It’s so hard for me to believe that it’s been nearly a year since I’ve hosted an honest-to-goodness blogathon, paying tribute to the incomparable Dean Martin last June on what would have been his 100th birthday! After realizing this, I knew that it was about time for me to host another this summer while I have some additional time on my hands, and after looking at some of the classic film birthdays that are taking place during the season, I knew exactly who deserved my attention above all else: none other than my very first favorite actress Natalie Wood, who would have been turning eighty this July 20th. I am so incredibly excited to go back to basics and honor an actress who’s so near and dear to my heart on this special occasion, and I hope that you all join me in honoring her too!
With a career that spanned forty years with nearly fifty films to her credit as well as numerous television appearances, Natalie Wood was one of the few actresses of her time who successfully made the transition from child star to full-fledged leading lady. She was nominated for three Academy Awards throughout her career and an astounding eight Golden Globe Awards, winning three. She had her hand and footprints immortalized in cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre at twenty-three, and earned a spot on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 100 Greatest Stars of All Time, with three of her films earning spots on AFI’s list of the 100 Greatest Films of All Time.
Sadly, her tragic and mysterious passing off the coast of Catalina Island at the young age of forty-three has developed almost as much notoriety as her life and career. Her memory lives on through her sister Lana Wood, who wrote the book Natalie: A Memoir by Her Sister (1984) and regularly attends events dedicated to Natalie, and her daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner, who has recently released a selection of perfumes and has co-written a book honoring her mother released by Turner Classic Movies, Natalie Wood — Reflections on a Legendary Life (2016).
RULES
- Considering that Natalie has a significant and diverse filmography with nearly fifty films to her credit, I am allowing only ONE duplicate for each subject. I would like to see as many different topics being written about as possible.
- Anything relating to Natalie Wood is up for grabs! You could write about her career as a child star in films like Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Ghost of Mrs. Muir (1947), her three Oscar nominations, her many television appearances, or even her relationships with other stars like Maureen O’Hara, Robert Wagner, and Marilyn Monroe. The possibilities are endless, but I do ask that if you intend on writing about her death and her relationship with Wagner that you do so in a manner that is respectful to her and her memory.
- Once you think of a topic, please leave a comment with your blog’s name, your blog’s link, and your subject (include the year if you’re choosing a movie).
- Once you’ve been approved, I’d appreciate it if you help me spread the word! Please take one of my banners from below and put it somewhere on your blog, and make sure to tell your friends. I’d love to see as many participants as possible!
ROSTER
- Musings of A Classic Film Addict — Natalie Wood Tribute Post
- Phyllis Loves Classic Movies — Natalie as a Comedienne
- Taking Up Room — The Great Race (1965)
- Cinema Cities — Natalie’s Oscar Nominated Performances
- Realweegiemidget Reviews — Meteor (1979)
- In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood — Natalie as a Child Star and Splendor in the Grass (1961)
- Top 10 Film Lists — The Searchers (1956)
- The Midnite Drive-In — The Great Race (1965)
- Wolffian Classic Movie Digest — Splendor in the Grass (1961)
- Sat in Your Lap — Gypsy (1962) and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)
- Rick’s Real/Reel Life — This Property is Condemned (1966)
- The Stop Button — A Cry in the Night (1956)
- The Flapper Dame — Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)
- Overture Books and Film — Natalie Wood and Tony Curtis
- The Wonderful World of Cinema — Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
- Movierob — This Property is Condemned (1966) and The Mystery of Natalie Wood
- Crítica Retrô — Marjorie Morningstar (1958)
- Pure Entertainment Preservation Society — Our Very Own (1950)
What beautiful banners!! I’d like to try a post on Natalie as a comedienne. My blog is https://phyllislovesclassicmovies.blogspot.com/
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Thank you very much! I love your entry idea, and I have you all signed up! ☺
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Hi, Samantha! I’d like to do “The Great Race,” please. This looks fun. 🙂
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That is definitely one of my favorite Natalie films, and I’m so glad that it’s going to be discussed for the blogathon! I added you on the roster, and thanks for joining! ☺
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You’re welcome, Samantha, and thanks! I’ve never seen it, so that’s good to know. I’m looking forward to this! 🙂
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Natalie Wood is one of my absolute favorites, so I’m glad there’ll be a blogathon dedicated to her (btw the gardenias in the banners are a nice touch, I love her perfume)! ❤
Anyway, I'd like to write about her 3 Oscar-nominated performances for the occasion (Rebel Without a Cause, Splendor in the Grass, and Love with the Proper Stranger). 🙂
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Thank you so much! I figured that it was about time that Natalie was honored with a blogathon of her own!
Great choice! I’ll add you to the roster! ☺
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Hi, not sure if my messages getting through to you or if seen as spam as keep dissapearing, can you add me for Meteor (1979), love Gill at Realweegiemidget Reviews
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I’ve got you added now! Thanks so much for joining! ☺
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Hey. Excellent idea for a blogathon. Natalie sure is a worthy topic, and I’m happy that she is finally being honored.
