Reese Witherspoon Credits 1961 Classic as Career-Defining Influence
The Oscar-winning actress and producer reveals how a decades-old melodrama shaped her approach to storytelling and female-centered projects in Hollywood.
From her breakout role as the determined law student in pink to her Oscar-winning turn as June Carter Cash, Reese Witherspoon has spent decades challenging Hollywood's blonde stereotypes. But her real power shift happened behind the camera, where she's become one of the industry's most influential producers.
The transformation didn't happen overnight. Witherspoon started producing in the early 2000s, long before her Academy Award win. Projects like Wild, Gone Girl, and Big Little Lies proved she had serious business instincts. Today she oversees an impressive slate of female-driven content across film and television.
The 1961 Film That Changed Everything
During her 2015 Oscar campaign for Wild, Witherspoon named her biggest cinematic influence. The choice surprised many: Splendor in the Grass, Elia Kazan's 1961 melodrama starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty.
"I saw Splendor in the Grass on TV, and I just thought it was so beautiful," Witherspoon explained. "I thought Natalie Wood was amazing, and Warren Beatty, his first movie; it was just beautiful."
A Melodrama That Still Packs a Punch
Kazan's film tells the story of Kansas teenagers in the 1920s, destroyed by sexual repression and social expectations. Wood's character ends up in a mental institution. Beatty's becomes a rancher. The plot includes suicide attempts, car crashes, and plenty of tears.
Critics were divided when it premiered. Some praised its frank treatment of sexuality and repression. Others found it scandalous. Within a decade, films like The Graduate and Easy Rider had shifted cultural boundaries completely.
Why It Still Matters
The shock value may have faded, but Kazan's directing genius remains intact. His ability to extract powerful performances from actors transcends any dated elements. Witherspoon clearly sees something timeless in the film's approach to female characters and emotional storytelling.
Her current projects reflect this influence. Whether it's the domestic tensions of Big Little Lies or the Southern gothic mystery of Where the Crawdads Sing, Witherspoon gravitates toward stories that put women's experiences front and center. She's found a way to blend classic melodrama with modern sensibilities, creating content that resonates with contemporary audiences while honoring the emotional depth of earlier Hollywood.