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Everyone knows of Bonnie & Clyde, but what about the men who hunted the infamous duo down? The untold true story is being told by one of the latest Netflix Original films called The Highwaymen. Here’s everything you need to know about The Highwaymen, we have the plot, cast, trailer, and release date and the historical information that inspired the film.
The Highwaymen is a Netflix Original American crime film directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blindside).
Based on the true events that led to the eventual deaths of Bonnie and Clyde, The Highwaymen follows the lawmen who led the investigation. Screenplay writer John Fusco had plenty to work with from the real-life accounts of the men who were involved with hunting the notorious couple down. What transpired in real life could have been ripped from the pages of fiction. Arguably, the actions of Bonnie and Clyde inspired the works of many crime novelists and will continue for years to come.
The Highwaymen: Everything We Know So Far
Plot: The Highwaymen
Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault come out of retirement to hunt down outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. Chosen as the special investigators the pair round up a posse to try and end the gangs spree of Bank robberies and murders.
Cast: The Highwaymen
| Role | Actor/Actress | Where have I seen/heard before? |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Hamer | Kevin Costner | The Postman, Dances With Wolves, The Bodyguard |
| Maney Gault | Woody Harrelson | True Detective, Natural Born Killers, Zombieland |
| Governor Ma Ferguson | Kathy Bates | Misery, Dolores Claiborne, Titanic |
| Gladys Hamer | Kim Dickens | Gone Girl, Hollow Man, Deadwood |
| Lee Simmons | John Carroll Lynch | The Founder, Fargo, Gothika |
| Ivy Methvin | W. Earl Brown | Deadwood, There’s Something About Mary, Preacher |
| Ted Hinton | Thomas Mann | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Project X, Kong: Skull Island |
| John Quinn | David Furr | 13 Hours, Iron Fist, Evening |
| Ray Hamilton | Jesse C. Boyd | Day 5, The Choice, Mindhunter |
| Emma Parker | Jane McNeil | Venom, Prisoners, The Walking Dead |
| Bonnie | N/A | – |
| Clyde | N/A | – |
Who are Bonnie & Clyde: The Highwaymen
In the height of the great depression, America went through a phase known as the “Public Enemy Era.” During this era, some of the most infamous outlaws in American history etched their names into the history books. Names such as John Dillinger, “Pretty Boy” Floyd and “George “Baby Face” Nelson were such names of infamy that have lived on through various forms of media and pop culture.
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker & Clyde Barrow were two Outlaws during the Public Enemy Era. Tearing across the Central United States with their gang, Bonnie and Clyde took part in over a dozen robberies, and many innocents died in the process. Across the two years they were together, the pair took part in hundreds of felonies, which caught the attention of the FBI. Over the two years, they escaped the law countless times, but eventually, their exploits would catch up with them.
Ambushed by the posse led by Frank Hamer, the pair were mercilessly killed. Researchers claimed that each body had up to 50 rounds in the corpses as Hamer and the posse unleashed hell upon the outlaw sweethearts.
Bonnie (Left) and Clyde (Right)
Pop Culture Influence
Photographs found in the gang’s hideout were published in the newspapers across America and glamorized Bonnie’s role in the felonies. Alongside Thelma & Louise, Bonnie & Clyde are arguably the most infamous outlaw pairing in American history.
Director Arthur Penn created the film Bonnie and Clyde, which further glamorized the couple. The film firmly cemented their place in pop culture and folklore. This is evident throughout the history of film and television, with many titles inspired by the infamous duo. The pair have been referenced in pop culture on numerous occasions.
Homer & Marge Simpson as Bonnie & Clyde – Copyright FOX
The pair have even inspired couples and friends to refer to each other as the infamous duo. “You are the Bonnie to my Clyde” and vice versa has been used countless times on the internet.
Photos: The Highwaymen
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- Promotional Poster – Copyright Netflix
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- Woody Harrelson (Left) and Kevin Costner (Right) – Copyright Netflix
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- Kathy Bates (Centre Right) – Copyright Netflix
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- The real life spot where Bonnie and Clyde were killed
Who are Frank Hamer and Maney Gault: The Highwaymen
Frank Hamer and Maney Gault were 2 of 4 Texan Rangers in the posse responsible for hunting Bonnie and Clyde. Hamer was credited for successfully tracking the movements of Bonnie and Clyde’s gang and came to the realization there was a pattern the outlaws were following. Correctly charting their movements, he deduced when Bonnie and Clyde were to visit particular family members from the outlaw gang.
Frank Hamer (Bottom Right), Maney Gault (Top Right) and the Posse
On a visit to the parish of Bienville in Louisana, Hamer rounded his posse of 3 other Texan Rangers and 2 Police Officers and orchestrated an ambush. Reports suggest the posse waited from 24 to 48 hours for Bonnie and Clyde to arrive. When the stolen Ford V8 came speeding along the road, they waited. An official report claimed they had planted a car belonging to the father of one of the outlaws, which distracted Clyde.
A member of the posse fired without instruction, killing Clyde instantly. It was reported that Bonnie could be heard screaming in anguish for her dead lover just before the posse unleashed hell upon her. Over 130 rounds were fired into the vehicle. Without mercy, the posse took no chances and devasted the bodies of the duo. According to the coroner, 17 entrance wounds were found on Clyde, while 26 were found on Bonnie. The extent of the damage was so devasting that the Undertaker reportedly struggled to embalm the bodies.
The bullet-ridden car of Bonnie & Clyde
Runtime: The Highwaymen
The runtime for The Highwaymen is 132 minutes.
Trailer: The Highwaymen
Netflix Release Date: The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen will arrive on Netflix on the 29th of March, 2019!
Are you excited about The Highwaymen? Let us know in the comments below!
