Splendor in the Grass (1961)

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writer:

William Inge (written by)

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

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Natalie Wood	...	Wilma Dean Loomis
Pat Hingle	...	Ace Stamper
Audrey Christie	...	Mrs. Loomis
Barbara Loden	...	Ginny Stamper
Zohra Lampert	...	Angelina
Warren Beatty	...	Bud Stamper
Fred Stewart	...	Del Loomis
Joanna Roos	...	Mrs. Stamper
John McGovern	...	Doc Smiley
Jan Norris	...	Juanita Howard
Martine Bartlett	...	Miss Metcalf
Gary Lockwood	...	Allen 'Toots' Tuttle
Sandy Dennis	...	Kay
Crystal Field	...	Hazel
Marla Adams	...	June
Lynn Loring	...	Carolyn
Phyllis Diller	...	Texas Guinan
Sean Garrison	...	Glenn
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Antonio	...	Oil Field Worker at Party (uncredited)
Lou Antonio	...	Oil Field Worker at Party (uncredited)
Godfrey Cambridge	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Carlos Cortés	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Downing	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Andrew Duggan	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Ivor Francis	...	Dr. Judd (uncredited)
Hoke Howell	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
William Inge	...	Reverend Whitman (uncredited)
Phoebe Mackay	...	Stamper's Maid (uncredited)
Charles Matthews	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Charles Robinson	...	Johnny Masterson (uncredited)
Eugene Roche	...	Private Detective (uncredited)
Mark Slade	...	Rusty (uncredited)

Directed by
Elia Kazan

Writing credits
William Inge		(written by)

Produced by
William Inge	....	associate producer
Charles H. Maguire	....	associate producer
Elia Kazan	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
David Amram

Cinematography by
Boris Kaufman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Milford		(film editor)

Production Design by
Richard Sylbert

Set Decoration by
Gene Callahan

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Willis Hanchett	....	hairdresser
Robert Jiras	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don Kranze	....	assistant director
Ulu Grosbard	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Edward J. Johnstone	....	sound (as Edward Johnstone)
Frank Lewin	....	sound editor
Dick Vorisek	....	sound (as Richard Vorisek)
James Perdue	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank J. Calabria	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Howard Fortune	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe
Flo Transfield	....	wardrobe (as Florence Transfield)
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
David Amram	....	conductor

Other crew
Marguerite James	....	script & continuity
George Tapps	....	choreographer
Mart Crowley	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (An Elia Kazan Production: for Newtron Productions, Inc.)
• Newton Productions
• NBI Productions (copyright holder)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1962) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #19453) | Canada:PG | USA:TV-14 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Although Elia Kazan had planned to film the movie in Kansas, a severe drought forced him to relocate all shooting to New York state. The waterfall in the film is located in High Falls, New York, in the Catskills.

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)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

Technically and emotionally beautiful

This is a most beautiful film in all senses ; picture quality and colors which they don't seem capable of making any more in spite of all the modern technology, beautiful scenery, and above all two beautiful actors. I also loved the clothes Nathalie Wood wore during the film. Pat Hingle plays a character almost unbelievable today. Although this " frustrated love " is sad and brings tears to my eyes, I still cannot help watching the film quite regularly even though I know the end will leave me frustrated. There is a lot if implied rather than visible passion in this film ( its French title is - " la fièvre dans le sang " or fever in the blood ). This hidden, repressed passion is more gripping than if we had seen the couple simply lie down and get on with it !! But perhaps the passion is a little too stifled and a few short scences with more passionate physical contact might have satisfied the spectator ! But that's a very subjective matter. But I end as I started by reiterating the total beauty of the film at all levels.