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Posts tagged Natalie Wood’s death

Natalie And The Captain, Coop And Simone & Ain’t We Great?

Jan31
2013 1 Comment Written by classicmovieguys

As we’ve written many times before, we welcome reader emails — good, bad or indifferent.  The latest missives are actually pretty good.

Hello, everybody.  Joe Morella and Frank Segers, your classic movie guys, here to give our ever alert (and opinionated) readers the day’s spotlight.

First up is regular reader Mike Sheridan, who offers this about the continuing who-ha  relating to the drowning of Natalie Wood 31 years ago (the subject of our Jan. 18-21 Quiz):

Hey fellas, I wonder if the “Cap’n” is in need of some money… He’s the only one who ever hypes it, and continues to do so. I think it’s fishy.

Ok, some translation here may be necessary. As you probably know by now, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reopened in 2011 its investigation into the actress’ drowning in waters off Santa Catalina Island (about 20 miles off the California coast) on Nov. 29, 1981. The death was ruled at the time as an accident.

Wood, actor Christopher Walken (her costar in Brainstorm, the movie she was making that was released in 1983) and the actress’s  husband Robert Wagner (maritally, the second time around for both) were the only passengers aboard the their yacht —  besides the captain. They were taking a Thanksgiving holiday cruise.

Official reconsideration of the circumstances surrounding Wood’s death came after Dennis Davern, the captain of the yacht Splendour, co-authored a book — and told a TV network — that he had lied to authorities about what actually had happened aboard the vessel on the night Wood disappeared. He urged that the incident be re-examined.

Reader Mike speculates about whether “the captain” is driving re-examination of the Wood case perhaps for monetary reasons. Good point, Mike.  We’ll keep sharp eyes on any new developments in the Wood case, and keep you posted.

Here’s Mike again responding to our Jan. 17 posting, Gary Cooper & ‘Day of the Locust,’ celebrating the lengthy career of this great star: 

One of my favorite Cooper movies was the affair with Simone Simon (WOW) called “Seventh Heaven” set in the clouds and under the streets in old Paris. I don’t think this remake was a hit at the time, but I thought it was really, really good.

We take a back seat to no one in our admiration for the winsome French actress Simone Simon, who was born in 1911, and died seven years ago in Paris at 94. She  was not only a superb actress but was a distinctively attractive one.

Simon started making films in France in 1931, and embarked to Hollywood five years later.  Of her French films, don’t miss 1938’s Le Bete Humaine directed by Jean Renoir, in which Simon plays a saucy mate to actor Jean Gabin. She is best remembered for her starring roles in RKO producer Val Lewton’s first horror film, the 1942 classic Cat People, directed by the underrated Jacques Tourneur, and in Robert Wise’s 1944 “sequel,” The Curse of the Cat People.

Twentieth Century Fox’ Seventh Heaven came out in 1937, with Simon playing the romantic interest of a socially ambitious Parisian sewer worker. But, Mike, the male lead in the picture was not Cooper but James Stewart.  But no question — Coop and Simone would have made a dynamite paring.

 

 

 

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Natalie Wood Quiz — The Answers

Jan21
2013 1 Comment Written by classicmovieguys

Happier days: The above photo shows Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner at their first marriage in 1957.  They divorced then years later remarried.  They were still wed on the night of her untimely death.

As mentioned on Friday, there have been new developments in the Natalie Wood drowning case, with rumors and other reports adding fuel to the speculation.

Hello, everybody.  Joe Morella and Frank Segers, your classic movie guys, here to hopefully shed some light on the actress’1981 death, a subject that still exerts fascination in the entertainment world.

On a sunny California morning, Wood’s body — clad in a down-filled red parka — was fished out of waters near Catalina harbor. A vacant dinghy was found in an isolated cove. The death was ruled at the time as an accident.

Wood, actor Christopher Walken (then in his late 30’s and her costar in Brainstorm, the movie she was making that was released in 1983) and the actress’s  husband Robert Wagner were the only passengers aboard the their yacht besides the captain. They were taking a Thanksgiving holiday cruise to Catalina Island.

So far, the best account — that we know of — of what occurred on that late November night  is contained in a harrowing chapter — titled, Everything Went Away From Me — in Wagner’s own 2008 memoir, Pieces Of My Heart: A Life, co-authored by Scott Eyman.

The actor doesn’t conceal the fact that alcohol, a nasty marital spat and friction with Walken all played a role that night. According to his book, on the afternoon and early evening of Nov. 27, Wood, Wagner and Walken went shopping on Catalina Island, then stopping off at a favorite watering hole where the three W’s ordered margaritas and beer chasers. The evening went downhill from there.

