The essential Elia Kazan, one of the great directors in the history of the seventh art, had already made his debut in style in the sixties with the fundamental ‘Río salvaje’, but he only finished confirming his state of grace for another afternoon of the year with ‘Splendor in the Grass’, one of the masterpieces of a filmography full of immense films. Big words.
Led by the unforgettable Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood who few times in the rest of his career have they been so moving and believable, this love story full of scenes to remember and written by the absolute inspiration of the Oscar winner William Inge is a roller coaster of emotions. From laughter to tears in seconds.
10 curiosities of ‘Splendor in the grass’
1 question of age
Even if they are supposed to play teenagers, Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty were twenty-two and twenty-three., respectively, on the set of “Splendor in the Grass”. A situation that caused Elia Kazan decided to cast the rest of the film’s “juvenile” cast based on the fact that they too were in their early twentiesthus adapting to the appearance of its main partner.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
2 Filming in New York
Elia Kazan originally planned to shoot ‘Splendor in the Grass’ in Kansas, but a terrible drought forced him to change his plans. Thus, the director and his team ended up working in New York.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
3 obligatory naturalness
Elia Kazan was so thrilled that Natalie Wood didn’t give the film any kind of glamorous or star-studded vibe that she has he asked her not to wear makeup or overly elegant clothes during filming. A decision that gave the actress a bad time, Also generating some anxiety. In fact, it was learned years later that Wood took advantage of every director’s misdirection to put on blush or lipstick.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
4 secret romance
Elia Kazan and Barbara Loden were a couple during the filming of ‘Splendor in the Grass’, though their romance began several years earlier. Sure, this romance was carried on in secret as the director was married at the time.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
5 Pat’s delivery
A few days before filming of ‘Splendor in the Grass’, Pat Hingle he suffered a terrible fall from an elevator shaft that left him with physical problems for more than a year. However, the actor was so interested in appearing in the film that he incorporated into his character the limp he suffered in real life.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
6 Big previews
Besides being a masterpiece, “Splendor in the Grass” has the honor of being one the debut of Warren Beatty, Sandy Dennis, Phyllis Diller, Marla Adams and Eugene Roche.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
7 Kazan influence
Warren Beatty lived his film debut with passion, especially in relation to the work of Elia Kazan. And it is that, from the first moment, the actor has embraced the director as a teacher, trying to learn as much as possible from him. So, Kazan taught him about camera placement or how to work on a scriptfundamental elements that Beatty put into practice years later when he decided to produce and direct alone.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
8 stages of a relationship
Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty didn’t get along very well on the set of “Splendor in the Grass.” The actress thought the actor was unprofessional and very immature, secretly referring to it with the label “Mental Anguish”. However, years later, after separating from Robert Wagner, both protagonists began a sentimental relationship which, despite being short-lived, made them form a wonderful friendship until the terrible death of the actress.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
9 Fund option
Jane Fonda recounted in her autobiography that she met Elia Kazan to star in ‘Splendor in the Grass’. However, during this meeting, the director asked her if she considered herself an ambitious person, to which the actress replied no. Well, apparently that was why Kazan turned her down for the film. Always according to Fonda’s version/intuition, of course.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
10 First kiss
‘Splendor in the Grass’, in addition to its extraordinary artistic quality, is in the history of cinema as the first Hollywood film in which a tongue kiss could be seen.
Splendor in the grass by eCartelera
No matter how many times you’ve gone back, you’ll always find yourself with a lump in your throat and the feeling that you’re dealing with a classic that can’t get old. A masterpiece directed with the characteristic mastery of Elia Kazan who succeeds in each of the objectives that he sets for himself, thus resulting a true cinematic enjoyment from start to finish.
Source: E Cartelera
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
