Robert Redford got to test drive his cool film persona first with Natalie Wood

I like Kate Reid a lot. I wish she had a bigger career.

Natalie personally chose Redford to play her closeted gay husband in “Inside Daisy Clover” (which came out a year before OP’s film) and which turned out to be his breakthrough role. She was annoyed with him when he passed her over for Mary Tyler Moore for “Ordinary People” and felt betrayed by that.

First I can't see Natalie being cold and mean and Presbyterian. I think that Redford is a horrible actor in both films. But the latter film is horrible is too. A bad plot, bad acting, Natalie's general Southern accent shows little if not preparation, and Redford merely sits around a lot and watches her. You know a film is bad when it's writer divorces himself from the final cut. Natalie's whole career went down the drain because of the poor film she picked out after "Love With A Proper Stranger" with " Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" being the best. Warren wanted her for Bonnie but she declined. She would have been a great Bonnie Parker- part child, part woman, insecure and bored. As for Redford, he won't be remember past Butch or Barbra.

Thanks for posting, Rick, I adore this film. Love Natalie, love the song, love the brief blissful interlude in the Quarter.

I agree that the revisionist drooling over MARNIE is a head-scratcher, but BUNNY LAKE is pretty good in spite of Carol Lynley's performance (her child is missing but much of the time she seems no more concerned than if she'd mislaid her purse) and the silly scenes with Noel Coward.

But then maybe I say this because most of Preminger's 60s films are so bad this one looks better in comparison.

Natalie Wood would have ruined Ordinary People, just as she ruined almost every movie she was in with her hammy cutesy hysterical girl shit. Mary Tyler Moore with her clenched-jaw WASP performance nailed Beth Jarrett. Redford obviously knew who was best.

I love this movie still. A lot of terrific performances all the way around. When Bronson said " I'll marry you Alva" you could just feel the unspoken "and fuck you all night long" in his voice. But Willie was the real star to me. I just loved her character .

[quote] First I can't see Natalie being cold and mean and Presbyterian.

That's what we all said about Mary Tyler Moore, until the movie came out. Which made it not only one of the most brilliant casting choices of all time, but DL legend!!!

I like this movie. It's not perfect but I've always enjoyed it

R3. Redford had a huge career besides Butch and Barbra, including The Sting, All the President's Men, Three Days of the Condor, Jeremiah Johnson, Brubaker, The Natural and many more. He was also an Oscar-winning director and the founder of Sundance.

[quote]Willie was the real star to me. I just loved her character.

Her fate is the most disturbing. Who feeds that kid?

Everyone had a crush on Robert Redford. Gay, straight, male, female, young or old.

This film ended Mary Badham’s brief career as the go-to pre-teen with a natural Southern accent.

Mary Badham's last film was the cheesefest Let's Kill Uncle

I don't think MTM was doing much acting in Ordinary People, so of course, she was perfect for the part.

“Just about as hard as your heart, mama..."