Me, Natalie

Me, Natalie
Original poster
Directed by	Fred Coe
Produced by	Stanley Shapiro
Screenplay by	A. Martin Zweiback
Story by	Stanley Shapiro
Starring	Patty Duke James Farentino Salome Jens Elsa Lanchester Martin Balsam Nancy Marchand Philip Sterling Deborah Winters Ron Hale Bob Balaban Catherine Burns
Music by	Henry Mancini
Cinematography	Arthur J. Ornitz
Edited by	John McSweeney Jr.
Production company	Cinema Center Films
Distributed by	National General Pictures
Release date	July 13, 1969 (1969-07-13)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.9 million (US/ Canada rentals)

Me, Natalie is a 1969 American comedy-drama film directed by Fred Coe. The screenplay by A. Martin Zweiback is based on an original story by Stanley Shapiro. The film stars Patty Duke, James Farentino, Salome Jens, Elsa Lanchester, Nancy Marchand, Martin Balsam and Al Pacino in his film debut.

From childhood, Brooklyn teenager Natalie Miller, with upper front teeth that are slightly bucked and a nose too large for her face, has considered herself homely and she never has subscribed to her mother's determined belief that she will grow up to be pretty. Her best friend Betty is a knockout gorgeous blonde with boyfriends, which further depresses her. Natalie's father, a druggist who doesn't share his wife's optimistic outlook, bribes myopic optometrist Morris to marry her, hoping his nearsightedness will prevent him from seeing she's no beauty.

After she discovers her father's plan, Natalie leaves home and moves to Greenwich Village, where she rents an apartment from eccentric Miss Dennison and sets out to enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle. She finds employment as a cocktail waitress at the Topless Bottom Club and befriends drug-addicted go-go dancer Shirley Norton. Although she contemplates suicide after discovering her aspiring artist lover David Harris is married, he finally convinces her she's a worthwhile human being and not the ugly duckling she imagines herself to be.