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Following the now legendary embarrassment of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, two years would pass before Duke would appear again on the big screen. This time it was in ME, NATALIE, directed by Fred Coe. Duke was once again playing a teenager. Natalie Miller is an unattractive girl living with her loving, working-class parents in Brooklyn. Natalie has become so used to her unfortunate looks (teeth slightly buck, nose too big) that she has grown up with a cynical outlook toward life and other people. Having learned to expect rejection, she lashes out with loud, unkind remarks and dark humor. She works hard to cover up her insecurity and loneliness. She's a lost soul, the kind who refuses to dance with an awkward, overweight boy at a party, calling him a loser, and then instantly regretting it. Natalie's one joy in life is her closeness to her Uncle Harold (Martin Balsam), who encourages her to believe in herself and that someday she will find love.
Following some dramatic events in her life, Natalie, at age 20, leaves her parents and gets an apartment in Greenwich Village. She finds a job as a waitress in a nightclub and slowly begins to find her own identity. And yes, she also finds love, in the form of handsome artist David Harris (James Farentino), who lives in her building. But Natalie learns that love can have its complications.
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| Patty Duke and James Farentino |
This film is an uneasy combination of character study and urban fairy tale. Soon after Natalie's move to the Village, she blossoms into a free spirit/fledgling hippie, riding around Manhattan on a motorcycle acquiring bizarre furnishings for her quirky apartment. And she becomes more attractive with each successive scene. Apparently, there is something magical in the atmosphere over the Village that gradually straightens teeth and causes noses to shrink. All of this wonderment is accompanied by a Henry Mancini score and songs written and performed by Rod McKuen. Patty Duke does a good job with a character that is irritating and unlikable much of the time. Natalie's incessant crankiness and loud, insulting comments almost take the character into Neely O'Hara territory. It is a credit to Duke's talent that she makes the most of Natalie's quieter moments and makes her more sympathetic as the story progresses.
There is a strong TV Movie of the Week feel to the production. That may be due to the fact that most of Fred Coe's work was in television dramas. The only other film he directed was A THOUSAND CLOWNS (1965). He was also a very successful Broadway producer. He produced both the stage and film versions of THE MIRACLE WORKER.
James Farentino underplays the role of Natalie's handsome, complicated boyfriend, making a nice contrast with Duke's freneticism. Also featured are Salome Jens, Nancy Marchand, Philip Sterling, and Bob Balaban. Elsa Lanchester, always a welcome name on any cast list, has a cameo as Natalie's landlady. And Al Pacino, making his film debut in a party scene, manages to get your attention.
Patty Duke won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a motion picture musical or comedy.
Really enjoyed this post, Mike. Loved the historical context. You jarred my memory but when you mentioned buck teeth the movie came back to me. I grew up with the Patty Duke Show and her performance as Helen Keller made a deep impression on me as a kid. As well as all that expressionistic b/w. Fred Coe I did remember. He had done a lot of prestigious tv and produced shows with future movie directors like Arthur Penn. I was a PBS nerd (called the educational channel back then) and I seem to recall him being interviewed probably on the David Susskind Show, a talk show with a Broadway slant as both were Broadway producers. Now I’m going way too deep in the memory bank !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, Roger. I've watched Me, Natalie a couple of times since I got the Kino release, and I find myself enjoying it more each time. I wasn't familiar with Fred Coe at all. But he definitely made his mark as a producer and director. David Susskind! I remember watching his show fairly often on the educational channel. He usually had controversial subjects and guests that pushed the envelope quite a bit. I think Phil Donahue found his inspiration from Susskind. But Susskind had a much more serious approach.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a New Yorker version of The Enchanted Cottage! As a '70s kid, Patty Duke the adult was everywhere and Patty's teen years were on display in reruns. But I never managed to see this. Will check it out! Thanks, Rick
ReplyDeletePatty Duke may have reached official adulthood, but she kept on playing teenagers. In 1970, she played in an excellent TV movie called MY SWEET CHARLIE, and I believe she was supposed to be seventeen. It was a much more restrained performance and set the tone for some good work all through the 70's. I always liked her. If you get a chance to see ME, NATALIE, I'd love to hear what you think of it. Thanks for commenting, Rick!
DeleteNice history of Patty Duke's accomplishments in television and film and the timeline! I loved Patty Duke when I was growing up. Me, Natalie was one film of hers I didn't see. Your review was informative and points out the highlights of the film without giving too much away. Makes me want to sit down and watch it--if, for nothing else, to see one of the actors I most admired growing up!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the comments! If you're a Patty Duke fan, then this movie is a must-see item. I considered giving away the entire plot, as I've done in several of my reviews. But I think from now on I'll just give the basics of the story and leave it at that. After all, my goal is to encourage people to see these films. I appreciate your feedback.
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