LANA WOOD: THE RETROCRUSH INTERVIEW

Interview by Randy Waage
randy@retrocrush.com

Lana Wood grew up surrounded by Hollywood A-list talent. It's not surprising that her own work includes many gems such as John Ford's classic western, "The Searchers" with John Wayne, the James Bond movie, "Diamonds are Forever", numerous TV shows, a celebrity appearance in Playboy Magazine, a memoir about her sister, and a second successful career as a producer.

Join us as Lana discusses: Sean Connery's Toupee, her thoughts on A-list celebrities, how she nearly killed Walter Matthau, her affair with Ryan O Neal, Mia Farrow's special diet, and what it was like being Natalie Wood's kid sister.

Wasn’t it fabulous? It was filmed in Utah with beautiful scenery. It holds up to this day.

I was an 8 year old. I remember responding to him. Natalie went out with him a couple of times. He became a grownup and was no longer interesting.

I was very nervous. I don’t think I just naturally fell into it. John Ford kept saying to me bend over and say to the dog, "Chris go home!" Get the dog to leave. I couldn’t bend from the waist. He walked up to me and said, "You need to bend over." I didn’t know what to expect.

This was my first venture away from home. We were staying above a trading post out in the middle of nowhere. At night the Indians would build bond fires and you could hear them singing. It would scare me.

We were there for quite awhile. I remember walking on those sand dunes to get up to the set. The water was a rusty color because of the sand and poor Ward Bond being stung by a Scorpion. There was nothing around.

Wow! That’s terrific. It’s a fabulous film.

He had the most startling eyes. They were very, very blue. He was a dear, sweet man.

They have run it at various little theaters, but they haven’t made any kind of a "to do" over it. I was glad I was asked to take part in the commentary in the documentary that preceded the film when they re-released it on DVD.

You were close to your dad growing up.

I was very close to my dad. When I was a kid my mom would be out with Natalie and my dad took care of me.

Well, this is something that Natalie really loved though. She loved acting and everything that went along with it. She did feel she missed out on a childhood however. She would have preferred for Natasha and Courtney not to lose their childhoods. I don’t think they did. I think they enjoyed their childhood.

Your mom got Natalie into show business as a child and she wanted to get you into it too.

It was hard for me to play any sort of a Hollywood game. I was not good at going to the parties or going to the premieres. I didn’t want to do it! I worked and when I finished work I wanted to leave. I was probably one of the few people who would get my makeup put on in the morning and freak out if somebody wanted to arrange it again later on in the day.

When my mom said, "You have your first interview." I was in Junior High School and I had my first boyfriend. Everything was going along great. I didn’t say no at first. I walked to school like I always do, but I went to a pay phone and called Natalie who was married to Robert Wagner at the time. I told her, "I don’t want to go on this interview. I don’t want to work. I want to stay in school. I want to be a kid."

I was upset and she sent RJ out for me. He picked me up from school and took me to their house. I stayed there for a month. She made my mom promise not to make anymore interview appointments for me or try to get me any work. I didn’t work until after I graduated high school then I played a 14 year old in the Dr. Kildare TV series. After my first day on the shoot I thought, "This is what I know. This is what I like." It’s everything else to do with acting that doesn’t sit well with me.

You were surrounded by Hollywood A-listers at an early age.

That was my norm. People have said to me, “What was it like meeting Lawrence Olivier?” I’d say, “He was a very nice man.” They’d reply, “Weren’t you nervous?” I’d say, “You don’t understand. These are the people that I know. This was my life. These are normal people who are a little more charismatic than the accountant doing books for Ralph’s supermarket, but he’s still doing a job the same as everyone else is doing. These are the people that I grew up with. It was completely normal for me.

What about some of the people your sister knew: Bette Davis? Elizabeth Taylor?

They were other actors. That’s it.

David Niven?

David I got to know later on. I was actually living in the south of France off and on. It was someone I was seeing lived out that way. He was friends with David and we became friends. I adored him. He was a wonderful man. He was an incredible raconteur. You could just sit and listen to David all night long. He told the most wonderful stories I’ve ever heard.

I was on Peyton Place for years and years. It was fabulous.

