Welcome To My Book Blog

A place to update and discuss facts surrounding the controversial, tragic death of legendary Hollywood film actress, wife and mother, Natalie Wood who drowned mysteriously Nov. 29, 1981 off Catalina Island. Thank you for visiting.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Natalie Wood

Born July 20, 1938, Natalie Wood would have turned 72 today had she survived a November 1981 cruise she took with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, her Brainstorm co-star, Christopher Walken, and her yacht captain, Dennis Davern. All three of the surviving men of that cruise lied to the police during an investigation into why Natalie Wood was found in her nightgown, socks, and red down jacket, floating in the Pacific with over 25 bruises to her body.

In current times we turn to the Internet for information about famous people. We Google names and usually read the Wikipedia info on people and things we research. Here's what it says at Wikipedia about Natalie Wood's death: (a summary filled with inaccuracies).

In September and October 1981, Wood and Wagner stayed in Raleigh, North Carolina, while Wood did location work for the science-fiction film Brainstorm. Wood then spent most of November in California shooting interior scenes with Christopher Walken and other cast members on the MGM lot in Culver City.


The day after Thanksgiving, Wood, Wagner and Walken went to Catalina Island for the weekend and on the night of November 28 their yacht (Splendour) was anchored in Isthmus Cove. Also on board was the boat's skipper, Dennis Davern, who had worked for the couple for many years. Wood apparently either tried to leave the yacht or secure a dinghy from banging against the hull when she accidentally slipped and fell overboard. A woman on a nearby yacht said she heard calls for help at around midnight. The cries lasted for about 15 minutes and were answered by someone else who said, "Take it easy. We'll be over to get you". "It was laid back," the witness recalled. "There was no urgency or immediacy in their shouts". An investigation by Los Angeles County coroner Thomas Noguchi resulted in an official verdict of accidental drowning. Noguchi concluded Wood had drunk "seven or eight" glasses of wine and was intoxicated when she died. There were marks and bruises on her body which Noguchi speculated could have been received as a result of her fall. Noguchi later wrote that had Wood not been intoxicated, she likely would have realized her heavy down-filled coat and wool sweater were pulling her underwater and would have removed them. Noguchi also wrote that he found Wood's fingernail scratches on the side of the rubber dinghy indicating she was trying to get in. Wood was 43 at the time of her death and is buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

The only way to correct inaccuracies at Wikipedia is to keep trying, and sources must be cited for the new information you include. Anyone can try to update and correct info, and sometimes your corrections are maintained, and sometimes erased within a day. Many have tried to correct info at Natalie's Wiki page, only to see the info erased within 24 hours. Maybe we can all form a group and post the same facts at the same day. It's something to consider. In any case, maybe by Natalie's 75th birthday (hopefully sooner), the correct information about her death will be available at these Internet pages that should be accurate. Wouldn't it be nice to see a footnote stating that Noguchi had no idea it was the down jacket that kept Natalie afloat rather than the object he claims "dragged her under"? My down jacket test, indeed, is important!
 
We all wish Natalie had survived that fateful cruise. The world was robbed of one beautiful, decent woman that day in November 1981. She was robbed of the opportunity to have spent this day with her children, celebrating her legendary career and life. 
 
Some people will never be forgotten. Natalie Wood is one of them.

21 comments:

  1. Wikipedia is a joke. Several people have attempted to put the correct information on there. The moderators won't even allow on Lana wood's page for anyone to put that she wants the case reopened.

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  2. I agree. Yet, Wikipedia is the primary source for the majority of online researchers. Lana has publicly claimed she wants thte case reopened, yet Wiki bounces that information as if it doesn't exist. Wherever you read about Natalie's death it says that her down jacket dragged her down or weighed her down in the water. There is information online that talks about how heavy a down jacket can become in water. NO ONE wants to recognize the fact that a down jacket is a safe and reliant life preserver in water.

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  3. anyone with any experience on the Internet knows how unreliable the info is on Wikipedia.

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  4. Yes, but there are many people who don't know to NOT trust Wikipedia. Wiki is an easy stopping place over the Internet because it's usually the first thing to show up after Googling. Misinformation is widespread over the Internet, but Wikipedia takes the cake. Why no one can make corrections there, even when sources are cited, is totally baffling.

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  5. Happy 72nd Birthday to Natalie. It's hard to believe she would have been 72 today...She will always be young in my eyes.

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  6. Very well said Marti. Natalie was robbed of this day as we were of what she might have accomplished in her career if her death had not been hastened. Thank you for reminding us of her birthday. Sharon

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  7. Happy Birthday Natalie, you are not forgotten.

    And neither are Marti Rulli and Dennis Davern.

    Marti, you two have been so amazing in your fight to get the truth out to the general public and to get this case reopened. I believe it will happen. I really believe it will.

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  8. Marti, you can post comments about Natalie and Wagner at the Los Angeles Times. Type in LA Times star walk and it will show you a link for the data base. Several of us have mentioned your book in our comments about Wagner. I have even challenged them to review your book. Maybe if enough people post, someone in the office will get curious and check it out. Wagner has 22 comments. Astonishingly, Natalie had none. I posted a birthday message for her and hope everyone but the haters will follow suit. We should use every forum we have to get the message out.

