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{{Infobox film {{Infobox television
| name = The Mystery of Natalie Wood | image = TheMysteryofNatalieWood.jpg
| image = | image_size =
| image_size = | image_alt =
| caption = | caption =
| director = ] | genre =
| producer = Richard Fischoff<br>Randy Sutter | creator =
| writer = ] (novel)<br>Warren G. Harris (novel)<br>Elizabeth Egloff | based_on = ''Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood'' by ]; <br /> ''Natalie & R.J.'' by Warren G. Harris
| narrator = | writer = Elizabeth Egloff
| screenplay =
⚫ | starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>and ]
| music = ] | story =
| director = ]
| cinematography = John Stokes
⚫ | starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />and ]
| editing = Scott Vickrey
| studio = | narrated =
| theme_music_composer = ]
⚫ | distributor = ]
| country = United States<br/>Australia
⚫ | released = March 1, 2004
| runtime = 172 minutes | language = English
| country = USA | num_episodes =
| producer = Richard Fischoff<br />Randy Sutter
| language = English
| budget = | editor = Scott Vickrey
| gross = | cinematography = John Stokes
| preceded_by = | runtime = 172 minutes
| followed_by = | company =
| budget =
⚫ | network = ]
⚫ | released = {{Start date|2004|03|01}}
}} }}
'''''The Mystery of Natalie Wood''''' is a two-part 2004 ] ] directed by ]. Partly based on the biographies ''Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood'' written by ] and ''Natalie & R.J.'' written by Warren G. Harris, the film chronicles the life and career of actress ], from the part of her early childhood in the 1940s until her untimely death in 1981. '''''The Mystery of Natalie Wood''''' is a two-part 2004 ] ] directed by ]. Partly based on the biographies ''Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood'' written by ] and ''Natalie & R.J.'' written by Warren G. Harris, the film chronicles the life and career of actress ] from her early childhood in the 1943 until her death in 1981.


== Plot == == Plot ==

===Part 1=== ===Part 1===
The film opens on November 28, 1981 at ], where 43-year-old ] (]) falls off her boat called 'Splendour' and drowns. Years earlier, in 1943 ], 5-year-old Natasha (Grace Fulton) grows up in a violent household with an overbearing mother, Maria Gurdin (]), who goes to extremes to make her daughter a star. When one day a film is shot in town, Maria arranges a role for Natasha, and kills a butterfly in order to get her to cry in front of the camera, which is required. Her crying impresses the director, ] (]), and a year later she reluctantly moves to Hollywood to focus on her career, with her mother standing by her at every step, and with a new name: Natalie Wood. By 1946, Natalie is working three films at a time, and is not allowed to enjoy any spare time with friends. Three years later, now teenaged (]), she can do nothing as her older sister Olga (Leanne Simic) leaves the home because she feels neglected by her mother. Around this time, she is working on the set of '']'' one day, when an accident causes her to break her wrist. Fearing that her daughter will not get any roles if she has it treated, Maria dismisses any medical help, and Natalie's wrist does not heal properly as a result. The film begins on November 28, 1981, on ], where 43-year-old ] (]) falls off her yacht, ''Splendour'', and drowns. ] to 1943, five-year-old, then named Natasha (Grace Fulton), grows up in a violent household in ]. Her overbearing mother, Maria Gurdin (]), is obsessed with making her daughter a film star. When a film is shooting in town, Maria arranges a role for Natasha. She kills a butterfly in order to get Natasha to cry on cue. Her performance impresses the director, ] (]), and a year later she reluctantly moves to Hollywood to start her career. Her mother dictates every career move, and gives her a new name: Natalie Wood. In 1946, Natalie is working on three films at a time, and is not allowed to enjoy spare time with her friends. Three years later, teenage Natalie (]) is unable to prevent her neglected older sister, Olga (Leanne Simic), from leaving home. While working on the set of '']'', Natalie breaks her wrist. Fearing that her daughter will lose roles if she has it treated, Maria rejects medical help. Natalie's wrist does not heal properly as a result.


While in high school, 15-year-old Natalie falls in love with school friend Jimmy, and starts to rebel against her mother, who prohibits her to see Jimmy Williams (Jason Smith) because she fears that she will get pregnant. Maria manipulates Natalie into giving up her plans of marrying Jimmy, and after breaking off the engagement, Jimmy shoots himself, leaving Natalie heartbroken. Afterwards, she breaks any ties with her mother and focuses on her career. By the mid-50's, she (Waddell) and her friend ] (Sophie Mentis) decide that she should play the female lead in '']'' opposite ] (Nick Carpenter). In order to get the role, she allows herself to be seduced by director ] (])). Following a car accident caused by ] (Jarrod Dean), she is cast in the film. Simultaneously, she auditions for director Roy Tremaine (Andy Rodoreda) to please her mother, but he rapes her. Fearing that it would destroy her career, she does not report the crime. Instead, she focuses on ''Rebel'', which turns out to be a great success. Natalie reaches star fame and becomes romantically involved with many Hollywood men. Worried about her many boyfriends, Maria sets her up with ] (]), an actor whom she adored since she were a child. While in high school, 15-year-old Natalie falls in love with classmate Jimmy Williams (Jason Smith), and starts to rebel against her mother. Afraid that Natalie will get pregnant, Maria manipulates Natalie into breaking up with Jimmy. Jimmy shoots himself in a suicide attempt. Heartbroken, Natalie severs all ties with her mother. By the mid-1950s, she (Waddell) and her friend ] (Sophie Mentis) decide that Natalie should play the female lead in '']'' opposite ] (Nick Carpenter). In order to get the role, she allows herself to be seduced by director ] (]). Ray does not cast her initially, but her involvement in a car accident caused by ] (Jarrod Dean), changes his mind. Simultaneously, she auditions for director Roy Tremaine (Andy Rodoreda) to please her mother; he rapes her. Fearful for her career, she does not report the crime. She focuses on ''Rebel'', which is a great success. Natalie achieves stardom and becomes romantically involved with many Hollywood men. Worried about her many boyfriends, Maria arranges a date with ] (]), an actor whom Natalie has adored since she was a child.


Shortly before they are married, Natalie promises her mother that she will not have any babies with him, even though she wants to have them. By 1959, she starts to estrange herself from Robert and meets up with her therapist often to discuss her troubled childhood and wish to have a baby. Meanwhile, she heads out to New York City to work on a new film with ] (Christopher Pate): '']''. The film requires her to take off her clothes and show the camera her sprained wrist, which upsets her. In a later scene, she has to swim in the water, for which she has a terrible fear because her mother told her as a child that she would one day drown. She eventually overcomes her fear and celebrates with her co-star ] (]), which makes her husband grow more jealous of her interaction with other men. As she becomes more occupied with filming '']'', Robert announces to divorce Natalie because he never sees her anymore, and has trouble seeing her rise to great successes, while he has trouble obtaining film roles. Shortly before they are married, Natalie promises her mother that she will not have children with Robert, even though she wants to do so. By 1959, she distances herself from Robert and regularly meets with a therapist to discuss her troubled childhood and her frustrated desire for motherhood. Meanwhile, she works on '']'' in New York City with ] (Christopher Pate). The film requires nudity, and she becomes upset when her malformed wrist is exposed for the first time. Another scene requires her to swim, forcing her to confront a traumatizing fear of drowning instilled in her by her mother. She eventually overcomes her fear and celebrates with her co-star ] (]). Wagner becomes jealous of her interaction with other men. While filming '']'', Robert announces that he wants a divorce because he never sees Natalie anymore; he is also jealous of her rise to stardom.


===Part 2=== ===Part 2===
{{expand section|date=March 2015}}
The film continues to reflect on her marriage with Robert Wagner, as well as her relationship with Warren Beatty. Natalie's nightmare of drowning comes true, when in 1981 she falls off a boat and drowns in the freezing water. The film continues to reflect on her marriage with ], as well as her relationship with ]. Natalie's nightmare of drowning comes true, when in 1981 she falls off a boat and drowns in the freezing water.


==Cast== ==Cast==
{{castlist|
*] as ]
*] as ] * ] as ]
*] as ] ** ] as Teenage ]
*] as Nick Gurdin ** ] as Young ]
*] as Teenage Natalie Wood * ] as ]
*] as Young Natalie Wood * ] as ]
*] as ] * ] as Nick Gurdin
* ] as ]
*] as Maria Gurdin * ] as Maria Gurdin
*Malcolm Kennard as ] * ] as ]
*Christopher Pate as ] *Christopher Pate as ]
*] as ] * ] as ]
*Barry Langrishe as ] *Barry Langrishe as ]
*] as Richard Gregson * ] as ]
*] as ] * ] as ]
*Nathalie Roy as ] *Nathalie Roy as ]
*] as Jimmy Williams * ] as Jimmy Williams
*Nick Carpenter as ] *Nick Carpenter as ]
* ] as Dr. Thayer
* ] as ]
* ] as ]
*Stephen Anderton as Dennis Davern
* ] as Maryann Marinkovich
* ] as Jackie Estes
* ] as ]
*Leanne Simcic as Olga Zacharenko
*Andy Rodoreda as Roy Tremaine
* ] as ]
*Amanda Crompton as Marilyn Wayne
*Jarrod Dean as ]
*Sophie Mentis as ]
*David Baldwin as ]
*Patrick McGrath as ]
*Brett Sheerin as Charlie
*Paul Barry as ]
*Rachel Scobie as ]
*Phillip Lye as ]
*Inga Romantsova as ]
}}

==Production==
Director Bogdanovich was initially reluctant to produce a biopic, because he was unsatisfied about being the subject of a biopic himself, in '']'' (1983).<ref name="nbc">{{cite web |title=Bogdanovich focuses on Natalie Wood |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/bogdanovich-focuses-natalie-wood-wbna4373462|date=February 25, 2004|publisher=]|accessdate=2012-09-25}}</ref> He explained: "I didn’t know if I wanted to do it, because I knew the people a little bit. I’d met Natalie a few times, nodded at her at parties, and same thing with Robert Wagner. I also knew I didn’t like being portrayed in the films about ]. But then I decided: Somebody’s gonna do this, and I thought I’d be more sensitive because of my experiences. Besides, by then I had fallen in love with Natalie and her work. In '']'', '']'', '']'', her performances are brilliant, really brilliant. I realized she was really underrated as an actress — and that, up until then, I had been one of the people who underrated her."<ref name="nbc" />

Parts of the film were shot around the ] area in ], ]. The film was shot in early 2003.<ref name="nbc" />


==Reception== ==Reception==
'']'' magazine called the film a "standard" production, and criticized Bogdanovich for using real-life interview footage in the film: "Bogdanovich layers in archival material like newspaper headlines and stills of the real Wood, as well as talking-head interviews with her surviving relatives and friends, a choice that brings little to the proceedings, since whatever stories the witnesses tell are subsequently presented in painfully literal tableaux." Its reviewer praised the cast, though, for its performances: "ustine Waddell is competent and appealing; she's no Judy Davis, but she avoids the biopic trap of overly mannered impersonation. Indistinguishable Ken dolls Michael Weatherly and Matthew Settle offer uncanny vocal impressions of Robert Wagner and Warren Beatty, while Alice Krige (Star Trek's Borg Queen) is perfect as Maria, Natalie's monstrous, self-mythologizing Russian mother, who pulls the wings off butterflies to get little Nat to cry on cue."<ref>{{cite web |title=Fallen Star |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2004/03/fallen_star.html|date=March 2, 2004|work='']''|accessdate=2012-09-24}}</ref> '']'' magazine called the film a "standard" production, and criticized Bogdanovich for using real-life interview footage in the film: "Bogdanovich layers in archival material like newspaper headlines and stills of the real Wood, as well as talking-head interviews with her surviving relatives and friends, a choice that brings little to the proceedings, since whatever stories the witnesses tell are subsequently presented in painfully literal tableaux." Its reviewer praised the cast, though, for its performances: "] is competent and appealing; she's no ], but she avoids the biopic trap of overly mannered impersonation. Indistinguishable Ken dolls ] and ] offer uncanny vocal impressions of ] and ], while ] (] Borg Queen) is perfect as Maria, Natalie's monstrous, self-mythologizing Russian mother, who pulls the wings off butterflies to get little Nat to cry on cue."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Fallen Star |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2004/03/fallen_star.html|date=March 2, 2004|magazine=]|accessdate=2012-09-24}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0389121|title=The Mystery of Natalie Wood}} *{{IMDb title|id=0389121|title=The Mystery of Natalie Wood}}


{{Peter Bogdanovich}}

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Latest revision as of 16:03, 17 November 2024

2004 multi-national TV series or program
The Mystery of Natalie Wood
Based onNatasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood by Suzanne Finstad;
Natalie & R.J. by Warren G. Harris
Written byElizabeth Egloff
Directed byPeter Bogdanovich
StarringJustine Waddell
Michael Weatherly
Matthew Settle
Colin Friels
Elizabeth Rice
and Alice Krige
Theme music composerRichard Marvin
Country of originUnited States
Australia
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersRichard Fischoff
Randy Sutter
CinematographyJohn Stokes
EditorScott Vickrey
Running time172 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 1, 2004 (2004-03-01)

The Mystery of Natalie Wood is a two-part 2004 made-for-TV biographical film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Partly based on the biographies Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood written by Suzanne Finstad and Natalie & R.J. written by Warren G. Harris, the film chronicles the life and career of actress Natalie Wood from her early childhood in the 1943 until her death in 1981.

Plot

Part 1

The film begins on November 28, 1981, on Catalina Island, California, where 43-year-old Natalie Wood (Justine Waddell) falls off her yacht, Splendour, and drowns. Flashing back to 1943, five-year-old, then named Natasha (Grace Fulton), grows up in a violent household in Santa Rosa, California. Her overbearing mother, Maria Gurdin (Alice Krige), is obsessed with making her daughter a film star. When a film is shooting in town, Maria arranges a role for Natasha. She kills a butterfly in order to get Natasha to cry on cue. Her performance impresses the director, Irving Pichel (John Noble), and a year later she reluctantly moves to Hollywood to start her career. Her mother dictates every career move, and gives her a new name: Natalie Wood. In 1946, Natalie is working on three films at a time, and is not allowed to enjoy spare time with her friends. Three years later, teenage Natalie (Elizabeth Rice) is unable to prevent her neglected older sister, Olga (Leanne Simic), from leaving home. While working on the set of The Green Promise, Natalie breaks her wrist. Fearing that her daughter will lose roles if she has it treated, Maria rejects medical help. Natalie's wrist does not heal properly as a result.

While in high school, 15-year-old Natalie falls in love with classmate Jimmy Williams (Jason Smith), and starts to rebel against her mother. Afraid that Natalie will get pregnant, Maria manipulates Natalie into breaking up with Jimmy. Jimmy shoots himself in a suicide attempt. Heartbroken, Natalie severs all ties with her mother. By the mid-1950s, she (Waddell) and her friend Margaret O'Brien (Sophie Mentis) decide that Natalie should play the female lead in Rebel Without a Cause opposite James Dean (Nick Carpenter). In order to get the role, she allows herself to be seduced by director Nicholas Ray (Robert Taylor). Ray does not cast her initially, but her involvement in a car accident caused by Dennis Hopper (Jarrod Dean), changes his mind. Simultaneously, she auditions for director Roy Tremaine (Andy Rodoreda) to please her mother; he rapes her. Fearful for her career, she does not report the crime. She focuses on Rebel, which is a great success. Natalie achieves stardom and becomes romantically involved with many Hollywood men. Worried about her many boyfriends, Maria arranges a date with Robert Wagner (Michael Weatherly), an actor whom Natalie has adored since she was a child.

Shortly before they are married, Natalie promises her mother that she will not have children with Robert, even though she wants to do so. By 1959, she distances herself from Robert and regularly meets with a therapist to discuss her troubled childhood and her frustrated desire for motherhood. Meanwhile, she works on Splendor in the Grass in New York City with Elia Kazan (Christopher Pate). The film requires nudity, and she becomes upset when her malformed wrist is exposed for the first time. Another scene requires her to swim, forcing her to confront a traumatizing fear of drowning instilled in her by her mother. She eventually overcomes her fear and celebrates with her co-star Warren Beatty (Matthew Settle). Wagner becomes jealous of her interaction with other men. While filming West Side Story, Robert announces that he wants a divorce because he never sees Natalie anymore; he is also jealous of her rise to stardom.

Part 2

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2015)

The film continues to reflect on her marriage with Robert Wagner, as well as her relationship with Warren Beatty. Natalie's nightmare of drowning comes true, when in 1981 she falls off a boat and drowns in the freezing water.

Cast

Production

Director Bogdanovich was initially reluctant to produce a biopic, because he was unsatisfied about being the subject of a biopic himself, in Star 80 (1983). He explained: "I didn’t know if I wanted to do it, because I knew the people a little bit. I’d met Natalie a few times, nodded at her at parties, and same thing with Robert Wagner. I also knew I didn’t like being portrayed in the films about Dorothy Stratten. But then I decided: Somebody’s gonna do this, and I thought I’d be more sensitive because of my experiences. Besides, by then I had fallen in love with Natalie and her work. In Love With the Proper Stranger, Inside Daisy Clover, This Property Is Condemned, her performances are brilliant, really brilliant. I realized she was really underrated as an actress — and that, up until then, I had been one of the people who underrated her."

Parts of the film were shot around the Palm Beach area in New South Wales, Australia. The film was shot in early 2003.

Reception

Slate magazine called the film a "standard" production, and criticized Bogdanovich for using real-life interview footage in the film: "Bogdanovich layers in archival material like newspaper headlines and stills of the real Wood, as well as talking-head interviews with her surviving relatives and friends, a choice that brings little to the proceedings, since whatever stories the witnesses tell are subsequently presented in painfully literal tableaux." Its reviewer praised the cast, though, for its performances: "Justine Waddell is competent and appealing; she's no Judy Davis, but she avoids the biopic trap of overly mannered impersonation. Indistinguishable Ken dolls Michael Weatherly and Matthew Settle offer uncanny vocal impressions of Robert Wagner and Warren Beatty, while Alice Krige (Star Trek's Borg Queen) is perfect as Maria, Natalie's monstrous, self-mythologizing Russian mother, who pulls the wings off butterflies to get little Nat to cry on cue."

References

  1. ^ "Bogdanovich focuses on Natalie Wood". NBC News. February 25, 2004. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  2. "Fallen Star". Slate. March 2, 2004. Retrieved 2012-09-24.

External links

Peter Bogdanovich
Filmography
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Documentary films
Television films
Books
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