OK, enough of the backround. Let’s get to our 10 questions:

1) At the time of her death, how old was the actress?  a) 54; b) 43; c) 38; or d) 45?

ANSWER:  b) 43. It’s eye-opening in retrospect to consider how young Wood was.

2) What is the name of the yacht she was on that fateful night? a) Rebel Without A Cause; b) RobNat; c) Splendour; or d) The Miracle.

Answer:  c) Spendour. We leave the irony to you.

3) Wagner is still somehow a suspect in the case? a) True; or b) False.

Answer:  b) False.  The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has all along asserted that Wagner is not considered a suspect.

4) The investigation into the cause of Wood’s death was re-opened because: a) The captain of the yacht brought to light new details; b) Actor Christopher Walken provided new information; or c) New physical evidence was uncovered by authorities?

Answer: c) New physical evidence was uncovered. Authorities revealed that Wood’s death certificate has been amended to attribute her death to “drowning and undetermined factors,” notably bruises on her upper body that might have occurred before Wood entered the water.

5) It’s been said that Natalie Wood was uncomfortable at sea because she was such a lousy swimmer.  Is that:  a) True; or b) False?

Answer: a) True. She couldn’t swim. She had trouble managing a swimming scene in Brainstorm, and the sequence ultimately had to be cut.

6) The drowning case was reopened in 2011 because new physical evidence on Wood’s body was discovered by the Los Angeles coroner. a) True; or b) False.

Answer: b) False.  The captain of the Splendour was said to have provided new information. The “physical evidence” part came later.

7) The cause of Wood’s death is now attributed to “drowning and undetermined factors.” a) True; or b) False.

Answer: a) True (see above).

8) Walken is being more outspoken these days about what happened to Natalie.  a) True; b) False.

Answer: b) False. Although repeatedly asked about Natalie’s death, Walken refuses to discuss the subject.

9)  Walken’s role in the case is being questioned?  a) True; or b) False.

Answer:  b) False.  As mentioned, Robert Wagner is not a suspect in any way and neither is Walken.

10) Has Walken ever expressed his impressions of the circumstances surrounding Wood’s death? a) Yes; b) No; c) Yes, but only partially.

Answer:  c) Apparently. The Hollywood trade press reported that the actor gave an interview to Playboy in 1997 in which he stated that “what happened that night only she knows, because she was alone.  She had gone to bed before us, and her room was at the back (of the yacht).” The actor suggested that Wood hit her head while trying to stabilize a noisy dinghy before falling into the water and floating away.

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WHO WAS ROBERT WAGNER’S FIRST REAL LOVE? — No, It Wasn’t Natalie!

Dec16
2011 Leave a Comment Written by classicmovieguys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it seems that Robert Wagner’s version of the events leading up to Natalie Wood’s death 30 years ago — the story he told in his 2008 memoir Pieces of My Heart: A Life coauthored by Scott Eyman — is more or less accurate.

That, at least, is what we glean from a tabloid supermarket headline (Case Solved).

And when it comes to such stories, we always trust the tabs, which have been closely following the recent re-look by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the circumstances of Wood’s death on Nov. 29, 1981.

So, it appears that Natalie’s drowning off the waters of California’s Santa Catalina Island really was preceded by bouts of heavy drinking, signs of serious marital discord and friction between Wagner and an under-appreciated second man (Christopher Walken) on board the yacht Splendour.

But no culpability on Wagner’s part. (To check our Nov. 21 blog, click on What Really Happened To Natalie Wood — According to Robert Wagner.)

Hello, everybody.  Joe Morella and Frank Segers here today to consider another Robert Wagner romance that was equally as intense — if not more so — than his tempestuous two marital rounds with Natalie Wood.

Four years before his first marriage to Wood, Wagner had an intense affair with with an established Hollywood actress that left a lifelong impression upon the young actor, who is still with us at the age of 81.

The romance thematically dovetails with those cataloged our two recent blogs (Nov. 17-18) covering Classic Movie Cougars about older female stars bedding younger men.

That’s because in 1953, Wagner was 22.  The woman he fell in love with was 45.

Writes Wagner: Barbara Stanwyck and I began our relationship on (the Fox film) ‘Titanic’, although we had actually met years before. (He had gone horseback riding years prior with Stanwyck and her then husband, Robert Taylor.)

During shooting, Wagner found himself enthralled by her and terribly attracted to her. This was about a year after Stanwyck’s marriage to Taylor (her last) had fizzled. She had caught him cheating, and abruptly ended the union.

Towards Wagner intially, she was friendly but not overly so.

After a dinner party at the home of Titanic director Jean Negulesco, Wagner drove Stanwyck home. After opening the front door, he turned to the actress to discover something I hadn’t seen in her eyes before. It was a magical look of interest…and appreciation…and desire. 

