WEST SIDE STORIES: THE MAKING OF WEST SIDE STORY
Summary
This documentary is about the making of the 1961 “West Side Story” film.
The production examines the genesis of “West Side Story,” and its transition from Broadway musical to Oscar-winning movie. Topics addressed include: how actors were cast for the stage show; reaction to the songs composed by Leonard Bernstein; challenges posed by Stephen Sondheim's lyrics; its initial reception on Broadway; how Hollywood first became interested in a movie version; the arduous and complex casting process for the film; how Natalie Wood won the leading role of Maria; the avant-garde dance steps with which the actors had to contend; the film’s creative cinematography; how a gang-like tension was created during the shoot between those playing Sharks and Jets; Wood not realizing that her singing voice was going to be dubbed; location shooting in Manhattan; injuries incurred during filming; Wood and Richard Beymer (Tony - film version) not getting along during the production; on-set pranks; personal recollections from the supporting actors and crew; "sadistic" working conditions employed by co-director Jerome Robbins; why Robbins was fired from the film; the movie's premiere in 1961; and the film being subsequently nominated for eleven Academy Awards and winning ten.
The production features interviews with cast and crew members, including: the stage and film version's orchestrator Sid Ramin; the film's production executive Walter Mirisch; the film's co-director and producer Robert Wise; the film's associate producer Saul Chaplin; the film's assistant director Robert Relyea; the film's writer Ernest Lehman; and cast members David Winters (Baby John - stage version/A-rab - film version); Tony Mordente (A-rab - stage version/Action - film version); Michael Callan (Riff - stage version); Carol Lawrence (Maria - stage version); Gina Trikonis (Minnie - stage version); Carole D’Andrea (Velma - stage and film versions); Nobuko Miyamoto (Francisca - film version); Maria Jimenez-Henley (Teresita - film version); Russ Tamblyn (Riff - film version); Rita Moreno (Anita - film version); George Chakiris (Bernardo - film version); Yvonne Wilder (Consuela - film version); Rita Hyde (Dancer - film version); Susan Oakes (Anybodys - film version); Harvey Evans (Mouthpiece - film version); Marni Nixon (Maria's singing voice - film version); Bob Banas (Joy Boy - film version); and Suzie Kaye (Rosalia - film version).
The production also features archival footage of: choreographer/co-director Jerome Robbins on the CBS television program “Look Up and Live” (1958); Lawrence and Broadway cast member Larry Kert (Tony - stage version) on “Look Up and Live” (1958); Chita Rivera (Anita - stage version) from a 1965 screen test; newsreel footage of “West Side Story” playwright Arthur Laurents talking about the Broadway show's reviews (1958); and an original vocal recording of Natalie Wood singing "Tonight" in a film rehearsal (1961).
Cataloging of this program has been made possible by Verizon Corporation.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: 1995
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:58808
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Fitzgerald … Producer, Director
- Melissa Smith … Producer
- Bob Banas
- Leonard Bernstein
- Richard Beymer
- Michael Callan
- George Chakiris
- Saul Chaplin
- Carole D'Andrea
- Harvey Evans
- Rita Hyde
- Maria Jimenez-Henley
- Suzy Kaye
- Larry Kert
- Arthur Laurents
- Carol Lawrence
- Ernest Lehman
- Walter Mirisch
- Nobuko Miyamoto
- Tony Mordente
- Rita Moreno
- Marni Nixon
- Susan Oakes
- Sid Ramin
- Robert Relyea
- Chita Rivera
- Jerome Robbins
- Stephen Sondheim
- Russ Tamblyn
- Gina Trikonis
- Yvonne Wilder
- David Winters
- Robert Wise