Two Great Rebellion Films

Rebellion is a common topic in movies because it draws in audiences with its bad boys and bad attitudes. Two of the greatest rebellion movies of all time are Rebel Without a Cause, starring James Dean, and Bonnie and Clyde, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. The opening scene in Rebel Without a Cause shows a drunken teenage boy lying in the street, giggling, while he plays with a toy. The directors of these two films show rebellion using the same elements: themes, characters, and memorable scenes.

In both films, the main characters are all rebelling against common things that audiences can relate to. In Rebel Without a Cause, Jim Stark is rebelling against his parents because he is upset with the fact that his father will not stand up to his mother. His girlfriend, Judy, is also rebelling against her parents, but for a different reason. Her father refuses to give her any affection because she is too “grown up.” Jim’s friend, Plato, is rebelling against his parents because they have abandoned him. These three characters rebel in many ways. Jim and Judy both smoke because they were told not to. Plato shot and killed puppies to get attention. Jim and Judy are both involved in a gang because it is “wrong.” Jim and Judy both pay a visit to jail: Jim because he is drunk and Judy because she ran away from home. In Bonnie and Clyde, Clyde Barrow is rebelling against the law and the common way of making a living. He rebels by robbing banks. Bonnie also rebels against the law and her old life working as a poor waitress in a small town. She rebels by helping Clyde rob banks. C. W. Moss rebels against his overbearing father. Buck Barrow rebels against the law, but his wife is never too keen on the whole rebellion thing. Clyde, Bonnie, C. W., and Buck all rebel by robbing banks and stores, stealing cars, and killing. C. W. also rebels by getting a tattoo on his chest because he knows that his father will not approve of it. The theme of rebellion can be seen in both films by showing what the characters rebel against and how they rebel.

Comparable characters can be seen in both films. Jim Stark is just like Clyde Barrow in that they are both the leading men and the main rebels. They are also played by cute actors. Jim and Clyde both want what is best for their ladies. Jim protects Judy by hiding out in the abandoned mansion with her so the gang members that are after them will not find them. Clyde tries to convince Bonnie to go back home and start over before the police get her name. Jim and Clyde are both brave. Jim shows bravery by having a knife fight and a chickie run with Buzz. Clyde shows bravery by fighting in shootouts with the police. Judy and Bonnie are very similar. Attractive actresses play each character. Judy and Bonnie are both willing to do anything for their men. Judy helps Jim try to calm Plato to get him out of the planetarium safely. Bonnie refuses to leave Clyde even though she knows that she may die. Many similarities exist between Plato and C.W. Moss. They both tag along with the couple and assist them with their crimes. Plato helped Jim and Judy by showing them the old abandoned mansion that they hid out in. C. W. drove Clyde and Bonnie’s get-away car and helped them in their shootouts with the cops. These characters possess the right traits needed for a rebel film.

Both films have very memorable scenes. One unforgettable scene from Rebel Without a Cause came when Jim is challenged to a chickie run by Buzz. They both drive cars toward the edge of a cliff, and