Natalie Wood's Age In 'This Property Is Condemned' Revealed

Natalie Wood was just 17 years old when she starred in the 1966 film *This Property Is Condemned*, a romantic drama based on a one-act play by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film showcased Wood's maturing talent as she portrayed Alva Starr, a young woman navigating love and hardship in the Depression-era South. Her performance, opposite Robert Redford, marked a significant moment in her career, blending her youthful charm with a depth that hinted at her transition from child star to leading lady.

Natalie Wood's Age at Casting

Natalie Wood was just 17 years old when she starred in *This Property Is Condemned* (1966), a role that required her to portray a young woman navigating complex emotional and romantic struggles in the Depression-era South. Her casting at this age highlights a broader trend in mid-20th century Hollywood, where young actresses were often chosen to play characters significantly older or more mature than their actual years. This practice raises questions about the industry’s expectations of teenage performers and the potential pressures they faced to embody adult roles.

Analyzing Wood’s age at casting reveals a strategic decision by filmmakers to capitalize on her youthful allure while assigning her adult themes. At 17, she was legally still a minor, yet the film’s narrative demanded she engage with themes of love, loss, and societal judgment—topics typically associated with older characters. This juxtaposition of youth and maturity was a common trope in Hollywood, allowing audiences to perceive her as both innocent and experienced, a duality that added depth to her on-screen presence.

From a practical standpoint, casting young actors in mature roles often required careful direction and support to ensure authenticity. For Wood, this meant working closely with director Sydney Pollack and co-star Robert Redford to navigate the emotional intensity of her character, Alva Starr. Despite her age, her performance was critically acclaimed, demonstrating her ability to rise to the challenge. However, this also underscores the importance of safeguarding young performers from the psychological toll of such roles, a concern that remains relevant in today’s industry.

Comparatively, Wood’s casting at 17 aligns with other young actresses of her era, such as Elizabeth Taylor, who was 15 when she starred in *National Velvet* (1944), and Jodie Foster, who was 13 in *Taxi Driver* (1976). These examples illustrate Hollywood’s historical reliance on teenage talent to portray complex characters, often blurring the lines between childhood and adulthood. While this approach can yield powerful performances, it also necessitates ethical considerations to protect young actors from exploitation or undue stress.

In conclusion, Natalie Wood’s age at casting in *This Property Is Condemned* serves as a case study in Hollywood’s treatment of young performers. Her ability to embody a mature role at 17 showcases her talent but also prompts reflection on the industry’s responsibilities toward teenage actors. As audiences, we must appreciate these performances while advocating for safeguards that prioritize the well-being of young talent in demanding roles.

Film Release Year and Timeline

Natalie Wood was 17 years old when *This Property Is Condemned* was released in 1966, though she was 16 during filming in 1965. This detail highlights the film’s place in her career timeline, bridging her transition from child star to adult roles. Released by MGM, the film sits in the mid-1960s, a period marked by Hollywood’s shift from classical studio systems to more contemporary storytelling. Wood’s age at the time reflects her positioning as a youthful yet maturing actress, aligning with the film’s themes of innocence and loss.

Analyzing the film’s release year, 1966, places it in a competitive era for romantic dramas. It competed with titles like *Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* and *The Sand Pebbles*, yet its Southern Gothic tone and Wood’s star power carved a niche. Her age during filming—16—contrasts with her character’s complexity, showcasing her ability to embody roles beyond her years. This timeline also underscores MGM’s strategy to capitalize on Wood’s appeal as a rising adult star, following her success in *West Side Story* (1961) and *Love with the Proper Stranger* (1963).

From a practical perspective, understanding Wood’s age in *This Property Is Condemned* offers insight into casting trends of the 1960s. Actresses in their late teens were often cast in roles requiring emotional depth, a practice that blurred the line between youth and maturity. For aspiring actors or filmmakers, this example illustrates how age can influence character interpretation and audience perception. Wood’s performance, despite her youth, remains a study in nuanced acting, making the film a valuable reference for character development in period dramas.

Comparatively, Wood’s age in this film aligns with other actresses of her generation, such as Elizabeth Taylor in *National Velvet* (1944) or Audrey Hepburn in *Roman Holiday* (1953), who also portrayed complex roles at young ages. However, *This Property Is Condemned* stands out for its darker themes and Wood’s ability to balance vulnerability with resilience. This timeline detail invites viewers to appreciate the film not just as a romantic drama but as a snapshot of Wood’s evolving career and Hollywood’s evolving portrayal of youth.

In conclusion, Natalie Wood’s age in *This Property Is Condemned* serves as a lens to explore the film’s release year and its place in cinematic history. At 17 upon release, she embodied the era’s transition in storytelling and star persona. For film enthusiasts, this timeline offers a deeper appreciation of Wood’s talent and the 1960s Hollywood landscape, where youth and complexity coexisted on screen.

Character Age vs. Wood's Real Age

Natalie Wood was 18 years old when she starred in *This Property Is Condemned* (1966), playing a character significantly younger—around 16 or 17. This age discrepancy between Wood’s real-life age and her character’s age highlights a common Hollywood practice: casting older actors to portray younger roles, often to ensure maturity, experience, or star power. In this case, Wood’s youthful appearance allowed her to convincingly embody the innocence and vulnerability of a teenage girl, while her real-life age brought the necessary emotional depth to the role.