We use to go to lunch and I’d eat everything around. She’d only eat Spinach & Cottage Cheese. That’s all she’d order.

Did you see Frank Sinatra at the time?

He didn’t come around the set. He had been friends with Natalie and that’s how I knew Nancy Sinatra. I use to be friends with Nancy.

I was too young. There’s an 8^1/2 year difference in ages between Natalie and I. When Natalie was 18 I was 10 years old. I didn’t hang out with anybody. I hung out with dolls.

What about Walter Matthau?

I evidently scared Walter Matthau badly when I was doing Peyton Place as an adult by firing off a toy gun Bobby Darin had given me in the commissary. I thought the caps were all spent.

I was showing it to someone when I pulled the trigger and it went off. Walter tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Young lady I want you to know that I recently had a heart attack and you scared me." He went on & on & on. It absolutely mortified me.

I dated Ryan for awhile. He wasn’t the kindest person in the world. I’m sure none of us where when we were very young. I don’t think it’s a character flaw of his. He wasn’t particularly kind at the time. I think we were all too young and selfish.

I’ve been married four times. I was getting married for the wrong reason. Unfortunately for me I was very lonely. I wanted someone to sort of connect with. I didn’t take into account that it’s important to wait for that one special someone.

I was always so delighted somebody cared. Once into the marriage I’d discovered I’m not in love or I can’t deal with these problems. This isn’t what I wanted and I would leave. I wouldn’t stay for the wrong reasons.

I was 16.

I was just a kid and out of school. I seemed very aimless and along came Jack Wrather the III. He was gorgeous and 18. He claimed to love me until death do us part. I told my mom, "We’re going to Mexico to get married." They said, "Okay honey; call us when you get back."

How does one get married 5 times?

I was married 4 times. How do you get married 4 times? You get a license.

It’s such a big favorite how could I possible get tired of it. It’s quite amazing. I certainly had no idea that when I did that film it would be something that would follow me around for the rest of my life. I did more television than film.

You’ve always talked about the scene where you had to jump off a platform in Vegas for "Diamonds are Forever".

I went into the water in the middle of the night with little panties on. It wasn’t fun.

Sean Connery had a toupee at the time.

He had a toupee. He hated it, but he had to wear it.

Did you have a relationship with Robert Redford?

Robert was married when Natalie was working with him.

He’s very upstanding. He’s wonderful. He’s very thoughtful. I know actors can be terrific. I know I’ve been saying all these wonderful things about all these people. They’re fascinating people.

I was on the show a couple of times. He was wonderful. I was also on the show with Joan Rivers and I was also on one time with Joey Bishop. I just thought it would be something that was fun.

I was scared to be on with Joan. I thought she’d be sarcastic to me and I’d get very upset because I’m very sensitive. She ended up being really nice to me. She was so sweet to me. I couldn’t believe it.

They liked me on that show. I use to do one every year the show was on. They’d call and say, "Can you do this one?" and I’d say, "Absolutely".

One time I was a stripper who was murdered. Another time I was someone who was hiding funds.

I usually did play the bad girls on those.

I worked with Ricardo twice. We did a film for TV together called, "Blackwater Gold". I adore Ricardo Monteblan. He’s a wonderful, wonderful man! He and his wife are a wonderful couple. He’s got a wonderful family. I cannot say enough nice things about him. He is terrific! He’s kind, giving, and very concerned.

It was about a sunken Treasure. I played a biologist and Keir Dullea was my boyfriend. He had ruptured an eardrum on a dive and couldn’t dive anymore. Ricardo, Keir, and I were going after a treasure. Of course there were bad guys. Brad Dillman was a bad guy and France Nuyen was a bad girl.

I got the good girl role that time. That was for ABC. It’s on DVD.

It was with Linda Purl. She’s a wonderful actress.

Weren’t you the supreme hooker in the movie?

I was the top hooker. It was one of the highest rated ABC movies of the week.

I suppose that’s part of me. There’s a lot of Plenty ole Toole from the James Bond movie too. There’s a lot of naiveté.

I played one of the bad guys. I was a pilot flying a plane. It’s just fun and games. It was terrific.

