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Show .r.v. 2 (i i 1 1 n "romance" between Natalie Wood and James Dean began in film, "Rebel Without Cause." The much-publiciz- ed Natalie's biggest role is as "Marjorie Morningstar opposite Gene Kelly. Many actresses wanted the part. The mother of Natalie Wood talks frankly of the years she devoted to grooming her daughter for movie fame and fortune. Young Natalie is used to performing with stars like Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis in "Kings Go Forth." I L raised my daughter, Natalie Wood,' from early childhood to be a movie star. y Tq 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 required 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 While I was watching, curious about 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 rm film-maki- ng. -- o V . , . ij -- O-' v . Family Weekly, April 20, 185 |