouTube.  Then out of the woodwork come the trolls-- which only emphasizes how poor a choice social media is, for historical matters.  As I've said many times-- it's my belief the full story of Bonnie & Clyde will likely never be told, as it's been too long since the actual events-- and almost all (if not all) alive to witness this history are now gone. 

Unfortunately, that leaves room for self-serving statements-- giving apparent cover to all who abuse this history.  Such was Jeff Guinn's now famous quote "All written history is ultimately best guess"-- expressed to me within an e-mail in response to my questioning an inaccurate source used in his book.  Must've been an error in research??  "Yep"-- must've been.  And I suppose that clever statement, opens the door for any and all theory to be true without worry-- concerning just how much "truth" is even within the word.  End result-- that book too is now touted as gospel-- when in the view of many who didn't leave the Bonnie & Clyde game when the lucrative book deal was done-- it is not.

Always "seek the truth"-- for within Bonnie & Clyde History there "is" truth.  And as they say-- truth can be stranger than fiction.  Thus, truth within Bonnie & Clyde History would surely make for better movies-- should anyone have the patience and desire to make an historically accurate one.  But some would counter with the idea that "it's only a movie-- it's entertainment".  Be that as it may-- look at the impression movies have on people's perception of reality.  So for all the Bonnie & Clyde "fluff" out there, masquerading within some people's minds as truth and spread like the plague-- perhaps it's fair to say gullible is as gullible does.

My thanks to all who care, all who reason with courage and all who won't give up-- until we get as close as we can, to truth within Bonnie & Clyde History.  It appears those truly interested in history, can be found within one realm-- and those more into entertainment, fluff, rumor and magic-- can be found in another.  But if you're into Quantum Physics, with it's notion of multiple dimensions-- it seems rare for history to experience crossover between groups.  Maybe that's good-- as we seem to have enough innuendo driven explorers and head in the sand types already.  Why would we need more??      
            

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Sir! I have chosen Blanches book as the first to read. I try to go by your recommendations. I did appreciate the mini series as being more factual than Beatty's movie! It's funny how both seem to not want WD with them, where Beatty seemed to combine WD & Methvin and this new one omitted him? He was the one with them the longest, if I think correctly.
I've read here about another B&C movie, with actors already chosen, made by a person named Holly-wonder if you know if that has been scrubbed as it's been 4 yrs since you mentioned it? Thanks. Love your writings!

A. Winston Woodward said...

Hello Sunny Flowers. Oh I don't know-- if I had to grade them, Beatty's movie seems more factual than the combined event's and people never at events mini series version. Hamer was surely never captured by B&C as depicted in the '67 movie-- but at least he wasn't there gallivanting around at Dexfield Park, 6 months before he was on the case as shown on TV.

And without W.D. Jones, many aspects of the story change. Guess W.D. was too hard for movie makers to figure out. Methvin too needed to be portrayed correctly-- as he was the last accomplice, who's family was responsible for their ultimate betrayal.

As far as I know (and most unfortunately)-- I believe Tonya Holly's attempt at a factual movie concerning Bonnie & Clyde has been scrapped. Haven't contacted Tonya in a while. I'll try to get definitive word for you and all.