Gone Too Soon Blogathon: Natalie Wood

cometoverhollywood

Natalie Wood is one of my favorite screen actresses of all time. And I jumped at the chance to write about her for this gone too soon blogathon. It’s ironic that the first film I saw of hers was the last one she made before her untimely death.

Brainstorm which was made in 1981 but wasn’t released until 1983 was the first film I recall seeing of hers. I was around 13 and we had just got HBO. Back then HBO would show new releases every other day, up to 3 airings at a time. So I got plenty of opportunities to watch Brainstorm. Of course I had no idea who she was or her history. And I definitely did not know she had just passed away recently. But from that moment on I learned everything I could about her.

It was quite a surprise to learn as I got older that Natalie  had been around since the forties making movies. Starting out as child and appearing in such films like the sentimental holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. She then entered the 50's as one of the best teen actresses to ever grace the silver screen. Starring in such films like The Searchers (1956) with John Wayne; The Star (1952) with Bette Davis and of course Rebel Without A Cause (1955).

But I think Natalie's best era is definitely the 60's. It's where she entered adulthood and showed her very impressive range of acting. Doing everything from dramas to musicals to comedies, Natalie was at the top of her game. Let me just run off the films she did during her peak period: West Side Story (1961), Splendor in the Grass (1961), Gypsy (1962), Love With The Proper Stranger (1963), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), The Great Race (1965), Inside Daisy Clover (1965), This Property Is Condemned (1966), and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969). There is no denying the fact that Natalie was one of the top ten film stars of that decade and you can see why. She just displayed such an easy going style of acting that was so casual. It was like hanging out with your best friend and listening to them tell stories of their past. I was and and still is captivated by Natalie's presence in any of her films.

I can think of only one film that I have seen of hers that I'm not too crazy about and it just happens to her biggest film of her career. I just can't get into West Side Story. I do like musicals, but couldn't never get into that film. I've seen it twice and I just can't. But that is the sole exception. Everything else she did is on the spot. I love her in those bright and funny comedies like The Great Race and Sex and The Single Girl where she gets to show off her physical comic abilities. And she was really strong in those top notch dramas like Love With the Proper Stranger and This Property Is Condemned.

While her film career was shining, her personal life was a different story. After her relationship with Warren Beatty soured, she dated several different men, some of whom were very much married. She attempted suicide in 1966. She was able to work out her issues by seeing a psychiatrist and got married in 1969 to Richard Gregson. It didn't last but her next marriage would, to former boyfriend Robert Wagner.

Of course tragedy would strike in 1981 when Natalie drowned off the coast of Catalina Island. Rumors persist to this day that foul play was involved. But whatever happened, we did lose a very talented actress and amazing woman that day at the young age of 43. This post has stirred memories of Natalie in me and I will honor her this weekend with a marathon of the films of her that I own. I would like to think Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood for hosting this blogathon and so glad that I could be a part of it. Please go to her page to check out all the other wonderful entries being posted this weekend of other great stars that left this world way too soon.