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  9. Thank you all for the above comments. As for the LA Times, astonishingly, they claim they are unable to comment on GNGS, so if they saw public interest, it might prompt them to do so.
    One editor/blogger at the LA Times said he wanted to review the book at his blog but he chickened out. The NY Times came close to publishing an article about GNGS, too, but refrained. Only CNN has had the guts to broach this subject matter. Yes, it IS astonishing.

    Possible legal repercussions scares the media. It's not that they don't believe, they simply don't want the hassels and expense of having their legal departments having to fight a good cause. Justice for one and justice for all falls the wayside, and only the public can help to let these various media outlets and the authorities to know that we won't let this go away until there is justice for Natalie. I don't expect every reader to take a stand and to do something, but for every person who helps the mission, even by one posted comment, it DOES help.
    I am so appreciative of everyone who took the time to leave a comment at the petition to reopen the case. A mention of the petition will be included in the new material for the new release of GNGS (coming very soon) and hopefully that will be a huge help. The petition had very little promotion, and now it will be included in the book.
    There isn't a person I've ever came across in the three decades who didn't say they thought there was a lot more to Natalie's death than ever told. All Dennis's story has done is to confirm what the majority of people thought to begin with.

    I am embarrassed for the LA authorities and for our media in regards to the Natalie Wood case. There are many people who should be ashamed of themselves in relation to this case. On the upside, there are also many decent people who truly care, people willing to confront the "legal scare" -- I'm proud to be one of them, and thanks to all of you and many others getting involved, I'm not alone. It's such a comforting thought going into the next phase of this journey. Stay tuned, and thank you!

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  10. I saw on Amazon that the paperback would be released on November 2, 2010....I'm hoping this is true because I really want to read this book!

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  11. I don't see how anyone with even a basic level of intelligence cannot see that Robert Wagner is hiding something. His actions were that of a man who knew that his wife was in or at the very least could have been in some kind of trouble. When the average person finds that someone is missing in the darkness, the first thing that person would do, instinctively, is to try to create light whether it be a flashlight, a candle, a spotlight. Whatever one has at his disposal. Wagner did not want light. He refused to allow Dennis to turn on the light. Why would he not want to shine as much light as he could? Why would he not want to begin to search the waters immediately? He's hiding something.

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  12. Have you gone to the police yet? I haven't heard anything at all about it except that her sister wants it reopened.

    This was a cruel injustice. She should still be alive, working in films, and be able to see her daughters grow up.

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  13. I just saw a picture of Natalie's gravestone. The name Wagner is prominently displayed on it. She was never known as Natalie Wagner. Leave it to that egomaniac to have the last word. Please somebody take this jerk down.

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  14. I didn't mean that her gravestone says Natalie Wagner. Just that he couldn't leave it alone with the name Natalie Wood. Even in death he had to latch on to her fame.

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  15. I have been extremely busy with some personal family matters and also with business. I am sorry I've been unavailable to answer before now.
    Yes, the police are well aware that there is a "voice" to have the Natalie case reopened, but we're going to have to go one step further to nudge it along, and that is coming in the near future.
    Yes, I'm still working on getting GNGS ready for its next release. Its status was slowed only because of me ... I've been tied-up in some important things I had to take care of, and I'm ready for the next episode of this saga. The police need to step up. I feel as frustrated as anyone, but I also know that things often do not happen on their own, and I'm willing to try to make something happen. I have always been willing to stand up for Natalie, as I would anyone I believe is a victim. I thank all of you for feeling the same way. Please, just bear with us a little longer. Thanks, Marti

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  16. Sent an email to Perez Hilton to ask his readers to sign the petition. Couldn't hurt.

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  17. The petition has been up since November 1, 2009, and now has almost 500 signatures. This, with no to very sparse publicity. I believe that broader publicity for the petition will quickly put the number of signatures over 1,000. This petition will remain active for as long as it takes. I will never give up, and Marti I am with you for the rest of my life to see justice for Natalie served. JamesV

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  18. Anon,
    Thank you for sending the email to Perez Hilton: that IS a big help. Those of us who care can all contribute to making a difference in this case. Anything each one of us does to help along the reopening of the case is an effort for justice in a case that deserves it. To those who say "Let it Be" I say "not until justice is served." Natalie did NOT receive justice. Starstruck employees worked her case (including Noguchi). They were so blinded that they actually did NOT work: they were intimidated thus timid. Others involved were selfish.

    JamesV,
    I know you will never give up, too. I feel strongly that we'll see justice despite all of the obstacles and doubts. With the new release of GNGS, the petetion will be mentioned. Together, we can all bring this story the attention it deserves. Thank you for all you've done.

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  19. Another thing: Those of us who care about the tragic death and injustice Natalie has endured are sometimes labeled "haters." On top of finding that repulsive I also find it incredulously ironic. Those kind of ignorant comments are usually based on the assumption that we care enough about one actor to hate another and nothing could be further from the truth. This was a botched case. It is especially hypocritical when those kind of statements come from people guilty of the actual implication: they are starstruck fans willing to ignore facts in a case that screams of something sinister. We need a professional investigation: the public can help to make a difference. The media must get on board. It's not over until it's over. Thank you all for whatever help you can provide.

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  20. Marti, it will never be over. The younger fans, some of whom were not born yet when Natalie died, seem to see right through it without reading your book. When all the cards are put on the table, the "accidental drowning" findings do not make sense. We need to put GNGS is the hands of more readers so that the truth can be told to all that want to know the truth.

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  21. I got the book on kindle from amazon, $9.99. The facts of the case were spelled out clearly.
    The original investigation was not even an investigation.

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