NBC News’ Lester Holt speaks with actresses Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose about the highly-anticipated remake of “West Side Story.” This year marks the 60th anniversary of the original release.» Subscribe to NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC
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#WestSideStory #RitaMoreno #ArianaDeBose
Extended Interview: Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose On ‘West Side Story’ Remake
Shout out to George Floyd on 563 days of sobriety. It took some tough love but he did it. Say his name liberals!
Unfortunately, George Floyd met the same untimely government execution as did Steven Biko. George Floyd was a simple man, probably not as educated or intellectually sophisticated as Steven Biko, but I would not be surprised that Steven Biko also cried out for his “Momma” at the last moment of his life such as George Floyd. This makes them both Martyrs to the world as they were victims of government sanctioned police brutality. I can’t help of also thinking of George Floyd when I hear Peter Gabriel’s “Biko”.
@Inky Dionne He says this on every video, I have seen the same post on other videos. This is where you see the desperate need for more mental health care in America, this guy is proof of it.
Day 117 since Brandon abandoned American citizens in Afghanistan. Many are still there. Let’s go Brandon!.
Unfortunately, George Floyd met the same untimely government execution as did Steven Biko. George Floyd was a simple man, probably not as educated or intellectually sophisticated as Steven Biko, but I would not be surprised that Steven Biko also cried out for his “Momma” at the last moment of his life such as George Floyd. This makes them both Martyrs to world as they were victims of government sanctioned police brutality. I can’t help of also thinking of George Floyd when I hear Peter Gabriel’s “Biko”.
Great breaking news that a DC appeals court has ruled against former President Trump on White House record! 😄👍
Bad breaking news that Biden and his administration have the same contempt for REAL journalism and the journalists who do that work. Let Julien Assange go!
@neil adlington Trump hounded assange just as Biden is now
I remember Rita on the movie and electric company I look forward to the newest version…not remake…
In fact it’s not a remake. It’s an adaptation of the stage play
@idaf Oh. I thought mv4463 meant a new version of _The Electric Company_ . Woops.
I was close to live on the street and the website saved me☝️ I appreciate your helped so much
I was close to live on the street and the website saved me.☝️ I appreciate your helped so much
This is fabulous!
I think it is beautiful to show all shades of the Puerto Rican ethnicity. They are all shades. People in the audience received some cultural education.
Both actresses are Puerto Rican too. I hate how the original West Side Story made us all the same shade brown
❤️❤️
Rita is full of *it* regarding her alleged “love” for an Afro-Latina lead…. all due respect.
@Larry, Son of Milton Well, LMM is a hero to Puerto Ricans in general and particularly to Puerto Ricans in theater. So yes, she could be protective. But Lyn was telling a story representing his ow neighborhood when and where he grew up. I have the feeling that he probably portrayed it the way he remembers it. Washington Heights is only 14% black. I think LMM’s cast was also at least 14% black. So it may not even be a valid criticism.
@Jonathan Doelander That’s all well and good but it was Rita’s reaction… her own words, that individuals found questionable.
Sometimes it’s not about what you say but HOW you say it.
@Jonathan Doelander Seramos de diferentes mundos porque los puertorriqueños que yo conozco—de la isla, no de la diaspora—no soportan a LMM. Yo pienso que es un individuo creativo, simpático y agradable con ciertas faltas, pero los puertorriqueños que yo conozco resienten sus actitudes neoliberales acerca de la situación económica de la isla.
Además… el apodo de WH es “Little Dominican Republic”. Alguna ves haz visitado? La presencia negra es *fuerte.* No me sorprende que se haya borrado esa presencia en su “memoria”, esa exclusión subconsciente tiene una tradición larga en los Latinoamericanos no-negros. Pero al menos ahora los tiempos van cambiando.
Solo que algunos individuos, desgraciadamente, ponen como prioridad el ego de su héroe sobre la representación justa de nuestro pueblo. Parece que esa categoría te incluye.
@Larry, Son of Milton Well, I admit that my experience comes mostly from Puerto Ricans from the diaspora (Eastern United States)/ Not from the island. SO I may send corrected on the overall opinion of Puerto Ricans on LMM. In New York, he is a favorite son.
@Larry, Son of Milton Undoubtedly so….
Tbh they stayed so incredibly true to the original choreography and music, while giving it amazing new visuals and angles, sharper movements too at times; it was absolutely stunning. Every one who was cast for their roles were cast for very good reason 💜. They all did so GREAT! They were perfection. I recommend everyone go see this; it truly was another masterpiece; much like the original.
Im happy to see an Afro-Latina. I rarely see Afro-Latinas in film. Bravo!
She is stunning but most people now are biracial. The entire world is connected in very few generations of people. Every group has multi/shades/ skin tones. Ariana calls herself black.
@Jennifer Wise Arianda is not African-American, and regardless Im happy to see a sista that looks like a family member. Also, biracial people have existed for ages which is not new. Shades of black is nothing new. Black folks all over the world come in many shades, and that is with two black parents. I said what I said. Black all day!🤷
@BUTLERU Ariana is Afro Latina living in the USA. That makes her American.
Black is your race, latina describes a geographical location.
Iconic film. However still frustrated at a few things being a Mexican American. Like 1: Why does a Latin girl not get a happy ending?
