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Splendor in the Grass

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72% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Bud (Warren Beatty) and his high school sweetheart, Deanie (Natalie Wood), are weighed down by their parents' oppressive expectations, which threaten the future of their relationship. Deanie's mother (Audrey Christie) and Bud's father (Pat Hingle) caution their children against engaging in a sexual relationship, but for opposing reasons: Deanie's mother thinks Bud won't marry a girl with loose morals, while Bud's father is afraid of marriage and pregnancy that would ruin Bud's future at Yale.
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Splendor in the Grass

Critics Reviews

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Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly 06/28/2019
B
With his ripe lips, flirty eyes, and pre-Calvin Klein-era androgynous appeal, the 24-year-old Warren is utterly believable as a boy who drives Natalie Wood plumb insane with sexual frustration in William Inge's overheated melodrama. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom 03/04/2019
Classic of repressed teenage sexuality. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
There is something awkward about the picture's mechanical rhythm. There are missing links and blind alleys within the story. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Aug 25
2/5
Surely among the most historically embarrassing winners of an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It's not that the melodramatic horniness is corny. It's that the screenplay treats it with the cruel regard of scientific specimens rather than human beings. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Aug 11
3/4
The amorous feelings and carnal longings are played at such a fever pitch that many viewers will find them exaggerated while others will recognize in them their own oversized emotions. Go to Full Review Louie Robinson Jet Magazine 01/16/2024
Under the direction of famed Elia Kazan, Natalie Wood turns in a performance that will surprise many moviegoers for its excellence, and Warren Beatty makes his debut as a film actor slightly spectacular. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M Aug 5 A love story that depicts one-sided slipping romance and influences a new stereotype coming across as desperate lack of purpose, with both decently embodied by the two leads’ own breakthroughs, breaking apart irrationally and disengages melodramatically amid mutual reception. (B-) See more Tamara K Apr 27 The ultimate move about absolutely clueless parents. See more BJ M @HotMovieStar 07/28/2024 Great classic. Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood were wonderful. See more John G 03/28/2024 With a grand sweep of pre-Depression US history, it tells a moving story of love and tragedy in an age dominated by fundamentalist puritanical Christian beliefs. See more Mat L 10/06/2023 Natalie Wood's electrifying performance more than makes up for Kazan's clumsy direction, and cements her legacy as one of the loveliest and most talented actresses of all time. See more erroll f 04/08/2023 A coming of age drama, starring Warren Beatty in his green debut, and the terrific Natalie, Wood in the academy, award nominated roll. The great Director Elia Kazan provides the steady hand for the acting ensemble. Perhaps not a great movie, but it is a very very good movie about the morals and travails of youth. See more Read all reviews
Splendor in the Grass

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Cast & Crew

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Elia Kazan

Director

Natalie Wood

Wilma Dean Loomis

Warren Beatty

Bud Stamper

Pat Hingle

Ace Stamper

Audrey Christie

Mrs. Loomis

Barbara Loden

Ginny Stamper

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Splendor in the Grass

Splendor in the Grass (1961) Splendor in the Grass (1961) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Bud (Warren Beatty) and his high school sweetheart, Deanie (Natalie Wood), are weighed down by their parents' oppressive expectations, which threaten the future of their relationship. Deanie's mother (Audrey Christie) and Bud's father (Pat Hingle) caution their children against engaging in a sexual relationship, but for opposing reasons: Deanie's mother thinks Bud won't marry a girl with loose morals, while Bud's father is afraid of marriage and pregnancy that would ruin Bud's future at Yale.
Director
Elia Kazan
Producer
Elia Kazan
Screenwriter
William Inge
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
NBI Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 1961, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
2h 4m
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