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.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Natalie Wood was a gifted, natural actor. Her talent shows in promotional stills.

The doubting little girl.
Alluring pose and expression, enjoying being Gypsy Rose Lee.
The adventurous yet careful face. 

Pure tough, feminine tomboy.

Pure love.

She's scared in young love! She's Maria!
Playing a caring wife.
I was looking at the left sidebar panel of the blog and noticed something in the photo stills of Natalie Wood's work. Even in her promotional jacket stills, the character she played in each IS the character! Outside professional and candid photos of Natalie show Natalie the woman, the actress, the star, the fashionable one, but in her work her talent shines through...even in these stills. You see the huge difference in every single character portrayal.  She truly was a gifted actress. I would love to have seen a photo where she received an Oscar because if Natalie had lived, I have no doubt her career would have blossomed and she would have been rewarded. It was not long after her death that Hollywood evolved into what Natalie had been waiting for: what she sensed was transpiring... a place where middle-aged actresses could and would be in demand for meaty roles. Natalie's career was cut short, after an already massvie body of classics and talent, but she is definitely true legend. I think she's the best of them all, but I think even the critics would have to stand by that opinion had she lived to continue working in what she loved doing best: "let me entertain you."


54 comments:

  1. There is a new book out called Afterlives of the Rich and Famous by psychic Sylvia Browne. Natalie was one of the stars featured. It's weird because I've seen Sylvia do amazing readings and then other times I think she's full of crap. Anyway, it was kind of interesting. Sylvia does a biographical introduction of the star and then her "spirit guide" Francine tells what the star is doing in the afterlife. The biography was full of the usual baloney about Natalie and the dinghy. The spirit guide didn't mention it being an accident though. She said Natalie was at peace about the night she died (can't imagine that) and that Natalie said, "everyone who matters knows everything they need to know about what happened". Don't know what that means but it doesn't scream accident to me. I'm sure it's all hogwash but it was interesting that she included Natalie and the description of things that were most important to her were accurate. They said when she crossed over, one of the people who met her was a tiny woman with long steel-gray hair pulled tightly into a topknot, large deep-set eyes, a rather prominent nose and thin lips. Natalie "says" her family will know immediately who the woman is from this description. Lana reads the blog, perhaps she will tell you if it strikes a chord. I believe in psychic things but not sure I believe any of this. Just thought it was gratifying that Natalie was chosen as one of the stars people would still be interested in today.

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  2. Sylvia Browne has long been exposed as a fraud, opportunist, emotional hijack artist. I'm not surprised she chose Natalie as a subject as Natalie is a bankable star in almost any venue even if it is a fraud filled, fact-less and gimmick laced fairytale for profit. Sorry, to deflate your effort but Sylvia Browne is nothing more than an act and a bad one at that. (Don't take my word for it, do your own research-start with YouTube.)

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  3. You're not deflating my effort, I had no agenda, just thought it was interesting that she picked Natalie. A few things that were said other than above were mildly interesting. Like I said, I can never really make up my mind about Sylvia but I appreciate your honest feedback.

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  4. OK, as long as Sylvia Browne says so. She's a total fraud.

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  5. Sylvia Brown! Oh that is rich! Is good old Sylvia the one who told you to creep on here in the wee, small hours of the morning and plug her next book?
    Certainly sounds like it to me. Let me gaze into my crystal ball and see who you are!
    Ah, just as I thought!
    My book will be published next month. It is called frauds and stalkers. I'll send you a copy considering you are a major part of it.

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  6. Marti, it's her eyes and her gift of facial expression. There are so many pics for her in which her eyes speak to you.
    I recall something that Wagner said that is very true "She could say more with one look that most actors can say with 15 pages of dialog."

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  7. Wagner has said very little about Natalie's career and talent since she passed, as if he does not want to promote her exceptional career abilities, and also because he's probably a jealous wreck over it to this day. How will he be remembered? Sadly, best as Jonathan Hart. He served a good enough purpose as we all watch television, but legendary for a film career? Never!

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  8. To the anonymous 3 above this message: We both know your book will never come out as you have a full time job mocking and accusing everyone who crosses your "sensibilities". I do not advocate for Sylvia Browne nor do I care about her in general. We talk about many books that are about Natalie or mention Natalie. I saw one, read the passage and commented as is my right. Perhaps when you retire from your crusade (self-appointed) you will have time to read things in context. I love sarcasm but you are just smug and self-righteous. I have seen other of your posts that I have appreciated but this is not one of them.

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  10. The Sylvia Browne topic had nothing to do with this thread. Her book was written years ago. Insipid and boring.

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  11. The book is 2011. Let's just drop it.

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  12. Sylvia Brown is a charlatan but I didn't know people other than Marti Rulli owned and monitored this board.
    So many Kings and Queens on here it is hard to tell the rabble from the gentry.

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  13. Any 'psychic' can say anything they want to about the deceased for obvious reasons. This thread has been trashed, first by the plug for the comic book and second by the name-calling troll hunter. Can't these people go somewhere else to cause trouble?

