The final film in our Starring Natalie Wood retrospective is the oft-requested The Great Race, the movie that paired her with the iconic duo of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis for an affectionate throwback to silent-era spectacle and early Hollywood farce!

Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie’s arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate’s own invention.

Ms. Wood leans fully into broad comedy here, delivering rapid-fire dialogue and playful physical humor, a fun contrast to some of the her more intense performances covered in this series.

This Summer, we are celebrating the unforgettable star power of Natalie Wood with a quartet of films that showcase the unique blend of charisma and emotional intensity that made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen icons. This series is co-presented by the amazing folks over at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton as part of their exhibit More Than Love: The Life & Art of Natalie Wood!

Season 2, Episode 21 – “Miss Twin Peaks”
Original Air Date: April 10, 1991

The town prepares for the Miss Twin Peaks pageant, bringing Audrey, Donna, Lana Milford, and many familiar faces together for a public celebration shaped by private tensions, and looming danger. Cooper and Truman remain focused on Windom Earle, while romantic complications and personal rivalries unfold behind the scenes.

Season 2, Episode 22 – “Beyond Life and Death”
Original Air Date: June 10, 1991

As Windom Earle’s plans reach their culmination, Cooper is drawn into the deepest and most mysterious elements of the world surrounding Twin Peaks. The aftermath of the pageant leaves several characters in danger, and long-running storylines converge in ways that feel both intimate and otherworldly. The season finale pushes fully into surreal, nightmarish territory, culminating with a haunting final scene.