The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers (WGA):

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

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:

Drunk | Glamour | Pregnant | Price Of Fame | Understanding

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
Elisabeth Hayward	...	Girl at party (uncredited)
Natalie Wood	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Bogdanovich

Writing credits (WGA)
Suzanne Finstad		(book "Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood")
Warren G. Harris		(book "Natalie & R.J.")
Elizabeth Egloff		(teleplay)

Produced by
Gerald W. Abrams	....	executive producer
Ted Babcock	....	co-producer
Suzanne Finstad	....	executive producer
Richard Fischoff	....	producer
Michael R. Goldstein	....	co-producer
Robert M. Sertner	....	executive producer (as Robert Sertner)
Randy Sutter	....	producer
Frank von Zerneck	....	executive producer
Lana Wood	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Richard Marvin

Cinematography by
John Stokes

Film Editing by
Scott Vickrey

Casting by
Donna Rosenstein

Art Direction by
Scott Bird

Set Decoration by
Mark Bergman
Glen W. Johnson
Faith Robinson

Costume Design by
Terry Ryan

Makeup Department
Vivien Mepham	....	key hair designer
Vivien Mepham	....	key makeup artist
Jan Zeigenbein	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Wil Milne	....	unit manager
Vicki Popplewell	....	unit production manager
Paul Ranford	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Naomi Enfield	....	second assistant director
Toby Pease	....	first assistant director
Hamish Roxburgh	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Warren Barnard	....	property maker
Damien Drew	....	assistant designer
Vanessa Edwards	....	art department coordinator
Alan Fleming	....	construction manager
David Ingram	....	assistant to production designer
Adrienne Ogle	....	stand-by props
Halcyon Pratt	....	assistant designer

Sound Department
Mike Brooks	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Brooks)
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor
Mark Friedgen	....	supervising sound editor
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Pashley	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
John Bowring	....	special effects technician

Stunts
Leon Stripp	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Booth	....	gaffer
Robert Kodera	....	grip
Lee Mariano	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Luke Nixon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Rich	....	key grip
Zeb Simpson	....	video assist operator
Marc Spicer	....	steadicam operator

Casting Department
Dylann Brander	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Elliot	....	costume supervisor (as Robyn Elliott)
Jo Thorpe	....	costume cutter

Editorial Department
Marc Brunswick	....	post-production coordinator
Scott Burnette	....	assistant editor
Scott Klein	....	final colorist
Tristan La Fontaine	....	colorist

Music Department
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer
Avigail Herman	....	vocal consultant
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor

Other crew
Sandy Gardiner	....	assistant: Peter Bogdanovich
Jacqueline King	....	production coordinator
Peter Lawless	....	location manager
Devi Mallal	....	magazine graphics
Nancy Mouton	....	executive assistant
Toni Pearson	....	production accountant
Bruce Shapiro	....	dialogue coach
Kristin Witcombe	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Cypress Point Productions
• Von Zerneck Sertner Films

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Echo Sound Services  sound post-production
• Maura and Ann Fay Casting  casting: Australia
• Village Roadshow Production Management  production services

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

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

I guess that since I don't know much about Natalie Wood herself...

...then I'll have to take this movie's word for it. "The Mystery of Natalie Wood" did actually do a pretty good job showing her life and death. Justine Waddell, as Natalie Wood, does look almost exactly like her. As for some aspects, I never knew that her mother Maria (Alice Krige) pushed her so hard to be famous (or pushed her at all), or that Ms. Wood got raped when she was young. As for the death scene...well, I guess that Natalie Wood's death will remain a mystery, and they had to choose something to portray. Probably taking a cue from "Reds", director Peter Bogdanovich interviews some people who knew her (most notably "West Side Story" co-star George Chakiris). A well-done biography, if nothing else.