MovieChat Forums > Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Discussion > Michael J. Pollard's Performance

Michael J. Pollard's Performance

posted 15 years ago by kenobi7
10 replies | jump to latest

Admittedly, the movie's best performance (and character) was that of Dunaway, who was both terrific acting-wise and very beautiful. However, I think the next best performance was from Pollard, playing the doomed lovers' first partner in crime. He is the one that is the least talked about by the movie's fans, but actually gives a fine performance. He doesn't have many dramatic scenes, usually just "being there", but it's really his body language that stands out to me. Two scenes in particular - the scene where he argues with his dad in the kitchen about Bonnie and Clyde, and his first scene, where he finds it hard to believe that Bonnie and Clyde are bank robbers. The way he blinks, throws his hands up in disbelief, and expresses sadness at different parts in the film are just amazing. Anyone else's thoughts on this?

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[–] shepardjessica-1 15 years ago

Pollard was great and my #2 pick for supp. actor that year (behind Gene Hackman in same film)

[–] kenobi7 15 years ago

Pollard was great, and it would have been awesome if he, Hackman, or even Warren Beatty won Best Actor for this film that year. But it was Estelle Parsons that won, and she was definitely fantastic. However, I was disappointed to find that the role itself wasn't true to life, even though that wasn't Parsons' fault. My personal pick for Best Actress would be Dunaway, who was amazing; then either Beatty, Hackman, or Pollard (in that order) for Best Actor.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] shepardjessica-1 15 years ago

my picks (acting) that year were:

Beatty (B & C)
A. Hepburn (Wait Until Dark)
Hackman (B & C)
Parsons (B & C)

[–] kenobi7 15 years ago

Great acting picks! Haven't seen or heard of "WAIT UNTIL DARK", but I did think Hepburn was terrific in "BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S".

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[–] yfguitarist 11 years ago

His performance was the best in the film, or at least the one I was most impressed with.

[–] DracTarashV 11 years ago

I certainly felt that his performance was more impressive than Gene Hackman's (who was great too) and the rest of the supporting cast.

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[–] aircrftmec 11 years ago

His performance was most under-rated. He was incredible.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] jctennant55-892-30458 11 years ago

My fav line from C.W. Moss is the confrontation scene between his daddy when he stares at him and says "Nobody is going to get Bonnie and Clyde ... NOBODY". I love the smurk look he then gives his brutal father.