Alyssa Watson

Literature 9
3/29/10

West Side Story WebQuest

West Side Story Facts- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055614/
1. How many Academy Awards did the movie receive?
 It won 10 total Oscars.
2. What were they?
 Best Actor in a Supporting Role
 Best Actress in a Supporting Role
 Best Art, Set Decoration, Color
 Best Cinematography, Color
 Best Costume Design, Color
 Best Director
 Best Film Editing
 Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
 Best Picture
 Best Sound
3. What genre is this film categorized under?
 It is categorized in Musical, Romance and Drama.
4. What is the difference between a musical and a drama?
 There is a big difference. A musical has a lot of music and singing. The
cast can just break out in song at any minute. A drama is usually much
more serious. It is clearly very dramatic and there is something always
going on.
5. What year was the movie produced?
 It was released in the US in October of 1961.
6. What is the plot?
 It is a Musical about two “youngsters” who fall in love, but are from rival
gangs of New York City.
7. How does this plot relate to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet plot?
 Romeo and Juliet are of rival families who fall in love. These two have
similar plots with the facts that young adults fall in love, but the groups
they are apart of are rivals.

Summary- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055614/plotsummary
1. Who are the Jets? What was their ethnic background?
 The Jets are one of the street gangs and they are white. (Montagues)
2. Who are the Sharks? What was their ethnic background?
 The Sharks are the other street gang and they are Puerto Rican. (Capulet)
3. What time era is the movie depicting?
  The movie’s era is sent in the 1950’s.
4. Where does the story take place?
 It takes place in New York City.

Natalie Wood- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000081/

1. How many films did she appear in as a child actress?
 She appeared in 18 different films.
2. What famous movie did she star in when she was 11 years old that is still a
classic today?
 I looked over the films, and the one I recognize is Miracle on 34th street. It
was released in 1947 which would make Natalie 9 years old, since she
was born in 1938.
3. What three Oscars was she nominated for?
 1956-Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Rebel Without a Cause
 1962-Best Actress in a Leading Role for Splendor in the Grass
 1964-Best Actress in a Leading Role for Love with the Proper Stanger
4. How old was she when she died?
 She died on November 29, 1981 making her 43 years old.

Rita Moreno- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001549/

1. She was the very first performer to accomplish what?
 She was the very first performer to win an Oscar, and Emmy, a Tony, and
a Grammy award.
2. What were some of the better pictures she appeared in?
 Two of the better films she was in include Singin’ in the Rain and The King
and I.
3. What award did she receive for her work in West Side Story?
 She won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

George Chakiris- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001995/

1. How old was he when he traveled to New York hoping for a Broadway break?
 He left LA to New York in 1958.
2. What awards did he receive for West Side Story?
 1962-Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role
 1962-Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor
3. What is he doing as of February 2002?
 He performed in England and now is in the jewelry buisiness.