I just finished watching "The Great Race" and Natalie was never more sexier than in this one. She was 26, I think. It's from 1965.
I read in Finstad's book how difficult of a time Natalie had making this film. Well, it sure doesn't show. I loved her character, and her acting even more. She was beautiful and very talented. Very hard to imagine some nice guy didn't come by and sweep her off her feet before she met one loser the first time (Richard Gregson), and then another for the second (R.J.)!
She desereved to have better men in her life, but that didn't happen. She got losers from Nick Ray to Warren Beatty, to Robert Wagner to Raymond Burr, to Richard Gregson to Robert Wagner again.
But, anyway, back to "The Great Race." Very funny film at times, but Jack Lemon's antics became annoying after awhile, as did Tony Curtis' role as the white knight, basically. I found, in addition to Natalie's charater, others who had smaller parts in the film who were a delight to watch. Larry Storch, for example, was very funny as the tough bad guy. I was supposed to be meeting him tomorrow (2/15), but couldn't make the trip out to Burbank, CA for the show he's appearing at - the Hollywood Collector's Show. Sure wish I could have discussed this film with him. Ditto with Peter Falk, who was funny in this one, too. Ross Martin, whom I knew from "The Wild, Wild West" TV series, was good. Denver Pyle from "The Dukes of Hazard" was in it, too. I forgot that blonde singer's name, but she was a good crooner in the film. One person who didn't belong in this one was the miscast Vivian Vance, of "I Love Lucy." She sucked in this type of a role. Too bad her career went south after "Lucy." I only remember seeing her in some commercials in the 1970s prior to her death.
Also sad is the fact that Natalie attempted suicide after completing this film. The poor girl never knew how much she was loved and appreciated. She let stupid men in her life nearly ruin her. Well, in the end, one stupid man did end it for her, in my opinion, but I'm glad she didn't die after making "The Great Race." She gave us more memories in future films, but her best work was behind her by 1965. If you get a chance to view this on DVD, make sure it comes with the bonus features. There are some good, candid shots of Natalie off-camera in the bonus material. Man, was she ever beautiful!
Love you, Natalie, and we miss you dearly!
+Michael
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Many of her fans feel that she looked her most beautiful in The Great Race.
There were many men between Wagner and Gregson. She simply could not bring herself to marry again. She was petrified of another divorce. Her divorce from Wagner was very difficult for her. and yes, she deserved better, a lot better. There was one nice guy who really adored her, Arthur Lowe. They were engaged. He was wonderful to her, a truly nice man... She was not ready for him yet, though...she was about 25 when they were engaged...not mature enough..still a bit restless at that point...too bad they did not get together later in her life. I remember one of her friends said that Natalie loved him but was not IN love with him...They remained friends until her death. He was at the funeral...
The blond singer is Dorothy Provine. She was under contract to Warner Bros....one of the many who faded into oblivion.
I love the special features on the DVD...
I read that she and Larry Storch became friends. He was a very close friend of Tony Curtis and Curtis got him jobs in The Great Race and before that, Sex and the Single Girl...he liked Natalie because inspite of her stardom, she was very down to earth...
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I think it is one of th emost irritating films--mostly because of Jack Lemmon and that stupid laughing all the way through it.The only thing I thought was funny was when he said he'd keep quiet until the water got up to his nose, I think and then he was going to mention it to SOMEBODY.
But Natalie was truly gorgeous. I think she tried to kill herself during the production of the film, and possibly afterward. I remember reading in one of the books, that she had a call the following Monday or Tuesday morning and she was bound and determined to go to work to keep the gossip down. Poor Natalie, she was truly brave.
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Yeah, we could have done better with less Lemon laughs from the film, but, overall, it was a great performance by him because after awhile, you don't even remember it's the great Jack Lemon. I mean, he's that good, and that convinceable.
I stongly disagree with anyone who calls this a bad film, including Natalie. It was funny, and she was gorgeous!
I still think one of her best performances was in "This Property Is Condemned." I just bought that one via www.moviesunlimited.com
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