Maria actually hated Tony during filming of West Side Story (1961)...
... and righting sixty years of wrong with the 2021 version, without wronging sixty years of right...
The most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard… (Verbal Dioramaaaaaahhhhh)
Hola!
The 1961 film adaptation of the 1957 stage musical West Side Story was, and still is, one of the greatest achievements in film musicals. With pioneering, vibrant and passionate choreography by Jerome Robbins, and dramatic direction by Oscar-winning director Robert Wise, it would become the highest grossing movie of 1961, as well as going on to win ten Academy Awards from eleven nominations.
That didn’t mean it was an easy shoot. Actors portraying the Puerto Rican Sharks were forced to wear brownface; even actual Puerto Rican, Rita Moreno. Co-director and choreographer Jerome Robbins was a cruel bully, and often worked his dancers until they were bruised, bloody, broken and vomiting. His perfectionist traits led to the production being 25 days behind schedule, and he would end up getting fired midway through filming. He still ended up with a co-director credit and two Academy Awards just for himself, though.
Natalie Wood (Maria) also wasn’t the best to work with, as Richard Beymer (Tony) would soon find out…
West Side Story arguably never needed a remake, but Steven Spielberg was a huge fan of the original stage musical, and wanted to adapt it once again on the big screen. Having the Spielberg name on the production meant it was big budget, but he also wanted to right the wrongs of the original. This time, only actors of Latinx descent would be cast as the Puerto Ricans, and the first person he knew he wanted was Rita Moreno.
Living legend Rita Moreno, proud Puerto Rican, EGOT and Triple Crown of Acting achiever no less, would become executive producer, as well as have a new role created just for her. Filling her old role of Anita would be Ariana DeBose, also of Puerto Rican descent. Just like Moreno, she would make Anita the standout performance.
The film would also introduce newcomer Rachel Zegler, but first she had to star in another musical; her high school production of Shrek the Musical…
Spielberg and his team had to tread a fine line. How do you take the original’s music, lyrics and choreography, make it distinctly West Side Story, without copying it or changing it too much?
Oye, Javi! Ponle fuego, ¡vamos!
And finally…
Ransom? Are you back again already?
Bye!
Em x
"I just wanted to say how fantastic the podcast has been over the last few months. You are really cooking on gas. You have covered some great movies. Loved the Back to the Future one and the Clash of the Titans double was great. I can't begin to imagine how much time it takes you to produce the show, with such high output and quality. You should be so proud of yourself for doing this on your own."
Russ