That was with me, Russ Tamblyn, and Richard Beymer. It was a feature film. It was about Marijuana smuggling.

He was a lovely guy. I was actually brought into the tribe. I was given an Indian name and everything. I went to a ceremony. He was a very kind, caring person. Ben Johnson was a big favorite. I just adored Ben. He was wonderful.

It’s the worse film in the entire world, but it’s got this massive cult following. It’s hysterical. I mean people just love this movie. The monster is laughable. It’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen.

You were on the soap drama Capitol.

I was on Capitol until the show was cancelled.

Are there other shows or movie roles that you liked?

I was very proud of QB VII. I really wanted to be a part of that. I lost a good agent over it because he said it was too small a role and I shouldn’t do it. I loved working on "Wild Wild West". I loved being able to do light comedy. I loved doing a guest starring role with Richard Dreyfuss on the Felony Squad. He was very funny & a wonderful raconteur.

You appeared in Playboy?

That wasn’t something that was planned. I tried to get out of it.

Everybody started getting mad and there was some concern about how I would come off. I spoke with Hugh Hefner and told him, "I don’t want to go out there and say aren’t I pretty?" It’s not what I’m all about. Hugh said, "How can I run it. We’d really like to." We just kept talking and talking. I had mentioned to him that I write and he said, "What do you write?" and I said, "I’ve got a book of poetry." He said, "What if we include the poetry and I publish your book?" and I said, "Okay". That would work and that’s how the poetry appeared in Playboy and in a book.

Did they ask you silly questions: what was your favorite cake to eat?

I wasn’t a playmate. I was an actress. They use to do one celebrity a month. I was the celebrity layout. I wasn’t a playmate.

I don’t think it made a difference one way or another. A friend of mine had written "Diamonds are Forever" Tom Mankiewicz wrote it and he was the one who mentioned me to Cubby Broccoli.

His family developed the plant that is Broccoli. The vegetable was given their name. It sounds like a made up name I know.

What about your career as a producer?
 

I got to appear in a show that I had originated. I was Vice President of Development with Jay Bernstein and Larry Thompson productions. I put together the "Murder Me, Murder You" movie from Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane. I was a producer on that and we went to a series before we even finished filming because CBS was so thrilled with it.

I left there to work somewhere else as a producer. I got a call months later from the production office being frantic and saying, "We just had a problem with an actress. Can you please come in and do this role?" I said, "Absolutely." I just thought it would be so much fun to see my crew again and everybody I had worked with. I adored it. It was a blast. I loved it. I got murdered in that too.

I produced two of her movies: "Born to be sold" which was about the Black Market baby adoption and a thriller called "Hotline". Then two of her Lynda Carter Specials.

No. I think people are flattered that they are remembered and that they have some sort of an impact. You’re doing something that takes people away and into a different time or situation. Movie work is about fantasy. I think people are very pleased that they are remembered. I certainly am.

You got to hang out with the stars of "Rebel without a Cause": Sal Mineo, James Dean, and Dennis Hopper?

I was very, very young.

Exactly, Natalie was doing one film after another. I remember being on the set of Rebel without a Cause. It was always night shooting and I remember being very tired. The day shoots weren’t as bad. I was of an age where I should have been in school and my mom was taking me to the set. I’d have to sit in the school room on the set, but then I’d wander away because no one paid any attention to me.
 

I remember Dennis of course because we did that funny double date with Natalie & Dennis & Me & Dennis’s brother. We all went to a premiere together. It was very cute.

James Dean’s image still pops up everywhere.

In England they’re putting up a whole showing of photographs that have not been previously released to the public. They called and asked if I would say a few words about James Dean that they could put up in the gallery with the photo and I said sure. They’re doing a whole big thing for the anniversary of his death.

He came to the house.

That’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t have known about that at the age of 8. He was sweet enough to watch my little girlfriend and I put on a skit for him. He laughed appropriately and was very kind. That’s all I remember.

Isn’t it wonderful? That’s stuff is really hard to watch. I didn’t watch that movie for years & years after Natalie passed away because it was too tough on me.