I would love to write about Natalie Wood as a child star and “Splendor In The Grass” if I may? Thanks in advance.
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Thank you! I think so too! ☺
Awesome choices! I think Natalie really deserved an Oscar for Splendor above all of her other performances.
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I would like to talk about Natalie in The Searchers. I look forward to reading the other posts. Ms Wood was a fascinating actress
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Wonderful choice! You’re added to the list, and I can’t wait to read your entry!
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Having just acquired The Great Race in a box set of comedies, I’d like to snag the duplicate option for it.
http://midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com
Quiggy
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Absolutely, it’s yours! Glad to have you join us!
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I would love to do review of Splendor in the Grass in honor of her work.
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Perfect, you’re on the list! Thank you for joining!
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I would like to Review Gypsy (1962) and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)
https://satinyourlap.wordpress.com/
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That sounds great! I still haven’t seen Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), but I’m so glad that both films will be represented in the blogathon! ☺
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Hi, I’ve never participated in one of these before! Would ‘This Property is Condemned’ fit in any of these categories?
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Yes, you can definitely write about that film! ☺ I’ll add you to the list, and thanks for joining!
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And I would be posting on this blog page: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/
Rick
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Can I do “A Cry in the Night” for The Stop Button?
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Surprisingly enough, I hadn’t even heard of that film until you just mentioned it, but it sounds great! It’s all yours, and thanks for joining us!
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Count me in! I would like to write about Love with the proper stranger!
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Wonderful, great choice! I’ll add you to the roster!
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Oh! I love Natalie Wood! I would like to write about Natalie Wood and Tony Curtis please? My blog is http://www.overturebooksandfilm.com/
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Absolutely, I love that idea! I’ll add you to the list! ☺
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Hi Samantha! Could I go with Rebel Without a Cause, please? 🙂
My blog is The Wonderful World of Cinema
https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com/
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Sounds great, Virginie! Thanks so much for joining! ☺
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can i do – This Property is condemned and The Mystery of Natalie Wood?
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http://movierob.wordpress.com
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Awesome choices, I can’t wait to read your entries!
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Hey Samantha. Hope you’re well. I’m just wondering what happened to your post for the Judy Garland Blogathon?
Also, I’m hosting the Fourth Annual Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon again this year, and I’d love to invite you to join. Would be great to have you part of it. Here is the link.
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Hi, Crystal! Unfortunately I was unable to access the film that I was to write about in time. I thought I had mentioned it to you, but I may have forgotten. I’m so sorry! Next time I’ll definitely choose a Judy film that’s already in my collection!
As for the Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon, I’d love to join and I had so much fun writing about John last year, but I was a little bit hesitant to do so this year because I may be going on a trip during those days. If I find a John film that I’d want to write about ahead of time, though, I’ll definitely let you know! ☺Thanks so much for the invite!
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Even though I am not able to participate, I’m really looking forward to reading all the entries. I’m so glad to see Natalie getting some love!
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Thank you, I appreciate it! I hope you enjoy the upcoming posts honoring Natalie! ☺
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I’m so happy nobody claimed Marjorie Morningstar (1958) yet! And I’m more than happy that we have an event to honor lovely Natalie!
Kisses!
Le from Critica Retro (www.criticaretro.blogspot.com)
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It’s all yours! I can’t wait to read your entry!
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Dear Samantha,
This is a wonderful topic for a blogathon! I would love to participate with an article about “Our Very Own” from 1950.
By the way, I would like to invite you to join an event I am hosting on my website, #CleanMovieMonth: https://pureentertainmentpreservationsociety.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/july-is-cleanmoviemonth. Starting on July 1st, it’s a month long celebration of Code films and clean entertainment. All you have to do is watch movies from the greater Breen Era exclusively. Then, in the beginning of August, you can write an article about your thoughts on the experiment. It shouldn’t be hard for you, since I know how much you love old movies. Even if you think you’ll be too busy to write any articles for this event, I would be very grateful if you would read my announcement and consider reposting it on your website. Your articles get so much more traffic than mine do, and I could really use the publicity.
I hope you would agree to participate. I would be honored by your talent.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Thanks so much for joining, Tiffany! I’ll add you to the roster! I may not be able to watch exclusively code films, but I might be able to write an article about the best code films that I saw during July if that’s alright with you? ☺
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Dear Samantha,
Thank you for letting me participate in your blogathon. I’m looking forward to it. Thank you so much for posting my banner on your website. I really appreciate it. I would love to have your participate in #CleanMovieMonth any way you can. I look forward to seeing your article!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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I would like to write about Miracle on 34th Street for Old Hollywood Films if it’s still available. Thanks!
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http://midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com/2018/07/prank-falls-and-pitfalls.html
My review of “The Great Race”.
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