Thursday, November 17, 2011

Natalie Wood: Gone But Never Forgotten

Born in San Francisco, California, to Russian emigre parents in 1938, Natalie Wood went on to become one of the few child actors who went on to film stardom as an adult. Her death at 43 left in void in a lot of film watchers hearts--mine included--not because she was simply too freaking beautiful to be beliveved, which she was, but because she seemed to be on the verge of a major third act in her career--from child actor to beautiful ingenue to strong-willed mature woman playing other memorable roles either in films or television. 

 

She made some bad movies to pay the bills with--if you've never seen her as a Russian scientist in a disaster flick called "Meteor" (1980)  with Sean Connery and a cast of other name actors getting in a couple days work for a lot of cash--count yourself among the blessed.   But there was also signs she was going to be as good as Vanessa Redgrave or Anne Bancroft if you saw her in television films like "The Cracker Factory" (about mental illness) or in the otherwise so-so remake of the wartime drama "From Here to Eternity" (1979) where she literally stole every scene she was in playing a part made famous by Deborah Kerr in the original. 

. One just took it for granted that she would be around for a while longer.

Most people my age have their favorite Natalie Wood film (or two).  And while as an adult she did everything from serious dramas like "Splendour in the Grass" (1961) with Warren Beatty to madcap slapstick in the overlong but enjoyable "The Great Race" with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, she continued  to shine.  Even in movies that were forgettable, she  wasn't.

Anyway, here's an extended scene from my favorite of her films, "Love With the Proper Stranger" (1963). It's the story of two younger New Yorkers who are nearing the end of their youth and see a future of working-class ennui ahead of them...she's kind of a wallflower  in this movie (I know.  Natalie Wood as a wallflower???  It's still a Hollywood movie I'm afraid.)   The guy in her life is a musician who's scared of settling because he's still sowing wild oats but the clock is running out and he should settle down, maybe.  Except the people he knows from his neighborhood who have look so much older and beaten-down then they should be. It's from 1963, but it could have been made forty years later and still be as relevant.   

What is a clever twist in this a romance is that they only really start this bumpy relationship off AFTER she comes to him and announces she's pregnant after a one-night stand and he can't even remember sleeping with her.  (As someone pointed out on You Tube, how do you not remember sleeping with a girl who looks like Natalie Wood??  I'm guessing LSD.) 

   You might recognize her co-star.

For me the coolest thing about Natalie Wood is that she was given an award in 1966 as "The Worst Actress of the Year" by the student journalism staff at Harvard University--The Harvard Lampoon--and she actually went in person to the Cambridge, Massachusetts to accept the "award".   Sandra Bullock did it too a couple years ago but Natalie was the first.

If you want to see more pictures and background for  Natalie Wood, here is a good website.  http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/2011/11/remembering-natalie-wood-you-dont-know.html

16 comments:

  1. She was a great actress. I remember all her films. Seemed able to play any role. I thought "Splendor In The Grass" particularly moving. Her death came as a surprise.

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  2. Watching that clip, I had never seen that movie before...but it looks like a great movie. I liked her also and her co-star..lol.

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  3. I loved her!! It was such a shock when she died.

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  4. Yes, Marty, I was just about to post the very link you just did!

    Good grief, I wasn't expecting this to happen the same day as I thought about doing my Natalie Wood blog.

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  5. I read the article and it sure sounds like maybe her hubby Wagner killed her and pushed her into the Pacific....wow...what a story that will be if he is found out and is guilty.

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  6. Yes, I always liked McQueen; every kid my age wanted to be him on that mototcycle in "The Great Escape"
    He had a persona to appeal to both genders of film fans.

    It's good to see them again in a scene where both they get to play comedy, since most of their other best films were of a dramatic nature.

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  7. Whatever the case, I don't think the LA Sheriff's Office would open a high-profile case unless there was something major in the way of new information. Anyway, we'll know more tomorrow.

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  8. Yes, that was such a strong role for her, Stephen--a heart-rending performance.

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  9. I think of her and John Lennon, both dying within a year of one another, Christy, as two of the saddest early deaths of a public person in my lifetime.

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  10. I saw on the news today that the captain of that day was saying he thinks Wagner is the cause of her death...they were fighting when the captain tried to step in and Wagner told him none of your business...wow..wonder if he really did kill her? Or if she fell in and he did nothing to save her.

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  11. If what that captain says is not some kind of twisted-payback on a former employer, it doesn't cast Robert Wagner in a good light. The obvious question is why he changed his story after 30 years.

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  12. maybe his concience is bothering him and he has to clear it and tell the truth this time...but why is the other guy getting a lawyer now...he said he didnt have anything to do with her death even thou thats what the fight was about...Walken must be hiding something too.

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  13. Possibly...there's a part of me that's wondering of course why the LA Sheriffs' Department is bothering to open the case if they don't see Wagner as a 'suspect', which the cops are on record as saying he isn't. Well, who else? Maybe there is some other information from a source we don't know about yet. It's possible, or not.

    Walken may just be "lawyering up". He's not sure what's coming at him in the next couple weeks and he wants to be prepped.
    I suspect Walken was the catalyst for an argument between the couple...it was probably not a good idea for him to accept an invite to Catalina on a boat with a jealous husband and his latest co-star. I don't think he had anything directly to do with the death of Natalie Wood.

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  14. No I dont think Walken did anything but get hubby Wagner jealous...lol. But with Natalie being so afraid of the water...she would not jump in thats for sure. Someone had to push her in I would think or if she slipped, why wouldnt her husband jump in after her to save her? I hope it comes out what really happened that night.

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  15. I'm afraid we would almost have to have some actual spiritual Medium channel Ms. Wood's spirit to know that, Marty, but , yes, some details seem to be missing.

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