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  14. Dammit, Now I gotta go look up "rabble and gentry". Such an eloquent crowd we have here today.

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  15. Another monitor heard from. Natalie was mentioned in a book, I commented on it as we all do when we hear something. I did not comment on the veracity nor accuracy of what I read. Just a comment and I resent all of the twists that have been made on it. I hate dissension on this board but clearly people have decided to make more of it than it was. Someone has to take the high road and clearly some of you haven't got a clue where it is located, so I will stop answering on this subject. The road and thread are now clear for anyone to pick up and say whatever they want on this topic. If Marti feels the thread has been tainted then I will be more than happy for her to delete my posts.

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  16. I wouldn't know what to delete here, except for one post....which I will. I wish this could stop.

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  17. Marti,
    I am the one that posted the "rabble and gentry" response. I came to read the latest posts, saw your great thread on Natalie's talents and started reading. Your lovely thread turned into a catalyst for the very next response about a ridiculous book by Sylvia Brown. From there it disintegrated. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how frustrating that was.
    sign me: "your friends close" friend.
    ...and if I may, to the person with the caustic remark to me, I'd look up the words " dammit" and "gotta" before moving on to common nouns such as the two I used.

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  18. Keep your friends close: I knew that was your post, because I understand your verbage, always to the wise. Sylvia's ramblings about Natalie Wood have nothing to do with the subject matter of my original post, but I let it go as a tidbit: no harm done, .. then the following accusations about those I cherish at this blog is uncalled for and I deleted whoever posted them. Word to the wise: The people who "know" who is posting here are rarely ever wrong about calling a post. There's no need to say they are at this blog. Say it somewhere else if you want but not at this blog. YES, this blog has a few people watching over it, and I appreciate it! I trust them, I believe them and I will never dismiss them.

    Everyone here is great: those who are posting to instigate nothing but trouble, please stop. Identify yourself if you have an unrelated topic.

    This blog's purpose won't be defeated no matter how many threads a certain someone tries to ruin. It's all being compiled, so those of you happy with the bickering or instigating it, this blog is NOT for you. That's rather simple.

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  19. Natalie and Christopher Walken were a great screen couple.

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  20. I liked her better with Steve McQueen, but I also believe she made a perfect foil for any actor they signed her up with. She was that good an actress!

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  21. Natalie was an enormously talented actress, who was at home with drama or comedy. One of my favorite movies is "Love With the Proper Stranger." Natalie was also one of the best child actresses ever. I think the only thing she loved more than acting was family and friends.

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  22. You know, I love them both individually but not together for some reason. My favorite Natalie pairings were with William Devane (above all), Christopher Walken, Warren Beatty, George Segal and Robert Redford. Favorite McQ parings were with Tuesday Weld, Jacqueline Bisset, Faye Dunaway, Suzanne Pleshette and Ann-Margret.

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  23. Natalie could be paired with a *coat rack and all eyes were on her so what difference does it make? With that said, I loved her pairing with Beatty, McQueen and Redford but she positively towered over all when playing those poignant, angst ridden scenes opposite James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause". No one before or since can convey truth on screen with silence or a minimum of words quite like Natalie could. The camera never lied when focused on her eyes.

    *coat rack: defined here as Robert Wagner in the three films they did together.

    sign me: "your "friends" guy...

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  24. anon 2:00 am---you sound like the teenager who used to call herself xs3 but now goes by the name natasha-gurdin.

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  25. 8:28, That is exactly who it is. She has has a handful of screen names in the past few days since she rejoined and Elizabeth Taylor passed on. She is using Natalie's name on imdb and she needs to be reported for it. Everyone uses variations of their favorites on that site but she is using Natalie's name as her own.
    REPORT HER FOR THE FRAUD THAT SHE IS!

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  26. Its Courtney xs3 now Natasha Gurdin. Who cares what she has to say. Just report her. She comes her talking trash all the time like she does on imdb so it does matter.
    What some of you just don't get is just because a person hates Wagner does not give them the right to make up lies about him. This only diminishes the truth about him and we don't want that.

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  27. ok, delete time. AM seriously considering a sign-in only. Those of you who are decent wouldn't mind, and maybe we should discuss this option. Thanks, Marti

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  28. Id like to see 2 changes---sign in in to post and NO name calling-finger pointing.

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  29. If there is a sign in don't you think people will think twice about name calling and finger pointing and trolling? This is a great blog but some people are bent on destroying it anyway they can.

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  30. How does the sign in work?

    (Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, I've only been here a few times.)

    I also loved the chemistry between Natalie and Christopher Walken in BRAINSTORM.

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  31. You set up a sign in with Google. Then you post using that sign in and you go under followers which is on the left side of this screen. If it is sign in only this is the only way you can post. You can use a screen name to remain anonymous to all except Marti. Any problems and she can have you tracked within minutes.
    I think most of the followers don't post on here under sign in because of the anonymous trolls. I know if it were different I wouldn't have a problem using a sign in but I'm not going to put myself out there and get stalked and harassed by anonymous trolls who will do anything they can to keep Wagnut's shoes polished.

