Splendor in the Grass (1961)

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writer:

William Inge (writer)

Release Date:

10 October 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A LOVE STORY UNLIKE ANY OTHERS !!

Plot:

A fragile Kansas girl's unrequited and forbidden love for a handsome young man from the town's most powerful family drives her to heartbreak and madness.

Plot Keywords:

Kansas | Forbidden Love | High School | 1920s | Stock Market Crash

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Natalie Wood	...	Wilma Dean 'Deanie' Loomis
Warren Beatty	...	Bud Stamper
Pat Hingle	...	Ace Stamper
Audrey Christie	...	Mrs. Loomis
Barbara Loden	...	Ginny Stamper
Zohra Lampert	...	Angelina
Fred Stewart	...	Del Loomis
Joanna Roos	...	Mrs. Stamper
John McGovern	...	Doc Smiley
Jan Norris	...	Juanita Howard
Martine Bartlett	...	Miss Metcalf
Gary Lockwood	...	Toots
Sandy Dennis	...	Kay
Crystal Field	...	Hazel
Marla Adams	...	June

Also Known As:

Splendour in the Grass (UK)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #19453) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

4144 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

NBI Productions

Trivia:

Depicts the first French kiss in a Hollywood film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the bath tub scene, there is chunk of dry ice providing the "steam".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wilma Dean: Bud...
Bud: Deanie, please...
Wilma Dean: Bud, I'm afraid. Oh, Bud... don't, Bud.
Bud: Deanie...
Wilma Dean: No... we mustn't, Bud... no... no...
[he gets out of the car]
Wilma Dean: Bud, don't be mad.
Bud: I better take you home.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Splendor in the Ass (2002) (V)

1929 Never looked Sexier

Splendor in the Grass is jammed packed with 2 hours of eye candy. Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood are not only fun to look at, they both give amazing performances as 2 youths growing up under their parent's ideals. Pat Hingle, who plays Bud's father is the true star of the film. Is crude, yet true performance as the 'big headed' as a strong willed parent is the backbone of the movie. The eye candy of beautiful people and outrageous 20's behavior is the film's setting. The overall moral, let kids grow up and do what they want to do. As parents control too much of their children's lives, the end result is a breakdown. Many find it hard to accept Natalie Woods nervous breakdown over having her heart broke and her pride lost. Still, if you look at how many American teenagers are on medication for depression today, it's easier to accept Wood's situation. The movie is filled with sexual tones that keep the audience interested in this romantic drama that builds and builds until the final scene. Said to have had the first french kiss shown on 'the big screen', Splendor in the Grass begins with the make-out scene with Beatty and Wood. Before we see what year it is, we are present to a universal truth among the ages. Young kids experiencing with sex. Before we know it is 1928, the scene could be happening anytime between 1880-2005! The truth of relationships and peer pressure are true throughout the years.