He is so modest when he has every single right to be a braggart. He is just amazing! What a breath of fresh air compared to the actors that are so full of themselves.
Really, really good interview. Debra was so intelligent and well informed and George Chakiris is an amazing man with such great insights. I had the honor to meet and talk with him on a few occasions and he is simply beautiful inside and out. One of the greats!
I was 10 when I watched West Side Story at the movies in real time. It was the most powerful & the most entertaining movie I'd ever seen. To this day, it still reflects the pride I have for my middle name - Bernardo !
George Chakiris: not only a great talent, but an urbane and intelligent gentleman, humble and with a rich memory for detail. Debra Levine: thank you for interviewing this legend incisively, substantively, and with well-researched questions, all prized by this lifelong WSS devotee.
Good to hear him speak !I was inthe original of WestSide Story where I was Swing Girl. ( that means I was responsible for learning all of the girl dancers
I had to learn all the girls choreography and be ready to change to my Jet or Shark costume at any moment. I got alot of flack being told to get out by the dancers who were on the other team ! I was the only one with 2 costumes. Steven Sondheim and I were both the same age….19 years old … I am still mourning the loss! He was filmed by the library of Congress as he went to many rehearsals of his work to guide the young artists what the motivations were. You can access them on your cell or PC. He was brilliant!!! What a treat to work with him! Good to see this film of WestSide Story. I have worked with about 4 groups of high school students in production to give them some reality about the original! I was one of 3 from the original who was invited to the recent. Spielberg production. we had to get Covid clearance at great cost and stayed ina costly hotel. I was not happy to see Jerry Robbins choreography both copied and not acknowledged Was also upset that Doc, was killed off and His “wife” took his place Rita Moreno took over the drug store and sang ‘There’s A Place for Us’ much of the story was shifted… Rita had been made one of the producers so need to be acknowledged somehow. I was not thrilled with this rendition! The original was far more intense. How can you beat Jerry Robbins, Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein? Steven and I were both 19 on our first Broadway way debuts! I still get weepy to know we lost him. Anyway it was a privilege to work with these talented and famous innovators!
DURANTE LA ESCENA DEL BAILE CON LA CANCIÓN "AMÉRICA", CHAKIRIS DEBÍA SER RECIBIDO , E IMPULSADO , EN UN DETERMINADO MOMENTO, POR OTRO COMPAÑERO POR DETRÁS, DESPUES DE UN "DOBLE GIRO", PERO EL RECEPTOR SE DISTRAJO Y NO LO HIZO A TIEMPO, LO CUAL PROVOCÓ UN MOMENTO DE DISCONTINUIDAD EN EL BAILE. ES EL CASO QUE LA ESCENA QUEDÓ CON EL ERROR , QUIZÁ DEBIDO A QUE EL INCIDENTE OCURRIÓ CUANDO YA ESTABA MUY ADELANTADA Y HUBIESE COSTADO MUCHO ESFUERZO Y DINERO, REPETIRLA.... ES UNO DE MIS FILMES CLÁSICOS PREFERIDOS, Y TUVE LA SUERTE DE ESTAR EN EL ESTRENO...RAÚL ALCALÁ E.
Bravo George, you are one of the greatest actors in this generation. I am a fan from 12 years old, now I am 73 and still a great fan of yours. Wishing you all the very best. Thank you for all your great performances. YASOU GEORGE🕺
You looks younger than 80 or so years. Sure hope I can look as youthful as him at 80. George Chakiria, a good dancer. Yes West Side Story turned me onto dance and the music of it. Viewed it 2x the same day at a film theatre when I was 14 years in Phoenix AZ. I remember that I drove my parents crazy by playing over and over again the film music album. That "America" song, the lyrics hold true today. Luved "Cool" choreography. Luved all of it. Of all American musicals I liked WSS the best. Eventually I liked jazz dance over ballet, but I like all kinds of dance. Some more than others. I am Dine' which means the people, Indigenous people known as Navajo from AZ/NewMex/Utah where our reservation is located.
He seems a lovely man. But having said that, it never fails to to astonish me how actors in America can develop an entire career taking about the one and only great film they made - forever. Rita Moreno never stops talking about herself, and her role in this film. Anyone would think that she was the star. She wasn't. At the time all these actors were just doing a job, and had no idea that they would be in a classic. The men who put this film together and created it, are the one's who made it great. - but they don't talk about this film at all. And as time goes by, the stories, and the actors participation grow in stature. George Chakiris was just a working dancer who had been in the London cast and was cast in this film because he was a good dancer - and he looked right. Most of the cast were chosen for the way they looked. It's a fabulous film. So can the supporting cast please stop talking about it?
He is so modest when he has every single right to be a braggart. He is just amazing! What a breath of fresh air compared to the actors that are so full of themselves.
Really, really good interview. Debra was so intelligent and well informed and George Chakiris is an amazing man with such great insights. I had the honor to meet and talk with him on a few occasions and he is simply beautiful inside and out. One of the greats!
But for her calling his "America" scene partner "Chita," not "Rita."
i was eleven years old (in my prime, ha ha) when I saw West Side Story, fell in love/lust with Bernardo (Chakiris) and grew up - a fan.
This was awesome.. Thanks 👍
I was 12 in Germany. Fan ever since.
I was 10 when I watched West Side Story at the movies in real time. It was the most powerful & the most entertaining movie I'd ever seen. To this day, it still reflects the pride I have for my middle name - Bernardo !
