Splendor in the Grass (1961)

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES

Thankfully, I did not grow up in this era, and everything I have read and heard about it is obviously not entertaining. It is, therefore, even more amazing to me how entertaining this movie is for me. First of all, the chemistry between the beautiful Natalie Wood and the handsome Warren Beatty is off the charts. They are so young, especially her, but they are such masters of their craft even at their young ages. This movie has the depressing events of the times woven through the lives of the characters such as people jumping from windows after the stock market crashed.

First love, young oppressed love is the central theme. "Good girls" and "bad girls" and "boys will be boys" relay the double standard message of the times and of the movie. I can almost feel the pain of Bud and Deanie who are so much in love, but are not allowed to physically express it. Even though Bud wants Deanie and Deanie wants Bud, she has been raised to believe good girls don't, and he has been raised to believe there are two kinds of girls, and one is for fun and one is for marrying. While Bud, the school football star, wants to marry Deanie, his domineering father, (played to perfection by Pat Hingle) is living vicariously through him and insists the son fufill the father's dream of college football stardom first. Bud, who can ignore his teenage hormones no longer, succumbs to the girl passed around by all the boys in school. Losing Bud is more than Deanie can mentally handle, and she is sent to a mental facility.

First love is shown to be powerful but not meant to be. Even after Bud marries a girl he impregnates while in college and brings her home to live on the farm, and Deanie falls in love with a boy she meets in the facility, their love is still evident and strong. Although this is not a happily ever after story, and I wished until the very end that Bud and Deanie would reunite, it was not meant to be. It is still one of my favorite movies of all time. Whether or not you are a fan of Natalie Wood and/or Warren Beatty, this movie is worth your time. It is not hard to believe the gossip of their affair after seeing how they ignite on the screen.





October 21, 2008

I didn't know this was a silent film

Well, there was NO sound on this DVD, so I didn't watch it. Into the garbage! Must have been a defective DVD. October 13, 2008

great acting!

Nataile Wood gives a great preformance in this movie, its a beauitful love story that how alotof meaning to it. i love this movie!

Deanie and Bud are high school sweethearts in thier 1920's little town, they love each other and Bud plans to marry Deanie. his father wants him to go to college first. Bud also wants their Relationship to go to the next leavel. Deanie though is not ready, so Bud finds a girl who is and brakes up with Deanie, after seeing the girl in class, Deanie can't take it... August 11, 2008

universal theme of brokenhearted lovers still pertinent today

When I watched this movie when I was a teenager in the 1970's, the theme of lovers being broken apart by parents, or time, or circumstances evoked such painful emotions that I still cannot rewatch the movie to this day-and I am 53.It is a breathtakingly poignant movie,whose theme remains relevant today. This is an absolute love story classic, with a brilliant performance by Natalie Wood, that must not be missed by anyone who loves this genre. One of the moral messages taken from the movie-famous lines from Wordworth's poem (which the title comes from)-are ones I have repeated to myself frequently to get through life. August 7, 2008

5 star performance!

I have always loved this movie! Natalie Wood's performance is brilliant, as she really stepped into this role with her whole heart! She makes one feel every pain she feels, and shed the tears she shed. Warren Beatty also does a superb job for his first time!

You will NOT be dissappointed!! April 1, 2008

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