Celebrating Natalie.....a Squirrel's Tribute

on Saturday, May 31, 2008

Some of you may be aware that I am a sometime contributor on the blog "For The Love of Woman". This blog was set up by Eastcoastdweller and is meant to celebrate women.

Sometime back on that blog, Kat very kindly posted a slideshow tribute to Natalie Wood because she knew I am a big fan of Natalie. It all started because I had made a comment about Natalie Wood that "She seems to embody the elemental beauty, strength, energy and at the same time vulnerability of women."

That slideshow tribute was set to Frankie Avalon's Venus as the background melody. That was a very nice gesture and I really appreciated it. In fact, after watching it for the umpteenth time, it occurred to me to look at what other offerings might be found on YouTube.

I found these three additional offerings which appealed to me as a fan as they showed the beauty, range and versatility of Natalie Wood. The first one is set to the tune of "Time" by the Alan Parson's Project which seemed like a wonderfully appropriate music for the tribute.




This second video starts with the quote "...the prettiest girl I have ever seen..." which was made by Roddy McDowall. That would be how I would describe Natalie Wood.




The final offering is from her role of Gypsy Rose Lee in the movie Gypsy. This clip shows her character evolve from an innocent and naive new-comer to become the queen of burlesque striptease. Her beauty and inner spark is well displayed in this video.

25 comments:

Marja said...

Sorry dear squirrel don't really know her and I am more interested in men but I do like Lionel Richies song and gypsies and eh....
ok she sounds all right and she is a pretty lady

nancycle said...

How entertaining!!

Dr.John said...

Not my favorite actress but three good videos.

Sincerity said...

She is a pretty actress. Too bad Hollywood doesn't encourage this level of femininity in its actresses anymore. Today's standards are pretty sad. Even the " stripping" Natalie did in the final video is tame compared to what's considered entertainment today.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Those were lovely!

My younger daughter looks so much like her that people ask her all the time if she is Natasha Gregson Wagner. (She looks more like Natalie than Natasha OR her other daughter, Katie Wagner.)

jmb said...

She was so beautiful and Westside Story is one of my favourite movies. I even bought the DVD.
It's a shame she died so young.

Anonymous said...

What a joy that you shared this. Natalie was such a beautiful lady...and that tiny waist! A lovely nostalgic experience, thanks you so much.

Anonymous said...

I love that you celebrate such a lovely woman. She had such soul in her eyes. I hate to think of her dying alone in the ocean. I don't know how Robert Wagner or Christopher Walkin every got over it - maybe they didn't.

.Tom Kapanka said...

LGS,
When I was a kid, I had a sort of hollywood crush on Natalie Wood. I liked her child roles ("Miracle on 34th St.") and felt true sympathy for her in the closing scene of "Splendor in the Grass."
My youngest daughter is named Natalie.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

marja,
I should have given more info. Natalie Wood was an actress (1960's to 1970's) who was famous for movies like Westside Story and Gypsy. She died in an apparent drowning accident - fell overboard a yacht, allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

nancyle,
Thanks for the email update. I am happy for you and still groveling for me.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

dr. john,
Glad you like the videos. This is more of a fan thing which is strange for me in that I am a fan of few artistes.

sincerity,
I think there are still actresses of this calibre but too often the actresses that get the limelight today, get it for the wrong reasons. Lindsey Lohan and her DUI episodes is an example. Natalie was no angel either I suppose but she still projected a vulnerability rather than arrogance or stupidity.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

hearts,
I have to confess that Natalie Wood was my celebrity crush when I was growing up. Now that you tell me that your youngest daughter looks like Natalie, I imagine that if I ever met your daughter, I would probably regress into a tongue-tied adolescent stage. Not a pretty sight. I am tempted to ask you for a photo but I realise that sounds "creepy". I think I have already regressed.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

jmb,
Ah! What kind of fan am I? I haven't even got a DVD of any of Natalie's movies! Hmmm. Have to put that straight soon. It was sad that she died so young.

Pam,
Well, thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. Always good to meet new friends.Hope you will not be a stranger.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

claudia,
"She had such soul in her eyes" *Sigh* I agree. It does seem a very tragic end to her life....drowning, slowly slipping beneath the waves. If I were either of those two gentlemen, I would feel that I had let slip through my fingers a precious jewel.

Tom,
You are always pointing out how alike we are and now it is my turn cause I also had a celebrity crush on Natalie in my delinquent youth!

Jocelyn said...

How on earth I'd never before seen her as Gypsy Rose Lee...well, I'll never know. That was terrific.

She was a classic.

Claire said...

She was quite the beauty. You'll notice that her smoldering eyes are set very far apart. Women with eyes like that are usually very photogenic.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

jocelyn,
That film made a big impression on me.

claire,
"eyes set far apart"? I did not realise such features made women more photogenic. I shall keep a look out.

Anonymous said...

I liked her in Westside story, even if she didn't sing her own songs.

And this is totally unrealted, but I finally dealt with that wishing meme you tagged me with in my post today.

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Natalie Wood = "Incredible"

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

cz,
Ah....Maria.
Thanks for doing the meme. It was a very good post on the much needed theme of peace.

Hollydale,
Wasn't she just.......incredible?

Jo said...

LGS, I LOVE Natalie Wood. Did you ever see her in "Love With The Proper Stranger" with Steve McQueen? That is my favorite Natalie Wood movie.

Love it!

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Josie,
Ah, no I haven't. I'm sure it is great. It was her first truly adult role. Earlier movies was more of her as a child or a young girl fighting to become a woman. BTW, a nice new photo of yourself I see.

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