Search - Splendor in the Grass on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1961 DVD Release: 03/13/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Drama, Americana, Romantic Drama, Coming-of-Age See Also: Splendor in the Grass

1961's premiere "date" movie represented the screen debut of Warren Beatty. Set in the 1920s, William Inge's screenplay concerns the superheated romance between working-class high schooler Natalie Wood and rich kid Beatty. Trying their best to keep their relationship from going "all the way," Beatty and Wood go through a series of unsatisfying interim romances. The troubled Wood attempts suicide and is sent to a mental institution, while Beatty impregnates freewheeling waitress Zohra Lampert. Wood and Beatty still carry a torch for one another, but circumstances preclude their getting together -- and besides, Wood suddenly realizes that she's outgrown the still-floundering Beatty. Scriptwriter William Inge shows up as a minister in Splendor in the Grass, while comedienne Phyllis Diller does a cameo as famed nightclub entertainer Texas Guinan; also, keep an eye out for Sandy Dennis, making her first movie appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Natalie Wood - Wilma Dean Loomis
Warren Beatty - Bud Stamper
Pat Hingle - Ace Stamper
Audrey Christie - Mrs. Loomis
Barbara Loden - Ginny Stamper
Zohra Lampert - Angelina

Though it was hailed at the time as one of the finest films of the 1960s, Splendor in the Grass lost some of its critical glow after the sexual revolution took hold and seemingly made it "old fashioned" overnight. Thankfully, this Warner DVD should revive some of this classic film's reputation with a superb anamorphic widescreen transfer that is equal to Boris Kaufman's lush Technicolor cinematography and Richard Sylbert's brilliant production design. Both of these elements were uncommonly naturalistic and modern at the time of the film's release and neither have dated today. The Dolby Digital 1.0 audio track has been restored as well and lives up to the theatrical version of the film. Surprisingly, the themes of Splendor in the Grass are also much deeper, richer, and more complex than most of today's films that follow young love. It would have been nice for Warner to have included a featurette putting Splendor in the Grass in the context of the time it was made and contrasting it with other movies of that era. Still, there is no faulting Warner for the beautiful restoration job they've done on a classic movie that still stands up on its own. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide