On a repeat episode of Power, Privilege and Justice that just aired on TV, in a segment about Robert Blake, host Dominick Dunne said, "When you are a celebrity in L.A. , you play by a different set of rules."
Dominick was an excellent investigative journalist whose articles and books offered insights into why celebrity criminal cases have often been treated differently by the judicial system.
Dunne wrote several books and was a contributor for Vanity Fair. He covered many famous high-profile trials including the OJ Simpson, Claus von Bulow, Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith, and the Menendez brothers' trials.
Dominick experienced life's greatest agony when his own young daughter was murdered by her boyfriend. He dedicated his life to justice.
As host of Power, Privilege, and Justice, in particular, he always discussed justice and injustice and their intersection with celebrities.
Dunne was a gifted True Crime writer and I always hoped for his opinion of Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour, but Dominick passed away on August 26, 2009, just days before its release. I learned later, however, that Dominick had been given a galley proof copy of Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour and said that he was relieved the truth about Natalie Wood's death was being published.
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Dunne and Natalie were very close friends. He adored her. He was friendly with RJ also but it was not as deep a friendship as he and his then wife, Lenny, had with Natalie.
ReplyDeleteI pleased that he was able to read GNGS.
Gail, I wish I had known that years ago as I would have contacted Dominick. I never wanted to impose upon him for several reasons. I don't know if he would have been willing to help, but I believe he would have been willing to listen. I followed his articles of the OJ case religiously. He caught things and offered insights into testimony that others didn't seem to comprehend. I am glad he read GNGS, too. I also appreciate Ann Rule having recommended Goodbye Natalie at her website. I totally believe that writers like Dominick Dunne and Ann Rule have helped to save lives.
ReplyDeleteIt would've been fantastic to have had Dominick Dunne's insight into Natalie's death and the meager investigation. He seemed like a very decent and straightforward man who was primarily interested in justice.
ReplyDeleteMarti, you are being trashed on a movie database site about what you said about Dominick Dunne. The person doing the trashing sounds a great deal like an imbecile who posts on the Death Forum site. They must be working together. I laugh at their comments because they trash your book with such vengeance , they talk about it being trivial yet they talk about nothing else and they stalk this blog. If your book was such a waste of time they would not spend so much of their own time discussing it, would they? Obviously your book packed the punch of truth or they would not have such an obsessive need to trash it. They attack your credibility but I have read that even Robert Wagner's fans want nothing to do with them because of their need to stir up trouble. That does not say much for their own credibility.
ReplyDeleteHow do you deal with these buffoons? I give you a lot of credit for taking the high road.
Karley
Thanks, Karley. It isn't always easy, but I stand proud of the honest work I accomplished for Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour. I visited the board you are talking about. Yes, it was my publisher who gave a copy of the galley proof book to Dominick Dunne. They hadn't realized how sick he was at that time, and even they were surprised to learn that he had read it. They didn't impose upon him for a written endorsement and I am glad they respected him like that. It's good enough for me for the publisher to have told me what he said, and indeed he said he was glad the book was being published. It was a comfort to me to hear those words then, and it is still a comfort to me now. Dominick Dunne liked GNGS. I know it and my publishing house knows it.
ReplyDeleteMarti, that gives even more credibility to your story--that Dominick Dunne, one of Natalie's friends and a very reasonable and truth-seeking man, endorsed the book. That speaks VOLUMES!
ReplyDeleteI am so dismayed at how many of Natalie's "dear friends" did not speak up for her. Alas, I realize that many of them were on Wagner's payroll. Natalie was wronged in so many ways. Thank goodness you have spoken up for her.