DVD Review: Natalie Wood Collection
If you are a fan of the great and beautiful Natalie Wood, then you’re going to love this. Warner Bros has released a Natalie Wood Collection on DVD, which includes 6 of her movies. They are: Gypsy, Splendor in the Grass (both newly remastered), Inside Daisy Clover, Cash McCall, Sex and the Single Girl, Bombers B-52 (the last four make their DVD debuts). You can find more information about each DVD towards the end of the post.
While I had seen Gypsy and Splendor on the Grass, it was very exciting discovering all the other movies and finding out what a versatile actress Natalie Wood really was, as well as .
You can find the Natalie Wood Collection on Amazon.
Since I have watched all six movies, I wanted to give you a brief overview of each of one, but I do recommend you watch them for yourself if you are a Natalie Wood fan or just want to discover some good oldies movies.
Inside Daisy Clover – This 1965 film is about Daisy Clover (Natalie Wood), a teen-aged tomboy who dreams of becoming a Hollywood star, needless to say that the reality is not always as glamourous as she once thought. Robert Redford also stars. While slow at times, I actually really enjoyed the ending of the film. And of course Natalie Wood is brilliant.
Gypsy – Gypsy is a musical about the life of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. I will admit, it’s not one of my favorite Natalie Wood movies, I found it pretty boring at times, but as a fan, it’s worth at least a look.
Splendor in the Grass – This 1961 movie also starring Warren Beatty is about forbidden love between a girl and the son of a powerful family in Kansas. Directed by Elia Kazan (who also directed East of Eden), this film has some very strong acting, but I must warn you, it is not cheerful. So if you’re feeling blue, I would suggest you wait and watch this on a better day. That said, I have to admit it is one of my favorite Natalie Wood movies.
Cash McCall – Starring James Garner and Natalie Wood, Cash McCall tells the story of a man who buys businesses in order to sell them at a profit. In the midst of all this he also falls in love with Natalie Wood’s character of course. It was an ok movie, but it focused a little too much on the business aspect of the story instead of the romance between Cash McCall (Garner) and Lory (Wood) in my opinion.
Sex and the Single Girl – A romantic comedy, that is just pure silly fun, and also stars Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, and Lauren Bacall. I had fun watching it.
Bomber B-52 – Natalie Wood plays the daughter of an air force sergeant (played by Karl Malden) who falls in love with a young colonel, whom her father disapproves of. The movie was ok, but it focuses more on Karl Maden’s character than on Natalie Wood.
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Films Information:
Splendor in the Grass (1961)
Directed by Elia Kazan (Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront), and written by William Inge (Come Back Little Sheba, Picnic) Splendor in the Grass stars Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (in his feature film debut) as teenage lovers full of angst and lust, ripped apart by the repressive small-town mentality of 1920s’ Kansas, with dire consequences. The film won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay, and Ms. Wood received her second Best Actress nomination.
DVD Special Features:
- Beep Prepared (1961 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer
Gypsy (1962)
Everything’s coming up roses when Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood and Karl Malden entertain you in the lavish movie musical of the Broadway hit about the infamous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee and her formidable mother Rose. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, Gypsy was nominated for three Oscars®. The musical score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is among the most celebrated ever, with such hummable hits as “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming up Roses” and “Together Wherever we Go”
DVD Special Features:
- The Pied Piper of Guadalupe (1961 WB cartoon)
- Together Wherever We Go (deleted musical)
- You’ll Never Get Away From Me (deleted musical)
- Theatrical trailer
Sex and the Single Girl (1964)
Helen Gurley Brown’s famous book title provides the jumping off point for this romantic comedy about tabloid magazine editor Tony Curtis, who’s after dirt when he pretends to woo a young famous sex researcher played by Wood. Needless to say, he gets more than he came looking for. Supporting roles are played by the Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall.
DVD Special Features:
- Nelly’s Folly (1961 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer
Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
Daisy Clover (Wood) is a 15-year old tomboy who dreams of being a Hollywood star, and in the vein of “be careful what you wish for,” she finds herself becoming the toast of TInseltown in the 1930s. Daisy is thrust headlong into this strange new life with all the pressure and artifice that goes with the territory and must quickly manage or be driven mad. Christopher Plummer is the studio head who gives her her big chance and Robert Redford plays the man with whom she has a one-day marriage. Film buffs will enjoy seeing the various areas and departments of Warner Bros. Studios, where the film was shot.
DVD Special Features:
- Theatrical trailer
Bombers B-52 (1957)
U.S. Air Force pilot Jim Herlihy (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) is in love with Lois Brennan (Wood), much to the disapproval of her sergeant father (Karl Malden). There is romance and action in this flight film set against the backdrop of riveting aerial footage of jet plane maneuvers.
DVD Special Features:
- Boyhood Dayz (1957 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer
Cash McCall (1960)
In this drama of high finance and high romance, James Garner (“Maverick,” “The Rockford Files”) plays the title role of a dashing and daring tycoon in the business of buying and selling companies for profit. However McCall’s acquisition plans for Grant Austen’s (Dean Jagger) company gets more complicated when he realizes Austen’s daughter Lory (Wood) is the same girl with whom he once had a summer fling.
DVD Special Features:
- Theatrical trailer
- High Note (1961 WB cartoon)
