Birthday of Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was born on July 20, 1938 in San Francisco, California, USA.

West Side Story. Directors Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise. 1961.

My friends and I, the same rank-and-file Soviet moviegoers as I, saw Natalie Wood for the first time in the "West Side Story" in the late 70s. I remember that even official film critics squealed then that Natalie Wood should be grateful to the Soviet film distribution, which showed her to the Soviet cinema viewer the way she was 15 years ago.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 1947. Movie's Rating - 7,876, 880th Rank in the Golden Thousand.

Despite the fact that Natalie Wood played a Puerto Rican in this film, my friends and I simultaneously came to the conclusion that she was actually some kind of Natalya Lesnaya. Or something like that. So her Russian soul bulged out.

Miracle on 34th Street. Director George Seaton. 1947. Movie's Rating - 7,894, 858th Rank in the Golden Thousand.

Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to confirm our guess at that time: Soviet propaganda prevented the penetration into the press of examples of success by our compatriots in the West. And only after her tragic death under more than suspicious circumstances in the early 80s, we learned that she was not Wood, but Natalya Nikolaevna Zakharenko.

The Star. Director Stuart Heisler. 1952.

The strange, if not very suspicious, circumstances of the death of Natalie Wood were discussed in 2011, 30 years after her death, when the American police resumed an investigation into the causes of the actress's death. More details can be read here - in Russian.

Rebel Without a Cause. Director Nicholas Ray. 1955. Movie's Rating - 7,896, 857th Rank in the Golden Thousand.

I remember that at that time I was not even able to watch films with the participation of Christopher Walken, including one of my favorite - “Deer Hunter”. His refusal during the first investigation to testify for the reason “I was drunk. I don’t remember” looked like an excuse, of course, in a typical Russian style. But, nevertheless, completely unconvincing. But for the American court - it was OK.

The Searchers. Director John Ford. 1956.

However, the re-investigation did not bring any clarity. Witnesses in favor of an accidental death were accused of wanting to "make a hype", as usual, and that was the end of the investigation. A common thing: courts in all countries, when it comes to big money, and Natalie Wood shortly before her death insured her life for a large sum, try not to delve very deeply.

Splendor in the Grass. Director Elia Kazan. 1961. Movie's Rating - 7,786, 1000th Rank in the Golden Thousand.

Of course, we cannot change anything. We can only remind the audience and fans of this great Actress about the roles she played. Of course, not in all 63 films, but only in the very best.

Gypsy. Director Mervyn LeRoy. 1962.

On her birthday, we want to remind fans of this great Actress frames from the best films with her participation.

Love with the Proper Stranger. Director Robert Mulligan. 1963.

The Great Race. Director Blake Edwards. 1965.

This Property Is Condemned! Director Sydney Pollack. 1966.

#movies #movie_stars #celebrity