Well, when you couple it with the fact that she’s gone and all that. Then it’s too much for me.

He helped me out all the time. I think the world of him. I think he’s fabulous.

Were you surprised that Warren Beatty finally settled down?

I think it was the right time and the right person.

No, no no. It wasn’t a Thunderbird.

She did buy me a car.

It was a Jaguar SKE.

Probably. Natalie took me out to buy my prom dress, but I couldn’t decide between two of them so she bought them both for me.

Way back when she did.

Your sister must have been like a second mom to you?

Exactly, and a dear friend.

Yes, she was. She always was.

She liked him well enough she went back a second time. She went back for a second helping.

Everybody has sort of moved on in their lives. We just went through something that was too incredibly painful to continue to be close. It was such a horrible tragedy. It’s just too much for us to have been able to stay close.

Suzanne Finstad wrote a definitive biography of your sister Natalie Wood called "Natasha: A biography of Natalie Wood".

She did an incredible, incredible biography. The book rights were purchased by ABC for Gerald Abrams for his production company. He got in touch with me. The book was purchased by the network to make a series or whatever to go into development. He contacted me and didn’t see how the film could be made without me. They needed me. He was aware of my production background and that I had produced other things. We started the process from there.

It was fabulous wasn’t it? It was wonderful. Suzanne did such a great job. Hers was a different book. It was very comprehensive. Mine was about Natalie and I’s relationship. Her’s is about everything and it’s actually its better that everything comes from everyone else instead of another member of the family.

Oh it was because of Natalie’s suicide attempt. It was the first time anybody had ever heard about that.

When did you find out about Natalie’s additional suicide attempts?

When I started speaking with Suzanne she gave me a copy of her book. It was still in galley form.

Not until the book was almost finished. We did get together. I didn’t say much or tell her much because I didn’t know her. Then I had a lovely meeting with her and she called me again and we chatted some more. Then I felt a little more comfortable and trusting with her. She has a great deal of integrity. That’s what I needed to feel good about. Knowing that Suzanne has integrity and she does. I became more comfortable and began to work more closely with her.

That was really tough. I think we had about 3 or 4 days of shooting left to do in Australia and it was going to be all the stuff on the boat about the accident. I said, "You know what folks you’re all doing a great job. I’m out of here. I’m going home. I couldn’t hang around for that. I left. It was a little too intense for me.

We were just thrilled to get him. Peter is very enamored with John Ford so everyday he’d come up with another "Searchers" question for me and come running up saying, "John Ford, John Ford". I’d say, "Peter enough of John Ford."

We had to shoot it there with our budget. We had to come in on budget. We couldn’t shoot it out here for the amount of money we were given.

It’s really sad. It’s hurting a lot of people that more things aren’t getting made here, but what are you going to do.

Right. I was hoping more people would see the miniseries and remember her. I think that’s one of the reasons all of us wanted to make the film. It would bring a new generation and make them aware of Natalie and what she did.

That’s she lived a life that she wanted. That’s she was a wonderful mother and a wonderful human being. She did lead the life that she wanted. She loved what she did and she loved her life. She was a very kind, giving person.

That’s right. It’s against the law not to watch it. You could be arrested if you don’t watch it. You better be careful and watch it.

That would happen. Before we have people over for barbeques here we run out with a shovel too.

We always had dogs. Natalie had horses. We had a Squirrel at one point. We’ve always had animals.

I’ve read you collect dolls?

My daughter and I started collecting the Madame Alexander dolls. We’re going to save them all for my granddaughter. She can’t have them yet because she’s only 5. She will destroy them. Now I’m just a handbag collector.

You’re quite a shopper. Is there a specific item you always go for?

I do shoes, handbags, and jackets. I love jackets. I’ve always liked pretty things. I mean if one could have a limitless amount of wall space I’d probably be buying a lot of art. It’s easier to afford a couple of cute sweaters than a Van Gough. I think beautiful things are very nice to surround yourself with.

No, I’m not. I’m currently taking care of three grandchildren, 7 dogs, numerous cats, and a big house.

If you'd like to find out more about Lana Wood, or to buy one of her autographed photos, check out her website at: http://www.lanawood.net/