Analyzing this choice reveals strategic casting decisions. At 18, Wood was legally an adult, making her easier to work with in terms of labor laws and filming hours. Yet, her character’s younger age was crucial to the narrative, emphasizing themes of youth, naivety, and the harsh realities of adulthood. This age gap also allowed Wood to lean into the duality of her performance—capturing the character’s youthful spirit while infusing it with the nuanced understanding of an older actress.

From a practical standpoint, casting directors often prioritize an actor’s ability to embody a role over strict age matching. For instance, Wood’s real age provided her with the life experience and acting chops to handle the film’s complex emotional beats, which a younger actress might have struggled with. This approach is particularly common in period dramas or coming-of-age stories, where maturity and skill are essential to carry the narrative.

However, this age discrepancy isn’t without its challenges. Audiences must suspend disbelief, accepting an 18-year-old as a 16-year-old, which can sometimes disrupt immersion. To mitigate this, filmmakers often rely on costuming, makeup, and Wood’s natural ability to project youthful energy. For actors and directors, this dynamic underscores the importance of studying physicality and mannerisms to bridge the age gap convincingly.

In conclusion, the age difference between Natalie Wood and her character in *This Property Is Condemned* exemplifies Hollywood’s balancing act between realism and practicality. While Wood’s real age brought depth and professionalism to the role, her character’s younger age served the story’s thematic needs. This approach remains a valuable lesson for casting and performance, demonstrating how age discrepancies can be navigated effectively with the right tools and talent.

Production Dates and Wood's Birth Year

Natalie Wood's age in *This Property Is Condemned* (1966) can be precisely calculated by aligning her birth year with the film's production timeline. Born on July 20, 1938, Wood was 27 years old during the film's production, which took place in 1965. This detail is crucial for understanding her career trajectory, as it marked a transition from her earlier roles as a child and teenage actress to more mature, complex characters.

Analyzing the production dates reveals a strategic career shift for Wood. By 1965, she had already established herself in Hollywood with roles in *Rebel Without a Cause* (1955) and *West Side Story* (1961). At 27, she was at an age where she could convincingly portray the film’s protagonist, Alva Starr, a young woman navigating love and hardship in the Depression-era South. This alignment of her age with the character’s maturity underscores the film’s thematic depth and her evolving screen presence.

A comparative look at her contemporaries highlights the significance of this age. While actresses like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn were already industry stalwarts by their late 20s, Wood’s career was still ascending. Her performance in *This Property Is Condemned* at 27 showcased her ability to balance vulnerability and strength, traits that would define her later roles in *Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice* (1969) and *The Great Race* (1965).

For those studying film history or Wood’s career, understanding her age during production provides context for her performance. Practical tips for research include cross-referencing her filmography with her birth year and noting the industry’s expectations for actresses in their late 20s during the 1960s. This approach not only clarifies her age but also illuminates the broader cultural and cinematic landscape of the era.

In conclusion, Natalie Wood’s age of 27 during the production of *This Property Is Condemned* was a pivotal moment in her career. It reflected her growth as an actress and her ability to embody complex characters. By examining production dates alongside her birth year, we gain a deeper appreciation for her contributions to cinema and the strategic choices that shaped her legacy.

Age Difference with Co-Star Robert Redford

Natalie Wood was 18 years old when she starred in *This Property Is Condemned* (1966), while her co-star Robert Redford was 30. This 12-year age gap, though significant, was not uncommon in Hollywood pairings of the era. However, it raises questions about power dynamics and representation, especially given the film’s romantic narrative. Wood’s character, Alva Starr, is a young, impressionable woman, while Redford’s Owen Legate is a more seasoned railroad worker. Their relationship, framed as star-crossed, hinges on Alva’s youth and vulnerability, a trope that often relies on the actress’s real-life age to amplify the character’s innocence.

Analyzing this dynamic reveals how age differences in casting can shape audience perception. Wood’s youthful appearance and Redford’s mature demeanor create a visual contrast that underscores the film’s themes of longing and disparity. Yet, it also highlights Hollywood’s tendency to pair younger women with older men, a practice that can normalize uneven power dynamics both on-screen and off. In *This Property Is Condemned*, the age gap isn’t just a detail—it’s a narrative tool, one that invites scrutiny of how age is weaponized in storytelling.

To address this in modern contexts, filmmakers and audiences alike should consider the implications of such pairings. For instance, casting actors with closer age differences can challenge outdated norms and provide more nuanced portrayals of relationships. Practical steps include advocating for transparent casting practices and supporting projects that prioritize age-appropriate pairings. Additionally, viewers can critically engage with media by questioning how age differences are framed and whether they serve the story or perpetuate stereotypes.

Comparatively, films like *The Graduate* (1967) also explore age-disparate relationships but with a critical lens, whereas *This Property Is Condemned* romanticizes the gap. This contrast underscores the importance of intentionality in storytelling. By examining works like these, we can better understand how age differences are used—or misused—to drive narratives. Ultimately, the age gap between Wood and Redford in *This Property Is Condemned* serves as a case study in how casting choices can either reinforce or challenge societal norms.

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