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Natalie Wood: A Life
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Plot Summary of Natalie Wood: A Life
"    Natalie Wood was born Natasha Gurdin in 1938. The daughter of Russian immigrants, Natalie was born in San Francisco, California. She got her first film role at the age of four in a movie called, "Happy Land". It was only a bit part, but it began a long and successful film career for the young girl. A product of the old Hollywood studio system, Natasha's name was changed to Natalie Wood, and as a teenager, she went out on studio arranged publicity dates with actors such as Tab Hunter.
    Actor Robert Wagner was the love of Natalie's life, but they divorced in the early 1960s, and she began dating many famous men such as Warren Beatty. She starred in such hit films as "Rebel Without A Cause", "Splendor In The Grass", and "west Side Story". Her death by drowning in 1981 shocked the entertainment community, and left many unanswered questions."

Nathaniel Ford, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Natalie Wood: A Life
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - actor/actress
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Story of entertainer? - Movie Drama Actor
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - actor/actress/producer
Age: - 20's-30's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 ()
United States Yes
The US: - California
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Russia
Water? Yes
Water: - drowning
City? Yes
City: - Los Angeles
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 1960's-1970's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - very favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
A LOT of info about personal vices? Yes
Lot of titilating info about love life? Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
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With Ossie & Ruby: In This Life Together by Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee
Natalie: A Memoir By Her Sister by Lana Wood


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Gavin Lambert Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Nathaniel Ford  

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