Natalie and R.J. [Hardcover]

Warren G. Harris (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harris ( Gable & Lombard , etc.) here presents a dual biography, of Natalie Wood and Robert J. Wagner, describing their lives up to the actress's death by drowning in 1981. Natasha Gurdin, daughter of poor Russian immigrants, was pushed into professionally performing soon after she was born in 1938 and became a child star in the film Miracle on 34th Street. R.J., however, grew up in a well-off family and chose to be an actor. The two performers married in 1957; he was 27, she was 19. The so-called ideal couple's divorce three years later surprised the film colony. Each re-wed and divorced, then remarried each other again in 1972, "this time for good." Embellished by gossip, the text nevertheless offers solid information about the two stars' careers. Readers will feel renewed sadness over the tragedy that caused Wood's untimely death.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For several decades the stormy romance of Natalie Wood and Robert (R.J.) Wagner made Hollywood headlines. Attractive products of the studio system, both had many liaisons before their fairy tale marriage. Later divorced, married to others, divorced, and remarried to each other, they led lives having all the ingredients of the most popular soap operas. The story ended dramatically with Wood's tragic death. Although occasionally lapsing into unsupported conjecture, this is overall a competent celebrity biography of two "star-crossed" lovers that will appeal to fans of the genre.Barbara E. Kemp, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 247 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (June 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385236913
• ISBN-13: 978-0385236911
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,309,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Objective Bio Available on Natalie!, March 24, 2000

By 

Jennifer E. Williams (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Natalie and R.J. (Hardcover)

I think this book is definitely worth reading. It is the most objective book available on Natalie so far. Though its main focus, as the title hints, is the beautiful love story between Natalie and Robert Wagner, Harris also gives a lot of details on Natalie's death. Try to locate a copy of this...it is worth it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very hard to recommend..., November 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Natalie and R.J. (Hardcover)

The quality of the writing is poor; it would not pass muster in even most entertainment magazines. It gives little sense of Natalie and Robert as artists or as a couple, being far more interested in cataloguing their various trysts and affairs. Fans should not expect any significant insight into the making of their lives nor about their films. Behind-the-scenes detail and anecdotes are perfunctory at best. Lacking either craft in its writing or insight into Natalie and Robert themselves, it's hard to recommend this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is a joke, July 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Natalie and R.J. (Hardcover)

I can't believe anyone would publish this book. It's inaccurate, badly written, and the author didn't even talk to anyone! All he did was copy information about Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner from easily found magazines or tabloids and recycle it without even bothering to find out if it's true.