I read this book after reading Natalie Wood: A Memoir by Her Sister which was so good, it left me wanting to know more about Natalie Wood's life and especially, her relationship with Robert Wagner. I'm a little bit younger than the typical Natalie Wood fan, so I didn't understand her relationship with Robert Wagner at all! Well, after reading this book, I completely understand. Robert Wagner was a real Hollywood hunk in his time! It was so fascinating to read about their life-long love affair. I especially loved reading about their early relationship, how they met, etc. Anyone who is a fan of Old Hollywood will love this book.
I am a big fan of biographies, and I read a lot of them. I especially enjoy books about legends of the Golden Age of Hollywood and Broadway. Although I have read a few great ones, sadly most of them are hastily patched-together laundry lists of basic dates, facts and performances that I could just as easily get on IMDB or Wikipedia. This is NOT one of those. This is exceptional.
Harris has taken the time to research the life and times of Natalie and RJ. What we get is a satisfying mix of facts, quotes from friends and the actors themselves, and a rare look at what was happening around them. Harris fills in the details of the culture and mores of the time, as well as offering in-depth vignettes of the people who played important parts in their lives. I learned much more than I ever expected to know about so many things.
I have another of Harris's biographies loaded and ready to go on my Kindle, this one about Gable and Lombard. As soon as I finish this review, I'm going to start reading it. Yes, this book was THAT good!
I knew a bit about both Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner mostly from documentaries and the occasional magazine article, so this book really filled in some gaps and I found it immensely absorbing. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in either Natalie or RJ as individuals or as a couple - there were some interesting details about the Hollywood star system and of course the tragic circumstances of Natalie's untimely death.
It's pretty insightful regarding their lives. Especially the whispers that surrounded them in the end regarding Stephanie lowers and Christopher walken.