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  32. What does how does the number of times you have been here have to do with knowing or not knowing what a sign-in is? The need to say that you have only been here a few times and the posting at the wee hours of the morning speaks volumes. Anon 3:07AM is the Wagnut shoe polisher.

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  33. Hold up. I was the one who called Wagner a wingnut and I didn't call anybody out for the times they posted or anything else. I just want people to know I only posted explaining how a sign in works and I am not the one talking about posting in the wee hours speaking volumes.
    This is what I meant too. You can't tell who is who and who is copying who or anything else on here. I know some are really obvious but anybody can try to sound like somebody else and it can work and people are fooled.

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  34. We need a sign-in. Most blogs with controversial topics require a sign-in to rid them of trolls.

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  35. To Anon 9:06. YOU ARE THE TROLL. STOP NAME-CALLING!!!!

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  36. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  37. Sorry, I forgot to translate for the troll hunter. McCarthyism: the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.

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  38. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  39. No, he is villified in history. "Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it".
    Way to prove that axiom.

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  40. McCarthy was right and we did have a lot of Russian spies in our Govt. Just saying.

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  41. This is ridiculous! Now we are bringing in that hateful, red baiting Joe McCarthy and someone has the unmitigated gall to say he was right? Oh, I'm sure our liberal Democrat Natalie Wood would approve of that statement! WRONG!
    All you are doing is bringing Marti closer to a decision and I am sure you won't win in the end.
    Do you really think she will disband her blog because of trolls such as yourselves?
    Wrong again.

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  42. Just saying that when Russian documents were declassified they showed McCarthy was right.

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  43. You need to reread the description of McCarthyism. As far as I can see you are a perfect example of it. Accusations and ranting all with your special brand of venom attached. The person who thinks McCarthy was right is full of crap but I find you equally offensive. No one wants this blog (with the exception of one) closed. It has of late though taken a very nasty turn. You are certainly center stage of that so kudos take a bow. There is more than one way to hurt a blog and it's a pity you can't see your part in it. I don't see Marianne hanging around here much any more. Now that was a voice I respected along with a few others who were here about a year or more ago. Have fun twisting this one too. I pray Natalie's justice is at hand but associating with you until then? I'm out.

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  44. I apologize for posting again but since I will no longer be posting I wanted to make one last point. This post is entirely directed at the virulent troll hunter. I, too, have been a staunch defender of this blog. There is however a difference between being vigilant and a vigilante. In the old days, the "trolls" were blatant and very up front about their agenda. Torpedoing them was easy. The "enemy" has adapted and now comes under the cloak of "neutrality" as a poster so aptly pointed out. Makes it tougher to see coming but I would rather err on the side of kindness than take a chance on trashing someone innocent or worse yet, a new reader. Remember the barrage of Kevinr insults? Fortunately, he was made of sterner stuff and lived to be vindicated. I wonder if you were part of that lynch mob? How about the "keep your friends . . ." poster? You don't have to go too far back in the vault to find him/her leaving Marti warning messages than none of us understood. Because they were cryptic, even Marti herself asked them not to post again if they weren't going to spell things out. Cut to today, not only are they now on this blog frequently, but it turns out they were a close friend and long time supporter. Need I say more? Just because you think you are right doesn't make it so and inbetween time people have to stomach your insults. Are you also the person who coined the phrase "butt muncher"? That was disgusting and I am astounded that the post was left standing but those aren't my calls. Ok, I feel better. The blog is all yours. Try not to take it down before it accomplishes its goal.

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  46. Nice launguage potty mouth

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  47. Does anyone have anyhting to say that is relevant to Natalie?

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  48. I don't look at the sidebar often so I appreciate the repost of the pics, Marti.

    KB

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  49. Does anyone know what Natalie's favorite movie was? I adored Natalie, and I'm just curious.

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  50. Do you mean her favorite movie that she was a part of or do you mean her favorite movie to watch?

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  51. If you mean a film Natalie was not involved in, I've read that she loved to watch "A Streetcar Named Desire" for Vivin Leigh's performance. I don't know if it was her favorite movie, but I believe Ms Leigh was Natalie's favorite actress.
    There is a picture of Natalie talking to Dennis Hopper (taken in the 50's), and they are inside a studio screening room while Streetcar plays up on the screen--you can see Ms Leigh on the screen in the picture.

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  52. The picture was taken for the cover of Life magazine Jan, 1957.

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  53. I have been away from the computer this past weekend. I see my blog went "forum" -- there's very little I can do about it beyond deleting, and then I risk deleting who might be a dedicated follower who simply became angry...or I might catch the culprit here and there...so I'm sorry I don't know who is who and I'll delete the arguing. Then, I'm going to have sign-in for a while. I don't think any of you will mind who are dedicated to this blog's purpose. It's the best I can do at this point. So, I will continue to post updates, and I appreciate feedback, and those who do not want their real name known, simply follow as an anonymous poster and you'll be able to comment that way. I will then be able to recognize who is who and it will keep the unwanted controversy from this blog, which is for supporters of justice for Natalie, not for those who only want to cause trouble. Thank you all for understanding.

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