I immediately took her in my arms and kissed her. I had never had a reaction from a woman like I had from Barbara.  A different kiss, with a different feeling.

The affair began that night. She cooked for him. They went hiking in the mountains above Malibu. They watch boxing matches on TV, and screened some of Stanwyck’s movies together (Union Pacific, Ball of Fire, Baby Face).

The romance lasted a full four years when we became part of each other’s lives.  (Stanwyck died in 1990, at the age of 82.)

Making love with her was an entirely different thing than I had ever experienced….I had never been with a woman with her level of knowledge, her level of taste. I was so incredibly taken with her, taken by her.

The affair ended because both finally realized that it couldn’t go  anywhere — it was a classic back street romance.

Wagner summarizes: (Stanwyck) was an enormous influence in my life, and still is….She gave me self-esteem … Barbara was the first savior in my life.

 

 

 

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WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO NATALIE WOOD? — According To Robert Wagner!

Nov21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by classicmovieguys

Hello, everybody.  Joe Morella and Frank Segers, your classic movie guys, here to assure that we generally don’t follow breaking news headlines when it comes to the selection of blog topics.  We prefer to think of our subjects, classic movie stars, as timeless.

But with the latest developments in the case of Natalie Wood’s death 30 years ago, we couldn’t resist.  As you probably know by now, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has reopened its investigation into the actress’ drowning in waters off Santa Catalina Island (about 20 miles off the California coast) on Nov. 29, 1981.

This came after Dennis Davern, the captain of the yacht Splendour, co-authored a book last year — and told a TV network recently — that he had lied to authorities about what actually had happened aboard the vessel on the night Wood disappeared. He urged that the incident be re-examined.

On a sunny California morning, Wood’s body — clad in a down-filled red parka — was fished out of waters near Catalina harbor. A vacant dinghy was found in an isolated cove. The death was ruled at the time as an accident.

Wood, actor Christopher Walken (her costar in Brainstorm, the movie she was making) and actress’ husband Robert Wagner (maritally, the second time around for both) were the only passengers aboard the Splendour besides Davern. They were taking a Thanksgiving holiday cruise. (Three other guests were also invited but they had declined.)

The nature of Davern’s fresh claims are still unclear, but police say flatly that while the case is being re-opened, the 81-year-old Wagner is not a suspect.

So far, the best account of what happened on that late November night (that we know of) is contained in a harrowing chapter — titled, Everything Went Away From Me — in Wagner’s own 2008 memoir, Pieces Of My Heart: A Life, co-authored by Scott Eyman.

The actor doesn’t conceal the fact that alcohol, a nasty marital spat and friction with Walken all played a role that night. According to his book, on the afternoon and early evening of Nov. 27, Wood, Wagner and Walken went shopping on Catalina Island, then stopping off at a favorite watering hole where the three W’s ordered margaritas and beer chasers.

Natalie was a bad swimmer, and feared the water although she felt comfortable aboard the Splendour. After returning to the yacht, we had some more drinks over dinner, recalled Wagner. By this time we had had slightly too much to drink, and things were getting combative. Following an argument with her husband, Wood demanded to leave the yacht and spend the night at a motel on Catalina Island. But she returned the next morning to the Splendour and, wrote Wagner, everything was fine.

The three W’s napped aboard the yacht that afternoon. Wagner remembered that when he woke up he found a note from Natalie saying that she and Walken had taken the dinghy and gone (to a restaurant on the island).  I wasn’t angry, but I was agitated.

Wagner joined Walken and his wife at the restaurant where we had quite a bit of wine with dinner. More drinks followed when they returned to the yacht.

Then, Chris began talking about his ‘total pursuit of a career,’ which he admitted was more important to him than his personal life. He clearly thought that Natalie should live like that too… Wagner wrote that at this point in the conversation, he had had it. ‘Why the fuck don’t you stay out of her career?’ I said. ‘She’s got enough people telling her what to do without you.’

A heated argument ensued, and Wagner recalls slamming a wine bottle on a table, shattering it into pieces. Natalie was already belowdecks at that point….The last time I saw my wife she was fixing her hair at a little vanity in the bathroom while I was arguing with Chris Walken. I saw her shut the door. She was going to bed.

Wagner wrote that he never viewed Wood’s body; I wanted to remember her alive. An autopsy showed that the actress had an alcohol level of .14, slightly above the .10 level of intoxication for California.

After painfully trying for decades to reconstruct that night’s events — did Wood slip and fall unconscious into the water while trying to retie a loose dinghy? — Wagner finally concluded, the bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened.

We, like you dear readers, will stay tuned to the news.

 

 

 

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