WEST SIDE STORY: Best Picture 1961

WEST SIDE STORY (Musical - NR)
PRODUCER: Robert Wise

ABOUT THE FILM

A musical version of "Romeo and Juliet" updated to New York's Puerto-Rican jungle with the "Jets" vs the "Sharks" and with Tony (Beymer) and Maria (Wood) as the star-crossed lovers.

DIRECTED BY:

Robert Wise with Jerome Robbins (they shared the Oscar for direction).

THE CAST INCLUDES

Natalie Wood
(MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, THE SEARCHERS, MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR, SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS, LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER, THE GREAT RACE, INSIDE DAISY CLOVER, BOB AND CAROL AND TED AND ALICE, METEOR, BRAINSTORM)

George Chakiris / Oscared Supporting Actor! (BRIGADOON, KINGS OF THE SUN, IS PARIS BURNING?, THE BIG CUBE)

Rita Moreno / Oscared Supporting Actress! (SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THE KING AND I, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, THE RITZ, THE FOUR SEASONS)

Richard Beymer (THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE LONGEST DAY, CROSS COUNTRY)

Russ Tamblyn (FATHER OF THE BRIDE, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, PEYTON PLACE, TOM THUMB, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM, THE HAUNTING)

With Simond Oakland, William Bramley, John Austin, and David Winters.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

American Robert Wise (1914 - ???), who produced two Best Pictures: WEST SIDE STORY(61) and SOUND OF MUSIC (65) and both pictures also earned him the Best Director Oscar. Leading director, who started as an editor. His editing credits include CITIZEN KANE and THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS.

Wise's other works include: BORN TO KILL, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, DESERT RATS, RUN SILENT RUN DEEP, I WANT TO LIVE, THE HAUNTING, THE SAND PEBBLES, ANDROMEDA STRAIN, THE HINDENBERG, and STAR TREK.

NOTES & TRIVA

Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Side Ramin & Irwin Kostal received the Musical Scoring Oscar. While Daniel L. Fapp was awarded the Oscar for Color Cinematography. Thomas Stanford received his Oscar for Editing. Irene Sharaff received the Color Costume Design Oscar. In addition, Fred Hynes and Gordon E. Sawyer shared the Oscar for Best Sound and Boris Leven and Victor A. Gangelin recived Oscars for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color).

Marnie Nixon was Natalie Wood's (Maria's) singing voice.

Natalie Wood began her adult acting career with this film.

Authentic New York locations are just some of the pluses.

Numerous songs, including "Maria", "I Feel Prety", and "Tonight" are some of the popular Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim songs that are very memorable.

Jerome Robbins received a special Oscar for the choreography.

OTHER NOMINATIONS

Direction (*)
Supporting Actor (*)
Supporting Actress (*)
Art Direction (*)
Cinematography (*)
Sound (*)
Editing (*)
Costume Design (*)
Music (*)
Writing

OTHER "BEST PICTURE" NOMINATIONS

FANNY
THE GUNS OF NAVARONE
THE HUSTLER
JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG

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