Splendor in the Grass (1961)

In 'Splendor in the Grass' social expectations tear at high school sweethearts Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty in 1920's Kansas. Written for the screen by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright William Inge, directed by Elia Kazan doing a fair George Stevens impression. Some good stuff here, a somewhat duller then expected melodrama. Beatty's screen debut, Wood is lovely and talented, while Pat Hingel chews the scenery with aplomb as the formers father, uniformly good supporting work. ***