"THE DEATH of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetic subject in the world," wrote Edgar Allan Poe.
Natalie Wood, the exquisite child actress turned even more exquisite adult star, died in 1981. The actress, always fearful of the water, somehow fell from her and husband Robert Wagner's yacht, and drowned off Catalina Island. That death rocked Hollywood to its core. Natalie (and Wagner) were still-vibrant survivors of a show biz much altered by changing times and tastes. They entertained with panache. They were beautiful. And so in love, in their second marriage. Wood was branching out to try her hand at stage work, encouraged by the success of her friend and idol, Elizabeth Taylor.
There was always an element of mystery surrounding Natalie's death, conflicting stories, salacious speculation. But after a few weeks of headlines, the story vanished from the front pages. From time to time, the terrible tale would resurface but always faded. This year, however, the L.A. police decided to "reopen" the case. Not surprisingly, this action appeared to have been sparked by a new book about Wood. Most everybody predicted nothing would come of this, and nothing did. The police announced several weeks later that no new evidence had been found and the case was closed. Not quite. Last week, the cops piped up again. The investigation was still open, and Wood's death was now classified as "undetermined." Neither accident or homicide. They hastened to add that Robert Wagner was "not a suspect."
Good grief, let it rest. Thirty years have gone by. It was a horrible accident/incident. This is agony for Natalie's two daughters one of whom has some serious issues. Nothing will bring her back.
A new documentary about the terrible end of Diana and Dodi, titled "Unlawful Killing" was supposed to debut next month. It was financed by Al-Fayed. But now, it appears to have been shelved, permanently. The producers were unable to secure insurance against almost inevitable lawsuits that would occur. Distributors would not handle the film without protection. I don't see Mohamed Al-Fayed defeated in this. Somehow, some way, "Unlawful Killing" will be seen.
But, as with Natalie and Diana, there were always issues in Monroe's death--time discrepancies, varying accounts from this or that intimate. But at the time, her suicide--or an accidental overdose--was pretty much accepted. It fit her image--the tragic Cinderella. However, as the years rolled on, and more came to light about Marilyn's involvement with John and Robert Kennedy, conspiracy theorists began to weave at least a dozen tales of Monroe being murdered, for one reason or another. The cast of characters became a Marx Brothers movie of chaotic assassins, wire-tapping, red diaries, tell-all press conferences and the kitchen sink. Today, almost nobody accepts Monroe as a suicide. The very idea than she might have had a sudden depression and attempted to end her pain--as she had several times in the past--is utterly dismissed.
Last week, a check Monroe wrote out a day before she died was put up for auction. It was also "analyzed." The purchase was for a chest of drawers for her new home in Brentwood. A forensic psychologist chimed in and insisted this was proof positive Monroe was not "planning to commit suicide." Well, gee. Nobody ever said she was planning it. If that had been the case she certainly would have had a touch up to her roots, not to mention a manicure and pedicure. (These things were noted by the police who first saw her body.) Suicide often just "happens" to people who struggle with depression, and who also have an inordinate amount of medication handy, as the chronically sleepless Marilyn did. But the "she was murdered" posse are pleased with one more notch on their side. Marilyn's moods were reportedly mercurial the last day of her life, as they had been most of the days of her life. We will simply never know what happened on that hot August night in Brentwood. Period.
But I think even Marilyn herself might say, in that soft, girlish voice, "Oh, come on now, enough. I'm dead. I'd much rather you talk about 'The Prince and the Showgirl.' That's still alive."
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