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

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:

The film's title comes from a poem by William Wordsworth: "Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendour in the grass, / of glory in the flower, / we will grieve not, / rather find strength in what remains behind."

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 "Smallville: Relic (#3.6)" (2003)

Whatever you think of Elia Kazan, he still is one of the greatest directors who ever lived.

I am not a fan of the politics of Mr. Kazan, nor do I have the least amount of respect for his conduct during the McCarthy era, however I cannot help but acknowledge that he is simply one of the finest movie directors who ever lived.

Splendor In The Grass is yet another brilliantly acted film, one which is so engrossing, so riveting, that by the time it is finished one literally feels out of breath. Now perhaps one could say, well Mr. Kazan has been blessed with a continuing succession of extremely talented actors and actresses. This is true, "Gentleman's Agreement," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "On The Waterfront," "Splendor In The Grass" each possess legendary performers. However! How did they perform at their best? Mr. Kazan. And if you ever hear them interviewed, those who are still alive, they all pay tribute to his superior ability to demand and acquire the best an actor has to offer. Natalie Wood in particular proves this in the film, so does the nascent Warren Beatty, both whom deliver poise far beyond their respective ages at that time.

Mr. Kazan also is a superior story teller and this film maneuvers with lyrical facility and poetic grace. I did not find one moment unnecessary, every image told a story and aided my descent into the minds of the characters. And you certainly empathize with them! You are drawn in and engrossed by their experiences. All of this is the result of a master technician and artistic visionary who had both the aesthetic genius and technical know-how to conduct one of a series of top-notch pieces in the American film landscape. A must see!