Me, Natalie

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Me, Natalie
Original poster
Directed by	Fred Coe
Produced by	Stanley Shapiro
Written by	A. Martin Zweiback
Starring	Patty Duke James Farentino
Music by	Henry Mancini Rod McKuen
Cinematography	Arthur J. Ornitz
Editing by	Sheila Bakerman John McSweeney Jr.
Release date(s)	July 13, 1969
Running time	111 min
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

Me, Natalie is a 1969 American dramedy film directed by Fred Coe. The screenplay by A. Martin Zweiback is based on an original story by Academy Award-winner Stanley Shapiro, who previously wrote Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, and That Touch of Mink for Doris Day. The film marked the screen debut of Al Pacino in a minor supporting role.

1 Synopsis
2 Principal cast
3 Critical reception
4 Awards and nominations
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Synopsis

From childhood, Brooklyn teenager Natalie Miller, with upper front teeth that are slightly bucked and a nose too large for her face, has considered herself homely, and she never has subscribed to her mother's determined belief that she will grow up to be pretty. Her father, a druggist who doesn't share his wife's optimistic outlook, bribes myopic optometrist Morris to marry her, hoping his nearsightedness will prevent him from seeing she's no beauty.

After she discovers her father's plan, Natalie leaves home and moves to Greenwich Village, where she rents an apartment from eccentric Miss Dennison and sets out to enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle. She finds employment as a cocktail waitress at the Topless Bottom Club and befriends drug-addicted go-go dancer Shirley Norton. Although she contemplates suicide after discovering her aspiring artist lover David Harris is married, it is he who finally convinces her she's a worthwhile human being and not the ugly duckling she imagines herself to be.

[edit] Principal cast

Patty Duke ..... Natalie Miller
James Farentino ..... David Harris
Elsa Lanchester ..... Miss Dennison
Salome Jens ..... Shirley Norton
Nancy Marchand ..... Mrs. Miller
Philip Sterling ..... Mr. Miller
Bob Balaban ..... Morris
Martin Balsam ..... Uncle Harold
Al Pacino ..... Tony
Catherine Burns ..... Hester

[edit] Critical reception

In his review in the New York Times, Vincent Canby called the film "an artificial mess of wisecracks and sentimentality" and added, "Locales and a gummy musical score by Henry Mancini and Rod McKuen are among the things constantly impinging on Me, Natalie. Another is Coe's apparent indecision as to whether the movie is a character study or a gag comedy. Mostly it's just gags, delivered abrasively by Miss Duke, who is even less effective when registering pathos." ^[1]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times found it to be "as conventional and corny as warmed-over "Young at Heart" . . . a pleasant film, very funny at times . . . Patty Duke, as Natalie, supplies a wonderful performance." ^[2]

TV Guide considers the film "somewhat bland" but calls Duke "a wonder" and adds, "Handled by a lesser actress, the results might have seemed more stereotypical, but Duke is convincing." ^[3]