I just recently acquired the VHS and saw the movie for the first time.
I couldn't help but relate some of the scenes and storyline in this movie to "Splendor In The Grass". I watch SITG every time the mood sets in. Now, I have TPIC. Both are at the top of my list.
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Two great films: SITG is Natalie's best performance and TPIC is Natalie at her most gorgeous.
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I agree. I have always thought of these movies as a pair. Both of them are star-crossed love stories told within a wide scope of the 1920's/1930's era. In both of them, Natalie Wood looks beautiful and gives a harrowing performance. And both have a broad-jawed, clean-cut, handsome white male actor starring opposite her. The way I decide which I'm in the mood for is based on whether I want a tale of teenage love (Splendor) or older love (This Property), and whether I want it set in the southern U.S. or in the Midwest. Truth be told, I prefer Splendor. I think it was made better, tighter in story, script and direction.
As for these being Natalie's best 2 movies, I certainly think "Rebel Without a Cause" and "West Side Story" also deserve to be mentioned.
*This is a place to write anything I think is important or smart or cute. It ends all my comments.*
I liked "This Property Is Condemned" much better than "Splendor In The Grass." I thought Natalie Wood and Robert Redford had much better chemistry as well.
shareI consider these movies something of a pair too (I'm planning on making a video with clips from both). For some reason I think All The Fine Young Cannibals would make an interesting companion piece, not as good a film as the other two, but because of Natalie and the sad star-crossed love theme. Of course, Natalie had better chemistry with Robert Redford, which helped a lot. But she and Beatty clicked too in Splendor.
shareReading this thread reminds of me of just how important Natalie Wood's movies were to my childhood and young adulthood. I agree when you say "All The Fine Young Cannibals" desered to be coupled with "The Property Is Condemned". I never really appreciated Splendor in the Grass. I just didn't like the film. I didn't like West Side Story either. I loved Inside Daisy Clover. I have considered Inside Daisy Clover and This Property is Condemned as my two comfort films. During my youth I always looked forward to A Patch of Blue also. Shelley Winter's "Roseanne" and Kate Reid's "Hazel" could have been siblings.
shareI agree, jarp. This Property is Condemned is one of my youthhood favorites.
It is almost too painful to watch...but I love it. As much as I loved Patch of Blue. I think that one was etched into my mind at an early age and haunted me
in a way...those 60's movies, when they exposed worlds a young Texas girl had no idea existed...My favorite decade in film.
The Sterile Cuckoo and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon are etched in my heart from my youth also plus I will never forget The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.
shareOf Natalie's movies, I also consider "Gypsy" and "Inside Daisy Clover" to be pairs, and to a lesser extent, "Sex And The Single Girl" and "Penelope".
The leading men were quite typical for the times. Nothing remarkable.
shareI thought Warren Beatty was quite remarkable-LOL He had such a pretty, handsome face (and a wonderful athletic body). I love watching "Splendor in the Grass" partly because Warren and Natalie dated in real life. I love seeing them together. I think they were the most gorgeous couple ever!!!!!!!
"Getting old is not for sissies."
Bette Davis
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