I’m Coming Marty!
Actually Marty Feldman proposed to me on the set of Young Frankenstein.
I couldn’t tell if he was serious because his eyes, they kept shifting and not always cross eyed. He had an uncanny ability to shift each eye in a different direction. At first I was stunned, then I got more than used to it.
I could always tell what mood Marty was in based on his eyes shifting in one direction or another.
I waited and really assumed he was kidding when he proposed to me, after all I was just his assistant who would duct tape the hump to his back.
He would say, just a little tighter Natalie and point to his cheek where I would proceed to kiss him; softly.
One time, we had a devil of a time removing the hump with all the duct tape. I took the scissors and started cutting away. He giggled each time I cut and ripped each piece of duct tape away. Who knows what people were thinking outside of Marty’s STAR room and then I started giggling! I think people sensed we had a thing for each other.
He said, beneath me, looking up at me with those great big green eyes, “Natalie I want you to be my assistant forever.”
“Well Marty, I’m actually not your ordinary girl.” If you’ve noticed?
“Oh, Yes yes I’ve definitely noticed.” said Marty
Marty was a true consummate, he asked me to pick up some bugs, an assortment at the local pet store.
Later that afternoon before we started shooting “Young Frankenstein” we were in his STAR room and he asked.
“Did you get the bugs, Natalie?”
I took them out of the shoe box in a plastic container. He looked down at them and said,
“Not very appetizing are they?” While looking at me with those great big eyes.
I looked at him and quickly picked one and chewed and chewed and swallowed it. After that, Marty felt more motivated and he smiled at me and picked two bugs and chewed and chewed and swallowed them.
The next time during the shooting I poured Nestle’s chocolate syrup on the real bugs and they looked actually cute covered in syrup running around. Mel Brooks took a look at them and then Marty went in for the kill and ate five in front of Mel Brooks. Well, needlessly to say Mel Brooks was so impressed and surprised.
Well, I’ll have to save the rest for next time and there will be a next time.
I have some flowers to put by his side. …I’m Coming Marty ~ Natalie
One day, I came in half dazed from not drinking my usual three cups of very strong coffee. When I walked onto the set of “Young Frankenstein” Marty was so relieved to see me because I was two minutes late, when I usually arrived 10 minutes before working time, so Marty and I could have quality time and talk about our past lives.
He was so delighted to see me he pressed the button on his music box and we both loved Barry White “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” and broke out into a dance move ❤️ beat beat beat ???
Marty could move and dance better than John Travolta on Saturday Night Fever! Imagine that, Marty in his black cape and his hump! I was a huge lover of disco music and boy could I dance. Not to brag but I could move with soul and sexiness across the stage floor. Twirling, sashaying, moving my hips. Marty would tap his heart with his right fist and give me GooGoo eyes!
Then one day when shooting the film was down to a crunch; budget wise that is, Mel was beside himself because Marty got stuck at the DMV trying to pass the eye test.
I said to Mel, “I’ll read the lines for Marty’s part during the scene when Dr. Frankenstein confronts Igor about the brain used in his delicate experiment. Besides you’re going to splice the scenes together Mel and we can shoot the scene because you’re only filming Dr. Frankenstein’s part.”
Gene immediately supported the idea by me being in character as Dr. Frankenstein.
“By George, I think she’s got it. She’s got it. Brilliant Natalie!” I smiled at Gene and he winked at me.
So I sat on the chair and Mel called out,
“Ready, lights! action!”
“Igor, can I speak to you for a moment?”
For Igors line I said, “Yes, of course Dr. Frankenstein.”
“Oh Damn it! I can’t do it Mel. Look at Natalie, she looks nothing like Igor, Marty!”
Mel being a little testy said to Gene, “That’s why it’s called ACTING GENE!”
I ran quickly to Marty’s STAR room and I fastened a pillow on my back with an extra belt and then put the long black cape on with the hood over my head. Stood in front of the mirror closed each eye and drew a great big eye on the left then on the right eye lid.”
When I came out of Marty’s STAR room, Gene and Mel looked the most surprised among the other actors and filming crew. So we proceeded to film the scene.
Gene looked at Mel and said, “It’ll work!!!” and everybody clapped as I went into Igor’s character a little too convincing.
After the shoot Mel said, “Natalie you can act!”
Right then and there Marty walked in. You can imagine his surprise.
So until next time. There was never an end to our love story.
~ Natalie