Die Höllenkatze

When this story began, I noticed that this low budget film didn't even bother to try to look the correct period. While it was set in 1932, clothing and dress mostly looked like it was from 1958....and both had changed dramatically over this period of time. I can only assume the filmmakers simply didn't care about getting the look right or they had so little money to spend, they didn't bother. The real life Bonnie Parker looked about as much as Dorothy Provine as a tomato!

Either way, I wasn't very impressed.

The same can be said about the story itself. While it's supposed to be about Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde fame, the story is only VERY broadly about them. Heck, they even call Clyde 'Guy' in order to avoid problems with royalties and permission to film the story in the first place! Had they stuck to the facts, such permission probably wouldn't have been needed but the film is essentially fiction.

Because of these problems, my advice is to just watch the film and accept it on its own terms. Ignore that it's not really Bonnie's story and ignore that the look of the film is all wrong...otherwise, finishing the movie will be very difficult! Ditto with the WAY over the top behaviors by Bonnie....she's played like a complete maniac with zero subtlety. And, at least this way, you CAN enjoy it because it's so ridiculous and overdone.

Drive-In/Grind-House Flick from American International Pictures that Specialized in Cheap "Teen-Age" Fodder.

Sci-Fi...Horror...JD...Rock n' Roll Pictures were Their Forte and most of them were Average in the Genre with some Rising Above Budget and Expectations.

This one, Featuring a Dynamo of a Performance from the Sexy, Platinum Blonde, Dorothy Provine Dominating Every Scene where She Appears.

Appear She Does, in a Few Scenes Stripping to the Lingerie, with others in Skin-Tight Tops.

All the while Spitting Put-Downs and Ridicules to any Male in Sight.

Toting a Tommy-Gun and Getting Down and Dirty when it Counts.

Dorothy Takes Over the Gang and the Movie with Ease.

The Production shows No Signs of Period with 1950's Hair-Styles, Costumes, Slang, Chuck Berry Riffs on the Radio, and Attitude...

One of the Gang Members Dreams...

"I want a big Steak with a green salad on the side with a bottle of good whiskey."

Someone comes back with...

"Didn't you ever want a hamburger and coke."

Bonnie Tells a Neighbor who is going to night school...

"You're the end"

Note...Look for a cameo from Gangster and Western and B-Movie Star Bob Steele as an armored truck driver.

Do not look for a Penn-like movie,you would be disappointed ; in this film ,as the title reads, the star is Bonnie and Bonnie only;the others serve as foils to her .The poster tells the whole story.

The names were changed ,even Clyde's ; Buck and Blanche's appearance is short-lived .Blanche is not the ugly shrew (Estelle Parsons) of the sixties film : anyway the real sister-in-law always claimed she was more good-looking than Bonnie.Paul,Bonnie's husband, also shows up ,but he actually took no part in Bonnie's dangerous adventures, having not seen her after his time in jail .Gone are the "Robin Hood" side and Bonnie' s "trail's end" poem .

Here ,Bonnie is the gang's boss ,her authority over her accomplices is stunning . Fortunately ,Dorothy Provine -even though for today's audience Bonnie has Faye Dunaway's face forever- is up to scratch and it's for her you should watch this.

The Bonnie Parker story is very different from many other American International movies. It doesn't deal with monsters or spaceships, but with a tough gangster, Bonnie Parker. Bonnie is played very well by Dorothy Provine, who's absolutely smashing in this picture (for all 50s style fans: she's a very good reason for watching this movie!). The story may not be as truthful as "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), but there are many similarities between these two films. A difference is the fact they changed Clyde Barrow, Bonnie's partner, into Guy Darrow. I don't know why they did this, but it may very well be AIP wasn't allowed to use the real name, as has been the case with many classic true stories made in those days. Considering the low budget they had for making this movie, it's very well done. Some people complain about the 50s style approach to the story and to the music, but it didn't bother me at all. If you like the 50s style B-movies, you'll love this one!

BONNIE AND CLYDE happens to be my favorite film, but as far as "exploitation" flicks go, this one is much fun and I wish I owned it. Ms. Provine is a jewel - sassy and bold and beautiful! Sidney Lassick from CUCKOO'S NEST has a small part as well. A 5 out of 10. Best performance = Dorothy Provine.

Late 50's and 60's exploitation flicks come with varying qualities, but this should be a camp classic, for it's inaccuracies, name changes, and outright hilarious dialogue, but Ms. Provine is a tough little cookie and means what she says and makes it a worthwhile film experience. Definitely hunt this one down!