2: Why was the division and hatred and killing one another not addressed at the end of the film?
3: Why is the main white male character still portrayed as a hero, who even though he KILLS a brown man, his sister still continues to love him and ignore this fact?
Idk bout you all pero this all still irks me. The hate and division is never addressed. The only great part in my opinion, was seeing Rita Moreno’s character as Valentina who was trying to help BOTH sides.
@Jennifer Wise Yeah go watch one of her thought provoking Rom Coms!
There’s in the heights if you want to see happy ending for latina girl without a white savior character. The director was asian tho so maybe that’s not good enough for you.
For number 2 if i remember correctly both gangs carried tony’s body together at the end of the movie. That might symbolizes peace between them.
Number 3 i think is the biggest plot hole in the movie. That storyline does not make sense even considering maria’s age
@Heyitsanabanana this film has great representation. It is a tragic love story. So there is no happy ending. But thats life life is messy and does not end well. But it was a great ride. You cant tell me you didnt enjoy this wonderful film.
Do you watch other directors from other countries who portray latinas in interesting ways. Like Pedro Almodovar his films are great.
I think you are a sick man.
Fantastic interview.
The original movie will always be the best. The original movie has one of the best dancers and that alone makes it special. I’ll watch it because of Rita and because I will always support any film that supports the Latino culture.
America is still getting to understand Latinos. They now known that we all don’t look the same and that Latinos are a multi-racial and multicultural ethnic community. There word “interracial” doesn’t exist in our community because we understand that at the end of the day we share the same language, cultural upbringing and el orgullo Latino.
Great interview. Loved the movie.
I loved It : the iconic Rita Moreno and the Broadway “newcomer,” Ariana DeBose (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical; Hamilton, A Bronx Tale) !!! It was So Good…. (Steven) Spielberg, some famous Hollywood film director (E.T.; imagine “Jaws” the shark story, as a musical), did a great job. “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat !” – Chief Brody (Roy Scheider)
Ariana has been on Broadway 10 yrs? Not a ” newcomer”.
Cuántos años tiene esta bella dama:Rita Moreno?
90 años recién cumplidos!
Her mother is white, therefore her heritage is not just Latin, its white as well. But she dismisses that in her statement that she could embrace her heritage. Yet in embracing that part she dismisses the other. So is she ashamed of having white ancestry? I don’t get it, if we want equality why are we making big deals about ancestry? Shouldn’t we be celebrating all heritage, not just pieces of it.
Im sure she doesn’t dismiss her white ancestry but in most people’s eyes she’s is seen as a woman of color. So people will treat her as such and she’ll be subjected to the same barriers that people of color face.
@Chata Pratt Most peoples? She’s literally black. She’s perceived as a woman of color by literally everyone.
@Jonmad17 Yes I just said that because she is mixed. But you’re right pretty much everyone will perceive her as black because of her skin color
This comment gave me cancer like wth are you talking about. Are you blind? 🤣
Rita, I want her vest and necklace!
These two beautiful talented ladies ❤️
Lester Holt should be punished
I’ve watched the original multiple times. Was Anita in my high school production.
Heard about the awful remake of it on Broadway from my son, who was there opening night in March 2020.
THIS new and traditional West Side Story is rich and broadened by the reality of its time and deeper developtment of characters. This Film is Perfect in every single way. Left me in tears with a hope for more kindness, from our polarized world.
How could she be 90? Ageless beauty!
Isn’t it a little hypocritical that on the one hand Rita praises the casting of an Afro Latina for Anita, then on the other complains that the makeup used for the sharks in 61 was offensively dark and “muddy”?
I think the context is different. In a different interview from this, Rita recalls she pointed out to a make up artist on the set of WSS — “You know, Puerto Ricans are all different colors, why can’t we be different skin colors because its more accurate? I’m already Puerto Rican and some of us are lighter” (paraphrasing) and the make up artist replied “What, are you racist?” which is a weird response and she didn’t know how to reply to it.
Rita’s issue was more than Latino people were not being represented authentically or accurately whatsoever, and were forced to represent medium skinned stereotypes with awful make up, even when she, a real Latina, didn’t look like that. Some Latinos do! But light skinned people shouldn’t be made to wear brown face to force a stereotype.
Ariana’s context is different. By this time, things have progressed and issues of colorism and preference for light skin in marginalized communities are being discussed. There’s more of a push and a desire for authentically dark skinned and afro latinos to represent their part of the community.
So that’s why it’s a wonderful thing Ariana can play Anita as an Afro-Latina and Rita can also point out how it was wrong 1960s Hollywood forced her to wear brown face as a light skinned Puerto Rican.
She was complaining about brown face. If you’re going to put brown people on screen, hire brown people. She also made the point that making Puerto Ricans all the same shade makes zero sense because Puerto Ricans come in all colors (as you can see when Rita sits next to Ariana, both of whom are Puerto Rican).
Both fabulous ❤️❤️
Two different generations of great puerto rican performers.
Spainish settlers of PUERTA RICO WERE WHITE, plus Natives and Slaves
Ariana and Rita will join Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro as actors to win Oscars for playing the same character.
Imagine the pressure meeting the original legend whom you are replacing…