Review of Splendor in the Grass (1961) by Jeff B — 03 May 2010

Deanie (Natalie Wood) and Bud (Warren Beatty) are high school sweethearts. Bud loves Deannie and respects her, but he has sexual urges that need an outlet. Deannie is actually willing, but Bud doesn't want to "desecrate" her. So he cavorts with a girl with a loose reputation. Deanie goes insane with jealousy and grief and gets sent to a mental hopital. When she recovers after a time, she looks up Bud and finds him married with children.

She finally accepts that this relation has moved on, and she moves on wih her life, without Bud.

I paint it simple, but it is a complex theme played out again and again in every generation, and often multiple times within the smae generation.

I was in college when I saw this movie, not quite having forgotten my last love, and not quite having found my next love. I very much identified with the characters and the theme. But I hated the ending.

I like hope and the promise of true love triumphing over adversity. But this movie ended with the true love breaking apart and each going their seperate way. It was not what I wanted to see or hear. What I wanted was to find my old love and for us to be together forever. Alas, my life was to mirror the movie, and I did not like it.