Un amour impossible

These are the first words of Natalie Wood concerning Robert Wagner as a visiting lawyer at her father's house, who later on will make himself her first lover. Of course it is utterly irresponsible to engage in a love affair with a polio cripple, but she has no experience and falls for him, which leads to consequences. Too late he realizes his own mistake and just leaves her, which of course is the worst thing he could do. Natalie Wood's performance is as sensitive and endearing as ever, while you must hate Robert Wagner for his wooden dullness and shortness of character. Natalie Wood deserved a better husband, they tried to divorce, but just like that other fatal marriage between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, they just had to do it again, and as everyone knows, that marriage ended by Natalie Wood's accidental death. We have never learned the entire truth about it from Robert Wagner, her death remains an unfinished affair, but as you see them together in a love affair like in this film, he certainly is not good for her. She plays a composer who writes and sings her own songs, and the great song she is performing in the beginning she actually sings herself, perfectly in tune and in perfect pitch - some regard this film as her swan song, and as such, it is perhaps a final emblem of a tragically precious actress.

While it was a treat to see a rare Natalie Wood flick and one costarring her husband Robert Wagner, unfortunately it was a big dud.

First of all, it's like the director told the actors to wait 5 seconds before responding, so the pauses are interminable.

Second of all, Natalie Wood's character makes no sense whatsoever.

I can understand her character being a bit shy because of her polio, yet on the other hand, her character is written as someone who is well off, and has a famous career as a song writer. So it's not like she's been in a shell, shay we say all her life.

So yes, while I can understand her Polio being a difficulty starting a relationship with Wagner, it doesn't really explain why she's so reluctant to share Wagner's life.

Example, Wagner takes her to a social event at a school because Wagner's best friend is married with kids. So Wood stands there amidst all the parents and is a total bitch basically. When a woman innocently comes up and introduces herself as a mother of a 4th grader let's say, Wood rudely says she's not a parent but tennis instructor, while standing with her arm crutches of course. Then Wood whines to Wagner and asks what she's doing there and he says naturally enough that she's there because HE invited her. Wood acts like he's committed some unfeeling act. IT's really stupid. Wagner's character is rightly put off.

Later, when Wagner get an invitation in the mail, Wood declines to go before she even knows what the invitation is to! Wagner explains it's a wedding invite yet Wood still refuses to go.

Later on in the movie, when Wood, obviously trying to appease Wagner suggest she invites some friends over. Wagner simply says what friends? I don't blame the guy. She's shut herself off from his life then wonders why he can't handle her.

Wagner's character at the end tells her that they've locked everyone out of their world and that he can't breathe. Who could blame him? Then of course, Wood's character begs for him not to leave.

It's a stupid movie that I couldn't finish, but damn if it wasn't great seeing Wood & Wagner together.

I think this is a very sensitive performance by Natalie Wood. She had any great roles but this one showed a depth of character not seen in her larger studio films. I enjoyed it very much and encourage those sho have doubts to watch it through to the end.

Ordinary TV movie that would be forgotten entirely if not for the costarring of the lead pair who had just reunited years after the end of their first storybook marriage. The film is assuredly beneath Natalie but right in Wagner's ballpark, she did it so they could work together and his feature film career was over. He offers a surface performance, she a good one although she may look the worst on screen that she ever has. Expecting during production, the baby-a daughter was named Courtney after her character, she looks bloated with a very unflattering hairdo. Still her movie star charisma shines though making this gruel better than it would have been.

Over the years I missed this TV Film and was completely surprised by the great performance of Natalie Wood,(Courtney Patterson),"Meteor",'79, a cripple who was taken advantage of by Robert Wagner (Marcus Simon),"El Padrino,'03. Marcus Simon fell madly in love with Courtney and drove Courtney crazy until she finally paid attention to him and went to bed with him. Marcus should never have started a romance with Courtney, because he was only going to Break Her Heart. The acting between Marcus & Courtney was fantastic and at times made you very angry at Marcus for having started this entire "AFFAIR". Bruce Davison,(Jamie Patterson), Courtney's brother tells her, "At least someone loved you in this world" and it was good you got to see what the REAL WORLD IS ALL ABOUT" ! Natlie Wood & Robert Wagner were married for the second time during this film and they were really a match made in Heaven! Natlie is greatly missed!