MovieChat Forums > Splendor in the Grass (1961) Discussion > The ending kills me

The ending kills me

posted 14 years ago by Silly28
10 replies | jump to latest

Especially the part when Deanie is handling Bud's son. I feel like she's thinking, "This is supposed to be my child." It's heartbreaking.

I giggle when I get attacked for my opinion, because it just doesn't make sense

[–] rachelpendle25 13 years ago

And Bud's wife looked so much like her!

[–] Sunflower007 13 years ago

~ Ofcourse always gets to me too. But I think everyone haves that same reaction. Maybe Deanie felt a bit hurt, possibly thinking to herself that this type of life could have been mine. In the other hand; did those feelings we had for eachother completely stayed back then, and time that past them by has taken the love they had for eachother. The final question would have been if the new Deanie wanted that life for herself?

*~~*

~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~-*~

"A prayer for the wild at
heart kept in cages."

— Tennessee Williams
[American Playwriter]

[–] Isaac5855 13 years ago

That was sort of an ookie moment in the film...Deenie clearly felt like she had missed out on something and Bud and Angelina didn't seem that comfortable with Deenie handling their child either, though Angelina was much more gracious during the whole situation than I expected her to be. Clearly, she didn't know about Bud and Deenie's history.

[–] beetiesmom 11 years ago

I don't think this at all; I believe Angelina knew all too well about the relationship between her husband and his first love. Just sayin'.....

[–] Tigerlilly9 10 years ago

Angelina knew. She was very self-conscious of her dirty dress, her belly and messy house. It's heartbreaking for all of them. I truly believe that Deanie and Bud were TRUE loves and they knew it, too. They both ended up settling with other people. Circumstances kept them apart. The look on Deanie & Bud's faces at the end when they're saying good bye says it all. They really love each other and it's unspoken. They'll continue on with their lives but they won't be with their true loves. It's very real. Heartbreaking but real.

[–] EllisFowler 10 years ago

They'll continue on with their lives but they won't be with their true loves. It's very real. Heartbreaking but real.

I disagree. First love isn't always best love and it's usually not only love. Deanie loves John (we know this from her conversation with her psychiatrist with whom we assume she's truthful) and Bud obviously loves Angelina and goes out of his way to prove it as Deanie drives off. What they'd had with each other was real but clearly, the heart has room for more than one love. We know that it was Bud who broke off contact with Deanie, even before getting involved with Angelina, so he obviously had moved on without even saying goodbye. Deanie's psychiatrist knows she needs closure and, knowing she'll be strong enough to confront her fears, gently insists that she make an effort to see Bud so that she can marry John without wondering "what if?" (We're given the impression that he has a good idea of the outcome.) It's poignant but they both end up with spouses who are better suited to them and they "grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind."

[–] Bree_33 10 years ago

Spot on, Ellis.

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[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 8 years ago

Well, I don't disagree that they might be with spouses better suited to long term commitment. But remember, Bud left not because he wanted to, but because his father was pushing him to Yale, and because it was better for Deanie.

Where I do disagree, however, is your interpretation of the line from the poem...seems to me the poem is a rallying cry for strength when the grieving for that first love comes on - a reminder not to walls, and to be happy with what you do have. I don't doubt the memories of each other will fade over time, but I think their love will always be tops with Deanie and Bud.

I'm reminded a bit of the (admittedly, lesser) film, Violets Are Blue, where Kevin Kline can't go with Sissy Spacek's globetrotting photographer, because of his marriage/children. He laments being "trapped" by Bonnie Bedelia, but is reminded that we "let ourselves be 'trapped'". He might always lament what he missed, but knows marriage and staying put is where he really belongs.

[–] kelly-527 7 years ago

I'm with tigerlilly. This is one of the most heart-breaking movies ever. From my view, they are still desperately in love, both of them, but life has moved them on. They have to move on as they have no choice. I believe it's mutual. At the end, Bud watches after Deeny as she leaves. He loves Angela, but it's not the same and poor Angela knows it.

I can't even watch this movie any more as it is so poignant and truthful. It reminds me of my high school boyfriend. We didn't work out, but it was as much about when we met as anything else.

Perfect movie about first love.

[–] liscarkat (16500) 4 years ago

Long ago I thought I was going to die when my nineteen-year-old fiance dumped me. That was my first great love. Then I met the woman who has been my wife for the past forty years and wow, am I so, so glad I dodged that first bullet! No regrets! Splendor in the Grass sometimes just leaves grass stains.