Review of Splendor in the Grass (1961) by Sherry L — 17 Aug 2009

I had looked forward to see this movie for a very long time, and it did indeed live up to my expectations. This is a sentimental love story but in a different manner that we aren't used to, specially not in 1961. Wonderful directing, really good story, well acted and the film itself is just amazing. It really captured me completely and I keep asking myself is this could be Elia Kazan's best movie?

The place is a small town in Texas. The year is 1928. And there are two kind of girls; the good ones and the ones that are willing. The willing are the kind of girl the boys sleep with, and the good ones are the ones they get married too.

Deanie is madly in love with Bud. So madly she could do almost anything for him. But still she is a good girl and doesn't want to go further then making out in Bud's car. Bud gets frustrated cause he wants her so badly, still they have to wait until they get married to do anything. Deanie's mom keeps telling her how important it is that Bud doesn't spoil her, and that it is only the bad girls that lack the dicipline who sleep with boys.

Deanie is scared to death of losing Bud so she almost agrees, but Bud has decided that they should get married immediately instead.

Bud comes from a wealthy family, with a dominant father, a passive mother and a provocative sister. Bud's sister has made lots of scandals in the village. She belong to the willing chategory of girls.

When Bud's father condemns the engagement with Deanie, Bud stops seeing her.

Deanie soon goes crazy and gets admitted to a mental institute which forces the family to sell all their stocks (just before the crash).

Bud's family on the other hand lost all their property and money with the crash, which led to other personal tragidies.

The movie is about the idealized and passionate love we feel when we are young, and the disappointment we get when realising such strong feelings can't last forever, and how to cope with it. This movie is very powerful and really hits it's target. Keep an eye after a young Sandy Dennis as one Deanie's friends.

I highly recommend this movie.