Review of Splendor in the Grass (1961) by Tino B — 21 Jun 2010

A nice, intelligent drama about a high school romance that goes bust because the boy wants something more than a "good girl" can give. Natalie Wood shines in a fragile performance that earned her her second Oscar nomination (this one for lead actress as she had been nominated years before in supporting for Rebel Without a Cause).

Willing to giver her boyfriend everything that a good girl could actually give a boy in the 1920s, she shatters and descends into a manic despair when he gives into a temptation with the town's tart and leaves her feelling betrayed.

The "boy" in the film is a very young Warren Beatty who made his Hollywood film debut here and became an instant star (which is understandable since he was very nice looking and did a very good job as the conflicted town heartthrob/semi-scoundrel).

Small-town Kansas life of the late 1920s hasn't changed a whole lot as cliques and social circles still run the towns of middle-America. Wood's role might be slightly off (NOT her performance; but how it was written) as she is almost too shattered to be fully believable (although I am sure some people are this devoted and since the film didn't give a full history I must accept it).

A fine supporting cast contributes to the film itself and it was nice seeing a young Pat Hingle as a controlling, tyrannical father (I only knew of him as Batman's Commisioner Gordon from Tim Burton's Dark Knight films -- he was actually a decent, respectable actor back in the day [who knew!?]).

There are some holes here and there in Splendor in the Grass (what happens to the sister after she drives off?!); but it is an engrossing film that can stand the test of time. At times lovely and at times harsh, Splendor in the Grass is splendid indeed.