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The much-publicized "romance" between Natalie Wood
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and James Dean began in tilm, Keoei wimouT vause.
The mother of
Natalie Wood talks frankly
of the years she devoted
to grooming her daughter
for movie fame
and fortune.
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Natalie's biggest role is as "Marjorie Morningstar"
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Young Natalie is used to performing with stars like
Frank Sinatra and Tonv Curtis in Kinqs Go. Forth.
. - . -
I raised my daughter, Natalie Wood, from early
childhood to be a movie star.
To do it, I lied to my husband, neglected
my other children, and subordinated every desire
to her success.
Looking back, I now wonder whether I've done
the right thing for her!
As I stood in the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Methodist
Church recently and watched my daughter marry
actor Robert Wagner, I was haunted by the thought
that I may have neglected to instill in her the
values that make a good wife and mother.
Yet I'm not what you might consider "a typical
movie mother." Until Natalie was 18, 1 went to the
studio and on location only because the law re
quired an adult to be with her when she worked.
I never interfered, advised, or even criticized her
professional life. My influence was more indirect
though just as effective, I feel.
It started on a sleepy Summer day in Santa
Rosa, Calif., when Natalie was four. I had heard
that director Irving Pichel would shoot crowd
scenes for a movie and was asking local people to
act as extras.
I went to the location solely because I was
curious about film-making. While I was watching,
Natalie suddenly disappeared. I searched for 20
minutes before I happened to glance at director
Pichel and saw her sitting on his lap, talking
animatedly. Mr. Pichel was fascinated by my little
girl, whom he had tabbed "Brown Eyes."
He wanted to know if she could act, and without
further encouragement Natalie went into a song
Family Weekly, April 20, 1958
by
As Marjorie, the star achieves another goal in
career she and her mother have sacrificed much for.
and dance routine. The director promptly wrote
in a bit part for her. I couldn't have been more
delighted, and later Mr. Pichel even asked if he
could adopt Natalie.
"Sure," I grinned. "Just come to the house to
morrow morning with $10,000."
To my surprise and shock he took me seri
ously! The next day he appeared at our house with
two witnesses and a written contract initiating the
adoption procedure. I told him I had been joking,
but he failed to appreciate my humor. However,
he agreed to send for Natalie as soon as he found
a suitable part for her in Hollywood.
year and a half later, the call finally came
and with it trouble from my husband.
"I will not let her get into motion pictures!"
he burst out when I brought up the subject. "It's
bad for children. It will spoil her. And she'll
associate with the wrong kind of people!"
Even Natalie's tears which usually melted her
father were unsuccessful. She refused to eat for
two days. My husband still wouldn't budge.
That's when I stepped in. I asked a friend of
mine in Los Angeles to wire me that she was
desperately ill- and needed me right away. An hour
after the telegram was delivered, Natalie and I
(with bags packed the evening before) took off
for Los Angeles and Natalie's screen test. "When
my husband learned the truth, he was furious. He
has since grown accustomed to the idea, though in
all honesty I'm not sure he has ever forgiven me.
When we arrived at Paramount, Mr. Pichel
Mrs. Maria Gurdin
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And now a role in which she has little training
that of a wife. Groom Bob Wagner isn't worried
warned us that Natalie was one of 40 girls testing
for the part of a little German refugee. The night
before the test I carefully evaluated her chances.
She had practically no screen experience while
many of the other girls were veterans. Her best
clothes would look shabby in comparison to the
expensive wardrobes of the other contestants.
To be noticed, she had to be different. I made sure
she was.
While all the other youngsters were dolled up
in their prettiest organdy dresses and painted with
lipstick and rouge, I had Natalie put on a plain
cotton dress, braid her hair, and scrub her face
until it shone. As a result, she not only looked
different but was so like a refugee girl that she was
the first to read for the part.
When she did slowly, accurately, mechanically
she almost lost her chance! Mr. Pichel's face
mirrored a growing disappointment with each line.
"I guess she doesn't have it after all," he
admitted.
Natalie stared at him in disbelief. "Didn't I read
well, Mr. Pichel?"
He explained about the emotions and tears he
wanted to see during certain passages.
"I didn't know I was supposed to act," she cried
out. 'I thought you only wanted to find out if I
could read!"
When she went through the scene a second time,
she wasn't the only one crying. All of us watching
had tears in our eyes.
She got the part and a seven-year contract.
Once Natalie was signed, I stayed out of the
limelight altogether. I never told her how to play
a part, nor criticized her performance, nor in any
way influenced her acting. That was the director's
responsibility, I felt.
Yet I had other ways to be helpful
I cued her, encouraged her, and performed
dozens of tasks that might have cojst her valuable
time and effort like answering fan letters, shop
ping, and taking over every household chore.
Maybe I spoiled her too much in this last respect.
Natalie has never learned to keep house, fix a
meal, or balance a budget. Still, this may not be
important. After all, she can afford a maid, cook,
and secretary and I made certain she had an
excellent housekeeper when she got married.
Perhaps natalie already has solved her greatest
Prblem growing up normally while her
mother groomed her for stardom.
To help her keep a level head, I always insisted
she attend public schools and make friends with
neighbors' children and schoolmates. I was only
partly successful at this because, during the last
years of school, her new interests and movie en
vironment drew her into a different world.
Concentrating on Natalie's career meant cutting
15 years out of my own social life. If I was invited
to a party, I went only if I could take Natalie
along. I did my own housework long after we
could afford a maid because I felt the money
could be invested in a more impressive house
which would help Natalie's career.
And all the time I had to appease my husband
and make certain that my youngest daughter,
Lana Lisa, would not experience the same jeal
ousies my oldest, Teddy, had felt because of my
complete devotion to Natalie.
Teddy's problem solved itself when she mar
ried and began raising her own family. With
Lana Lisa, I made certain she didn't feel slighted
by giving her something new whenever I bought
anything for Natalie. My biggest help, however,
was Lana's own devotion to her sister. Lana
became as engrossed in Natalie's career as I did
and willingly played second fiddle when Natalie's
needs took precedence over hers.
From now on, I will concentrate on Lana to
make up for some of the neglect she suffered in
recent years. I hope if isn't too late.
As for Natalie, I have accomplished my dream
of seeing her develop into a successful star, as
she proves with her performance in "Marjorie
Morningstar." Only the future will tell whether
she can be equally successful as a person, a wife,
and a mother. If she isn't, it will be my fault.
Family Weekly, April 20, 195 5