In 1966, Hollywood actor-producer Warren Beatty came to Dallas to make the movie that would become a turning point in his career and make stars of Faye Dunaway and Gene Hackman. It also boosted the careers of actors Estelle Parsons, Gene Wilder, and Michael Pollard as well as director Arthur Penn. The result of their efforts, "Bonnie and Clyde," was released in August 1967. It was nominated for 10 Oscars (and won 2) and revived interest in the outlaw duo nationwide.
The movie was filmed almost entirely on location in Dallas and neighboring counties in the fall of 1966. Below are some of the places where Warren and crew made the 1930s come alive again.
Farmers and Merchants Bank Building, northwest corner of town square, Pilot Point, Texas (about 12 miles northeast of Denton) - This turn-of-the-century bank building was used in the scene where Bonnie (Faye Dunaway), Buck Barrow (Gene Hackman), and Clyde (Warren Beatty) burst into a busy bank and Clyde has to repeat loudly, "This is a stick-up!" before anyone takes notice. Meanwhile, C. W. Moss (Michael Pollard) - a composite of W. D. Jones and Henry Methvin - waits outside. This is also the scene where Clyde tells a farmer to keep the money he has in his hand (inspired, obviously, by a similar incident that occurred during a real Barrow gang robbery in Lancaster, Texas) and Buck takes some sunglasses off the face of an elderly bank guard and tells him to take a good look, saying, "I'm Buck Barrow!" After they jump into their getaway car, the gang careens down the road seen here running down the hill beside the building, toward some railroad tracks.
This building is presently being used as an antique shop, which is open on weekends.
Ponder Bank Building, northwest corner of Hwy. 156 and Bailey Road, Ponder, Texas (about 12 miles southwest of Denton) - This turn-of-the-century bank building was used in the scene where Bonnie (Faye Dunaway) and Clyde (Warren Beatty) attempt their first bank robbery. When Clyde bursts through the door, the lonely teller informs him that the bank has failed and that there is no money. When Clyde forces the man at gunpoint outside, to tell Bonnie, she laughs, and Clyde jumps into the car. After shooting out the bank's window in frustration, Bonnie and Clyde tear off down Hwy. 156 in the direction seen here (looking north), nearly colliding with an oncoming vehicle.
Apparently, this building is presently being used as a private residence but there is also a sign over the door that reads "Ponder Boot Company." The interior, which can be seen through the front window, seems to be unchanged from when the movie is made.
Red Oak street scene, just off Hwy. 342, Red Oak, Texas (in Ellis County, about 12 miles south of Dallas) - The appearance of these old buildings in Red Oak has changed quite a bit since 1966, when a busy street scene from "Bonnie and Clyde" was filmed here but a discerning eye can easily see that the brick building in the center, now painted white, was used as a bank that the principal characters robbed. The building on the right is the one next to which getaway car driver "C. W. Moss" (Michael Pollard) parked, while Bonnie and Clyde (played by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway) were inside. In this scene, Clyde shoots a bank employee who jumps on the running board of the getaway car. It is followed by the scene where the three principals are watching a movie and fretting about the unfortunate occurrence.