George Chakiris is a Star- so humble, engaging and forthcoming. I wish I had been there.
George Chakiris: not only a great talent, but an urbane and intelligent gentleman, humble and with a rich memory for detail. Debra Levine: thank you for interviewing this legend incisively, substantively, and with well-researched questions, all prized by this lifelong WSS devotee.
Good to hear him speak !I was inthe original of WestSide Story where I was Swing Girl. ( that means I was responsible for learning all of the girl dancers
I had to learn all the girls choreography and be ready to change to my Jet or Shark costume at any moment. I got alot of flack being told to get out by the dancers who were on the other team ! I was the only one with 2 costumes. Steven Sondheim and I were both the same age….19 years old … I am still mourning the loss! He was filmed by the library of Congress as he went to many rehearsals of his work to guide the young artists what the motivations were. You can access them on your cell or PC. He was brilliant!!! What a treat to work with him! Good to see this film of WestSide Story.
I have worked with about 4 groups of high school students in production to give them some reality about the original!
I was one of 3 from the original who was invited to the recent. Spielberg production. we had to get Covid clearance at great cost and stayed ina costly hotel.
I was not happy to see Jerry Robbins choreography both copied and not acknowledged
Was also upset that Doc, was killed off and His “wife” took his place Rita Moreno took over the drug store and sang ‘There’s A Place for Us’ much of the story was shifted… Rita had been made one of the producers so need to be acknowledged somehow. I was not thrilled with this rendition! The original was far more intense. How can you beat Jerry Robbins, Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein? Steven and I were both 19 on our first Broadway way debuts! I still get weepy to know we lost him. Anyway it was a privilege to work with these talented and famous innovators!
George Chakiris must be very disciplined as a dancer. I cannot believe he is now over 80.
DURANTE LA ESCENA DEL BAILE CON LA CANCIÓN "AMÉRICA", CHAKIRIS DEBÍA SER RECIBIDO , E IMPULSADO , EN UN DETERMINADO MOMENTO, POR OTRO COMPAÑERO POR DETRÁS, DESPUES DE UN "DOBLE GIRO", PERO EL RECEPTOR SE DISTRAJO Y NO LO HIZO A TIEMPO, LO CUAL PROVOCÓ UN MOMENTO DE DISCONTINUIDAD EN EL BAILE. ES EL CASO QUE LA ESCENA QUEDÓ CON EL ERROR , QUIZÁ DEBIDO A QUE EL INCIDENTE OCURRIÓ CUANDO YA ESTABA MUY ADELANTADA Y HUBIESE COSTADO MUCHO ESFUERZO Y DINERO, REPETIRLA.... ES UNO DE MIS FILMES CLÁSICOS PREFERIDOS, Y TUVE LA SUERTE DE ESTAR EN EL ESTRENO...RAÚL ALCALÁ E.
Bravo George, you are one of the greatest actors in this generation. I am a fan from 12 years old, now I am 73 and still a great fan of yours. Wishing you all the very best. Thank you for all your great performances. YASOU GEORGE🕺
You looks younger than 80 or so years. Sure hope I can look as youthful as him at 80. George Chakiria, a good dancer. Yes West Side Story turned me onto dance and the music of it. Viewed it 2x the same day at a film theatre when I was 14 years in Phoenix AZ. I remember that I drove my parents crazy by playing over and over again the film music album. That "America" song, the lyrics hold true today. Luved "Cool" choreography. Luved all of it. Of all American musicals I liked WSS the best. Eventually I liked jazz dance over ballet, but I like all kinds of dance. Some more than others. I am Dine' which means the people, Indigenous people known as Navajo from AZ/NewMex/Utah where our reservation is located.
79 years old in this interview
George is incredibly youthful...hard to believe he's over 80 yo.
I first saw west side story when I was in jr.high school....went back 4 more times, just loved the movie
Thank you this was great!
This is my all time favorite movie, hands down. I love it
Exquisite.
Omg...how is he 80????
I think Chakiris and Chris Walken grew up in the same area of NYC around the same time. Their accents are quite similar.
Vaton ------ he seems to have something like a British accent
How can he still be so gorgeous at 79?
Greek genes...all Gods!
He's barely aged at all - he looks like he's in his 30s! Amazing!
@ alcd----- he looks quite a bit older than he did in 1962, in the movie
I was crazy about Bernardo! Opa!
YEP
Is he 84? for real?
Only 2 Oscar winning performances from dancers? Uh... Rita Moreno? Gene Kelly? Catherine Zeta Jones?
He seems a lovely man. But having said that, it never fails to to astonish me how actors in America can develop an entire career taking about the one and only great film they made - forever. Rita Moreno never stops talking about herself, and her role in this film. Anyone would think that she was the star. She wasn't. At the time all these actors were just doing a job, and had no idea that they would be in a classic. The men who put this film together and created it, are the one's who made it great. - but they don't talk about this film at all. And as time goes by, the stories, and the actors participation grow in stature. George Chakiris was just a working dancer who had been in the London cast and was cast in this film because he was a good dancer - and he looked right. Most of the cast were chosen for the way they looked. It's a fabulous film. So can the supporting cast please stop talking about it?
Both supporting actors George Chakiris and Rita Moreno won Academy Awards for their performances...well deserved. You sound bitter.
George Chakiris is an actor since 1953, long before West Side Story. He played small parts before and after. Great dancer and singer too.
Cynical? LOL. That was the reality for Puerto Ricans and black people.