The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers (WGA):

Suzanne Finstad (book)
Warren G. Harris (book)

Release Date:

1 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

From child star to Hollywood legend.

Plot:

This TV special, co-produced by her younger sister Lana Wood, as well as accounts from family, friends...

Plot Keywords:

Price Of Fame | Hollywood | Pregnant | Drunk | Glamour

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Justine Waddell	...	Natalie Wood
Michael Weatherly	...	Robert Wagner
Matthew Settle	...	Warren Beatty
Colin Friels	...	Nick Gurdin
Elizabeth Rice	...	Teenage Natalie Wood
Grace Fulton	...	Young natalie wood
Robert Taylor	...	Nicholas Ray
Alice Krige	...	Maria Gurdin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Anderton	...	Dennis Davern
Peter Astridge	...	Assistant Director
Michael Atherton	...	Guitar Player
David Baldwin	...	William Goetz
Peter Barron	...	Party Guest
Natalie Bassingthwaighte	...	Marion Marshall
Johann Benét	...	Tony Jorge
Anthony Benson	...	Eddie Canaveri
Lamberto Bianchi	...	Italian Maitre'd
Dion Bilios	...	Anthony Sakal
Colin Borgonon	...	Butler
Shelbie Bruce	...	Natasha age 11 (voice)
Brenton Caine	...	Jimmy's Father
Nick Carpenter	...	James Dean
Emily Cascarino	...	Lana 13-15
George Chakiris	...	Himself
Louise Crawford	...	Waitress
Amanda Crompton	...	Marilyn Wayne
Jeremy Cumpston	...	John Payne
Rebecca Davis	...	Maya Plasetskaya
Jarrod Dean	...	Dennis Hopper
Tiara Dobbs	...	Courtney (8)
Lewis Fitz-Gerald	...	Dr. Thayer
Jane Flanders	...	Warner's Secretary
Sandy Gardiner	...	Party Girl
Jonathan Gavin	...	Reporter
Brittany Green	...	Little Girl (9)
Victoria Harwood	...	Hairdresser
Darren K. Hawkins	...	Assistant Director 1940
Bobby Hyatt	...	Himself
Henry Jaglom	...	Himself
Dee Jenner	...	Katherine (17)
Malcolm Kennard	...	Christopher Walken
Michael Kluger	...	Accordion Player
Peter Knowles	...	ER Doctor
Barry Langrishe	...	Jack Warner
Mark Lee	...	William Russel
Mark Lee	...	William Russell
Allan Lim	...	Detective at Beach
Phillip Lye	...	Joseph Mankiewicz
Peter McCallum	...	Harbormaster
Christine McClure	...	Audrey Christie
Patrick McGrath	...	Edmund Gwenn
Glad McInerney	...	Jimmy's Mother
Madison McKoy	...	Interviewer
Sophie Mentis	...	Margaret O'Brien
Sophie Monk	...	Marilyn Monroe
Candice Moore	...	Natasha (11)
John Noble	...	Irving Pichel, Director
Margaret O'Brien	...	Herself
Helen O'Connor	...	On-set Teacher
Tiffany O'Connor	...	School Girl
Slava Orel	...	Priest
Nikki Osborne	...	Jackie Estes
Paul Pantano	...	Sal Mineo
Sun Park	...	Nurse
Christopher Pate	...	Elia Kazan
Matthew Patterson	...	Crew Member #2
Rupert Reid	...	Henry Jaglom
Andy Rodoreda	...	Roy Tremaine
Inga Romansova	...	Gypsy Woman
Nathalie Roy	...	Lana Wood
Nadia Scappa	...	Natasha (5)
Rachel Scobie	...	Joan Collins
Pamela Shaw	...	Announcer
Brett Sheerin	...	Charlie
Leanne Simcic	...	Olga
Stephen Simpson	...	Drunk Man
Igor Smiljevic	...	Party Guest
Chelsea Smith	...	Young Natalie Wood (voice)
Jason Smith	...	Jimmy Williams
Cameron Stewart	...	Manager
Rachael Taylor	...	Maryann Marinkovich
Ellen Tilden	...	Courtney (3)
May Turner	...	Mrs. Mac
Michael Tyack	...	Piano Player ("West Side Story")
Narelle Valentine	...	Party Hostess
Robert Vaughn	...	Himself
Steven Vidler	...	Richard Gregson
Keira Wingate	...	Lana 7-12
Lana Wood	...	Herself
Alan Zitner	...	Harry, SFX Man

Also Known As:

Looking for Natalie Wood (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Canada:172 min | USA:180 min (including commercials) | Brazil:172 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Fox Studios, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Cypress Point Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard can be heard playing at Natalie's 15th birthday party. However, this is set in 1953 and the song did not come out until 1956, three years later.

Soundtrack:

Let Me Entertain You

the mystery revealed...

The story of Natalie Wood takes the audience from before she was born (when her mother was told by a gypsy that her second daughter would be famous and beautiful, but that she should be weary of water) to the last days of her life (until her mysterious drowning death off of Catalina Island).

Justine Waddell does a wonderful job bringing the adult Natalie back to life. She looks like her and attempts to talk like her. Her role in the movie is more important and brings so much more life to the performance than any of the other characters combined. Her twice husband, Robert Wagner, was portrayed by Michael Weatherly, whose performance was just okay.

The big question of the movie is just how authentic it is. It was produced by Natalie's sister, Lana Wood, but after watching it one wonders just how true it all is, specifically the relationship between Natalie and her mother, Maria.

Many people have complained about the length of the movie (3 hours) but I don't find anything wrong with it. The time is well spent telling in detail all of the events of Natalie's dramatic life. Overall 9/10 for the story and the performance of Justine Waddell.