West Side Story (4/10) Movie CLIP - America (1961) HD

CLIP DESCRIPTION:
Anita (Rita Moreno) sings about the great land of America.

FILM DESCRIPTION:
Romeo and Juliet is updated to the tenements of New York City in this Oscar-winning musical landmark. Adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Broadway production, the movie opens with an overhead shot of Manhattan, an effect that director Robert Wise would repeat over the Alps in The Sound of Music four years later. We are introduced to two rival street gangs: the Jets, second-generation American teens, and the Sharks, Puerto Rican immigrants. When the war between the Jets and Sharks reaches a fever pitch, Jets leader Riff (Russ Tamblyn) decides to challenge the Sharks to one last "winner take all" rumble. He decides to meet Sharks leader Bernardo (George Chakiris) for a war council at a gymnasium dance; to bolster his argument, Riff wants his old pal Tony (Richard Beymer), the cofounder of the Jets, to come along. But Tony has set his sights on vistas beyond the neighborhood and has fallen in love with Bernardo's sister, Maria (Natalie Wood), a love that, as in Romeo and Juliet, will eventually end in tragedy. In contrast to the usual slash-and-burn policy of Hollywood musical adaptations, all the songs written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the original Broadway production of West Side Story were retained for the film version, although some alterations were made to appease the Hollywood censors, and the original order of two songs was reversed for stronger dramatic impact. The movie more than retains the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, which is recreated in some of the most startling and balletic dance sequences ever recorded on film. West Side Story won an almost-record ten Oscars, including Best Picture, supporting awards to Chakiris and Rita Moreno as Bernardo's girlfriend, Anita, and Best Director to Robbins and Wise. Richard Beymer's singing was dubbed by Jimmy Bryant, Natalie Wood's by Marni Nixon (who also dubbed Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady), and Rita Moreno's by Betty Wand. The film's New York tenement locations were later razed to make room for Lincoln Center.

CREDITS:
TM & © MGM (1961)
Cast: Jose De Vega, Jay Norman, Jaime Rogers, Larry Roquemore, Robert E. Thompson, Gus Trikonis, Eddie Verso, Rita Moreno, Marni Nixon
Directors: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
Producers: Saul Chaplin, Robert Wise, Walter Mirisch
Screenwriters: Ernest Lehman, Arthur Laurents, William Shakespeare, Jerome Robbins

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HIT US UP:

[jeanne_guitton]

I love it when Bernardo tries to convince Anita that all sucks in America, and she stops him by saying "You forget I'm in America". And he just smiles, like he's saying: "You have a point there."
Those two were my favourite couple in the movie.

[Yetres]

I just hate it when I'm arguing with my girlfriend and then I start singing and doing interpretive dance.

[jackcovey]

Movie theater owners were reporting that after this scene ended, entire audiences (packed houses) gave this scene a standing ovation --- something theater owners had never seen before or since when screening a movie.

[swa]

Bernardo: "Everywhere crime in America"
Anita: [SNAP]
Bernardo: "Organized crime in America"
Anita: [YAWN]
Bernardo: "Terrible time in America"
Anita: "You forget I'm in America."

Rita Moreno is amazing.

[lordsxman]

I don't think anybody realizes just how difficult that choreography is. They're moving on the off beats in a weird time signature... THAT'S HARD!!!

[rai]

nothing will ever be more iconic than anita's flowy purple dress

[erikaoliver]

A well-deserved oscar for Rita Moreno. Her performance is so impressive.

[blanchefan]

As vibrant and perfect as any dance/music sequence every put on film. They're all brilliant, but Rita Moreno is simply phenomenal. This sequence is as fresh and electric as the day it was filmed. :)

[sleepy_]

"Everyone there will give big cheer!!"
"Everyone there will have moved here!"
She shot him down so quick🤣🤣

[isoldejaneholland]

You know, Natalie and Richard were good, but Rita and George were the real IT couple of West Side Story.

[beth]

fun fact: when Rita Moreno won an Oscar for this movie, she thought she had no chance of winning, so she didn’t even bother preparing an award speech. I’m so glad she did tho What an icon!!!

[coreyboggs]

I’m sorry but this version is just iconic. Nothing beats it.

[generalhorse]

you know this song is just relevant now as it was back then

[kelseyrobinson]

Bernardo and Anita's chemistry sizzles in this song! It's probably my favorite piece from the whole film.

[carmencollor]

One of the best scenes in the history of musical movies. George Chakiris and Rita Moreno are imortals.

[jdprettynails]

This is the best part of West Side Story. It has the best dance routine, clever lyrics. It's fun, political and still relevant. Plus I agree with both the points they're making. Anita is my favourite character, but I can't think of who her Shakespearean counterpart is....the nurse?

[raeluh]

1:11 let's talk about Anita being so supportive when bernardo was dancing and being all "that's my man!" and when she is dancing bernardo was just appreciating her so much一

[annabozyk]

That first dance sequence with the guys, and the counter sequence with Anita is just STUNNING in their perfection. The lyrics and music are poetry.

[Danatownsmith]

*pros and cons about being a immigrant song*
Edit: lol I don't remember making this comment 😅

[prettybullet]

They make the dancing look so effortless even though it's not and takes many years of practice to get to that point.