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Splendor in the Grass (1961)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
6/15
6/15:
Splendor in the Grass is 60% theatrical and 40% cinematic while the love story between Bud and Deanie falls flat
throughout.
Despite hints of histrionics, Natalie Wood shows some maturity by playing a complex character by the name of Deanie.
However, it's not until This Property Is Condemned that she'll finally
break through by achieving a perfect balance of mixed emotions to make herself arresting and dominant at once.
Unfortunately, Deanie's problems are too silly to care about. Perhaps it's because Warren Beatty, in his screen debut,
is a poor actor. Moreover, he's miscast, failing to make any connection with Natalie Wood. Warren Beatty has no moments
for me to believe him as Bud due to his lack of emotional range which explains why he didn't do many movies
career-wise. For a while, I thought his character was going to declare homosexuality or impotency.
At least, there's nice cinematography going on that's basked in the glory of Technicolor with a sizeable palette of colors
which brings the most out of Natalie Wood's natural beauty. But Elia Kazan is unable to replicate his success from
A Streetcar Named Desire,
On the Waterfront,
Rebel Without a Cause, and East of Eden
simply because he doesn't have either Marlon Brando or James Dean to fall back on which explains why his career had been in a
slow decline, starting with Baby Doll in 1956 and ending with
The Last Tycoon in 1976 with only six films in between.
One of the director's mistakes is introducing Ginny, Bud's sister, played by Barbara Loden who's actually
Elia's mistress-turned-wife. She comes in, makes a big scene, steals a lot of attention, and then disappears
for good, becoming an afterthought. So, what's the point of having Loden on board if nobody is impacted by her
character? Thankfully, Hollywood kicked her out for good. By the way, Sandy Dennis, the Oscar winner for
Who's Afraid of Virignia Woolf?, makes her screen debut.
All in all, Splendor in the Grass has numerous flaws that prevent the love story to come through.