Splendor in the Grass

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Splendor in the Grass

1961

2h 4m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

72%

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29 Reviews

90%

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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

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.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

03/04/2019

Classic of repressed teenage sexuality.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom May 16

Splendor in the Grass is an emotionally powerful drama that captures love, pressure, and heartbreak with remarkable depth. Even decades later, the film still feels sincere and timeless in the way it handles its characters and themes. Natalie Wood delivers an incredible performance filled with vulnerability and intensity, while Warren Beatty brings strong chemistry and emotion to every scene they share together. Their performances are the heart of the film. The writing is thoughtful and mature, exploring emotional struggles in a way that feels honest rather than overly dramatic. Combined with beautiful cinematography and strong direction, the film creates a memorable atmosphere throughout. Overall, Splendor in the Grass is an amazing film that deserves its reputation as a classic romantic drama. I would rate it a 9/10 for its emotional storytelling, outstanding performances, and lasting impact.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 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-)

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Tamara K

@RT40370585 04/27/2025

The ultimate move about absolutely clueless parents.

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BJ M

@HotMovieStar 07/28/2024

Great classic. Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood were wonderful.

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John G

@RT30749950 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.

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Mat L

@RT32121343 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.

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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