"An Intimate Portrait of Natalie Wood"

I did read Natalie Wood's daughter's memoir, and it's not that great--it has lines like "Moving forward meant letting go of the past"--but here are the tidbits you may want:

*The official story about Wood's death: She was on a boat with her husband and with Christopher Walken. Everyone was drinking. Walken said, "It's important that Natalie continues to have a screen career." Wood's husband became angry; he thought this was a boundary violation. There was shouting. Wood went to bed. Later, maybe? Wood became awakened by a dinghy, and she went out to secure it so it wouldn't bang against the side of the boat. She slipped; she was drunk; she sank to her death. Something like this.

*Natalie Wood starred in "West Side Story" and in "Gypsy," but the writer, Arthur Laurents, didn't like her. No word on Sondheim's thoughts.

*Natalie Wood had a crazy, overbearing stage mother. This mother would go around saying, "I'm Natalie Wood's mother, and...." Even decades after Wood had died! "I'm Natalie Wood's mother, and I think I just set my kitchen on fire...." The villain in Natalie Wood's life was her sister--Lana--who started rumors about Wood's husband having murdered Wood. It's possible Lana went after the Wood Legend so energetically because she was angry about having been neglected in childhood (also....publicity! money!!!) .....

And there you have it. Lana was the most entertaining character; I wanted more from her, more of her. Maybe she'll get a big role in the sequel. Two of five stars.

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