MovieChat Forums > Splendor in the Grass (1961) Discussion > 'Deanie Look-alike hooker' Identity???

'Deanie Look-alike hooker' Identity???

posted 12 years ago by fidgee
9 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this amazing film for the first time and I'd LOVE to know who played the Deanie Look-alike dancer/hooker that Bud's dad buys for him and sends to his son's room just before jumping from his own hotel window....Was it a slightly altered Natalie Wood doing double-duty? If it wasn't her, they did a fabulous job casting someone who could pull off that look! Can anyone out there PLEASE tell me who it was?? Thanks!

And, since the re-opened investigation into her death has been ALL over the news in the past few days, I won't give my OPINION, but I would like to say:

REST IN PEACE, Natalie.....

[–] tombombs 12 years ago

One possible way of telling it was NW is to check the left wrist of the showgirl. Don't remember the scene but if there is no bone protuding then it is not NW. Apparently she was very self-conscious of this and usually wore jewelry to hide the "deformity" throughout her career-------including this film. What a gorgeous looking woman!

[–] Ed in MO 12 years ago

I just watched the film again and paused at that scene. No, it wasn't Natalie. But Kazan & Co. definitely found a very good look-a-like.

[–] AgentSkinner 9 years ago

It is somewhat of a mystery - since she had dialogue, she normally would have been listed in the IMDB credits. One possibility as to the identity of the actress - they used Natalie's long time stand-in, Roselle Gordon, for the role.

[–] TCMer 12 years ago

Since she looked so much like Natalie Wood, but not exactly like her, I was wondering if that event was actually supposed to be a dream that Bud was having when the hotel manager knocked on his door.

I know what you're thinking: "Who cares?"

[–] fidgee 12 years ago

I never thought of it possibly being a dream sequence......Hmmmmm. Very interesting idea. Thanks!

I've still been trying to find out who the actress was--she did look VERY much like Natalie Wood! Since she never spoke a line, I cannot find anything on the credits/info I've seen. If you're right and it was Bud dreaming, perhaps they did just have Natalie do that part with a few minor makeup alterations....Why pay another person when they certainly could have done that? I have a feeling I'm never gonna find a definitive answer after so long.

Never let fear of failure keep you from trying, learning or doing something new!

[–] Kelt Smith 12 years ago

Has nothing to do with a dream because remember, the father first points her out in the night club !
The father kept saying he was going to get her for him (Bud); that's why she shows up at Bud's hotel room door after the show.

Also, she did have a line;
"Are you Bud ..... ?" she asks when he answers the door in his pajamas.

"Other than that Mrs.Lincoln how did you like our little play ?"-actress Laura Keene

[–] C-Lashed 10 years ago

bump

[–] liscarkat (16552) 4 years ago

Other than being a young white woman with dark hair, there wasn't much resemblance. She was the same type as Deanie, but didn't really look like her.

[–] Lis (1) 2 years ago

Here’s my thought: A look-alike played the dancer/hooker—didn’t have a speaking part as the dancer/hooker while at the club, so wouldn’t have needed to be listed in the credits. And, I think an “altered” Natalie, playing the dancer/hooker, comes to Bud’s hotel room, because when she stands at the doorway of the room, the left side of her body is somewhat hidden, her coat sleeves seem long (hiding Natalie’s deformed left wrist), and as she moves forward, the right hand seems more visible than the left. She seems a bit hesitant about moving the left hand as she comes through the door. Pay close attention to this little detail the next time you watch the movie.