Splendor in the Grass

Released Oct 10, 1961

2h 4m

Drama

List

74%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

90%

Audience Score

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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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

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.

Rated: B

Jun 28, 2019

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Classic of repressed teenage sexuality.

Mar 4, 2019

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Variety Staff

Variety

There is something awkward about the picture's mechanical rhythm. There are missing links and blind alleys within the story.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Louie Robinson

Jet Magazine

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.

Jan 16, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Elia Kazan directs Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty to some of their finest performances in Splendor in the Grass. William Inge's Oscar-winning screenplay leaves something more to be desired but the film's cast is able to elevate the script for what it is.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 23, 2023

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

We have gotten smart enough to resist the allure of Inge’s pretentious but inane dialogue.

Feb 1, 2023

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John G

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

Full Review

Mat L

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

erroll f

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/08/23

Full Review

vin w

Classic and Natalie is incandescent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/22

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naadhira a

Visually beautiful, entertaining as well

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought very good , for many reasons . Including great cast and director

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/05/21

Full Review

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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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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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