Intro: West Side Story (1961)

Hi, I'm Harry Marks and this is Let's All Go to the Lobby—your introduction to the film you're about to watch. Up next is the musical tale of love and loss between two people who fall in love amidst a turf war in New York City.

I'm talking of course about West Side Story, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, West Side Story tells the tragic love story of Tony and Maria, played by Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood respectively, who attempt to be together despite their very different backgrounds.

Jerome Robbins had directed and choreographed the stage version of the show, and refused to be a part of the film unless he could direct it as well, but he but lacked experience in film direction. So, executive producer Walter Mirisch hired Robert Wise to direct the dramatic scenes, while Robbins handled the musical numbers.

Wise had previously directed The Day the Earth Stood Still in 1951, as well as 1957's This Could Be the Night—starring Jean Simmons of GUYS AND DOLLS fame.

Robbins was something of a perfectionist and was never happy with just one take. His need for multiple takes of every scene led to the film going way over budget and falling behind schedule. He'd only completed four full numbers before he was fired.

As for casting, Richard Beymer was not the original choice for Tony. That honor goes to Elvis Presley, who was unable to accept because his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, didn't like that Elvis didn't sing every song. and felt the role might be damaging to his image.

Maria was originally offered to Audrey Hepburn, but she was pregnant with her son, Sean, at the time, and so the role went to Natalie Wood instead.

West Side Story the film was a bit more progressive than its Broadway counterpart. The lyrics to "America," for example, were changed from the stage version. The original lyrics were too offensive and belittling toward Puerto Ricans, and so they were modified in the movie to highlight the discrimination they faced in their daily lives instead.

Unfortunately, that forward-thinking mentality did not extend to the cast. Natalie Wood, who was of Russian descent, and George Chakiris, who is of Greek descent, had to wear heavy makeup in order to darken their skin to play their Puerto Rican characters.

But Rita Moreno—who actually is Puerto Rican—also had to wear the same makeup in order to match her costars' new skin tones. She later remarked that it was like wearing mud and was even called racist by one of the makeup men onset when she complained.

Costumes were also a big deal during the production. The cast went through 200 pairs of shoes and split 27 pairs of pants while making the movie.

But despite its setbacks, West Side Story went on to become one of the biggest films of 1961, earning almost 44 million dollars at the box office. It took second place to Disney's 101 Dalmatians.

The film also took home 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, as well as Best Supporting Actress and Actor, for Moreno and Chakiris.

George Chakiris had famously played one of Rosemary Clooney's dancers during her number "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me," which you can watch every December in White Christmas.

And so, starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn, singing songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, here's the biggest live action film of 1961: West Side Story.