Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood Featured on REEL 13 in March

Those iconic and beloved actresses Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood, whose careers were each to be cut tragically short, can be seen in two of their most important and popular films: 1956's "Bus Stop" and 1961's "West Side Story" respectively on THIRTEEN's Reel 13 in March.

Monroe played Kim Stanley's original role of Cherie in director Joshua Logan's adaptation, based on the 1955 William Inge stage success, about a second-rate saloon singer wooed by a randy cowboy (Don Murray). This was Monroe's first part after temporarily abandoning Hollywood to study at the prestigious Actors' Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg.

Wood took Carol Lawrence's stage role of Maria in the 1957 Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents "Romeo and Juliet" updating. Though Wood was dubbed by Marni Nixon, Bosley Crowther in the New York Times found her performance "full of luster and charm." 

Reel 13 will be pre-empted for the first three Saturdays in March because of special March Pledge programming.

WNET is the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York's public television stations. For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local documentary and other programs to the New York community.  

Every Saturday night beginning at 9 p.m., viewers can catch a Classic hosted by film historian Neal Gabler, followed by an Indie, hosted by Richard Peña. 

The evening concludes with a Short selected by visitors to Reel13.org who vote for their favorite of three shorts every week. 

March 24

"Bus Stop" (1956) Dir: Joshua Logan

(1956) A naive young cowboy (Don Murray) tries to force a singer (Marilyn Monroe) in Phoenix to come to his home in Montana. Arthur O'Connell, Hope Lange (debut).

"The Mountain, The River and the Road" (2009) Dir: Michael Herring.

A failed writer in search of inspiration finds love in a California town. Justin Rice, Tipper Newton, and Joe Swanberg.

March 31

"West Side Story" (1961) Dir: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Leonard Bernstein's classic, brought to the screen. Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood star as two young lovers from rival gangs in New York. With George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn.

"The Shipping News" (2001) Dir: Lasse Hallström.

A man and his daughter move back to Newfoundland. Based on E. Annie Proulx's 1993 bestseller. With Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. 

Reel 13 is funded by the Sy Syms Foundation, the Henry Nias Foundation, and the Rubin Museum of Art. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. 

David Horn is executive producer.  Bob Morris is senior producer.  Colleen McHugh is associate producer. Kevin Alexander is production assistant.

Visit Reel 13 Online at http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/ for additional information.