West Side Story's Russ Tamblyn at 55th Anniv. w/Stephen Farber at Laemmle

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Besides the WSS mambo scene, Russ Tamblyn as Riff had in the opening playground "When You're a Jet" number at one point gymnastically heaved himself atop a tall wide steel pipe. Then after singing a few bars, as acrobatically he twirled a circle and jumped down to the pavement. Later in the "Sergeant Krupke" number, he does a handspring. His agility virtuosity further shows in the rumble scene. His WSS performance was throughout Oscar worthy.

[@celticjewel913]

I agree that Russ Tamblyn's "West Side Story" performance should have been nominated for an Oscar; it is entirely unfortunate that it was not (and that Russ Tamblyn never won an Oscar period!). I can certainly understand why Fred Astaire personally complimented/lauded Russ Tamblyn for his wonderful dance work in "West Side Story." However, Russ Tamblyn is/was also an excellent performer/actor as well--beyond his terrific dancing.

[@lenhummel5614]

WSS was an absolutely incredible musical. Timeless as Shakespeare. Deserved every Oscar.

[@archivist17]

I'm glad he seems as great a guy as I've always hoped. What a talent, and so modest!

[@TomBacchus]

I've loved Russ' performances for decades; had such a crush on him. He's very astute on Twitter.

[@AndrewOrtizAO]

My favorite movie when I was 5 years old was West Side Story! I would watch it at least three times a week. My father is a Puerto Rican from New York and my mother is caucasian so she loved it and introduced it to me. The reason I took acting and voice lessons was because I loved the role of Riff. Working in LA I've come across and interacted with many celebrities but if I bumped into Russ Tamblyn it would tower above everyone else.

[@sunshinemallorieparkinson2560]

I just love Russ Tamblyn! Humble, talented, quick witted and fun!

[@DRIVEIN101]

I had the pleasure of meeting Russ at one of the Chiller Theatre autograph shows in NJ a few years ago. He signed my copy of the WSS movie program and I had my photo taken with him. For the photo, I started doing the "Jet finger snap" and as Russ joined in, he jokingly said "That's about all I can do now". Real down-to-earth fellow

[@MooPotPie]

Holy crap . . . he looks great for 81!

[@camiza7]

Because he is a Peter Pan

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@camiza7 ​A "Peter Pan" who grew up early, neotenously (mature in youth, young in elder age) as a boy professional actor continually starring or costarring in major films like Tom Thumb and Peyton Place had maturity, an epic work ethic, and dazzling performance talent up, up & away beyond the average.

[@Wolfsky9]

Such a classic film ! I loved Russ, & his acrobatic " dancing " !! ----------------------WolfSky9

[@jackrenglish]

I WAS IN THE ARMY WITH RUSS..1958....& I WAS A JET IN SF AT THE "OPERA RING"1961..JE

[@lhzook]

Jack English When you a jet your a jet all the way, from your first cigarette to last dying day...when your a jet you stay a jet!

[@jackrenglish]

YEP......STILL IN MY MEMORY AS A GOOD EXPERIENCE....& MORGAN FREEMAN PLAYED A "SHARK" DANCER, & MARTY BALIN (RIP} PLAYED A JET... & DID THE OFFICER KRUPE NUMBER...& PAINTED SETS, TOO..(SAN FRANCISCO OPERA RING ..1961-62..)..JE

[@wsc1018]

Saw WSS at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights a few years ago - the first time I had seen it on a big screen since I was a kid. The event was hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda (pre-HAMILTON) and his guest was Rita Moreno, who told some great stories about the making of the film. It was an amazing evening at a beautiful theater.

[@jennymohler5021]

ILOVE WEST SIDE STORY ON DVD

[@stephanieburns4560]

What an incredible man. What a gift to all of us. Thanks.

[@calebgocher5965]

Richard Beymer was a good tony Im happy that Russ Got the roll of Riff instead! He was so amazing as riff I practicly wish i was as famouse as him! I don't think there was anyone who could have done better than Russ as riff. He is a great and kind guy I look up to him and I hope I could become as good an acrobat as him. I also like the shovel dance that he did.

[@eldiran2]

Actually, Beymer's performance is widely considered one of the worst aspects of the film version--he is bland & couldn't sing (his voice was dubbed, as was Natalie Wood's), and considering he was not a big-name, it's a wonder why they used him. Tamblyn, also is a bit too elfish to play a gang leader. I am glad that they are remaking it, as the 1961 film does not get much of the dynamic of the original play.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@eldiran2 No way! Beymer's performance as Tony was a best aspect of the film. He was perfect in every scene, through the gamut of Tony's emotions; and as a tall, athletically built, uber handsome young man, credible as an ex- gang leader, now a perfect Romeo figure. Audience girls swooned. Had Robert Wagner or Warren Beatty been cast as Tony, their too famous faces would have distracted from the role's credibility.

[@joinjen3854]

It is all opinion. I felt Richard Beymer actually acted like he was in love with Maria. Natalie was a good actress but she did not act like she was falling in love.

[@kennethwayne6857]

@@JudgeJulieLit Agree with you 100%!! I can't understand these people who don't love Beymer's performance!

[@gulmerton2394]

I would listen to him for hours telling about the past.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

When the MGM movie That's Entertainment premiered in 1974 a big gala reunion of the surviving stars of the movie scenes featured in that picture was held in a theater. The actors were called to step up to the stage and Tamblyn, who was about 40 then and in a pretty good shape, stole the show making an acrobatic step in which he seemed to fall face and hands first to the floor while lifting his legs and feet way high, then he pushed himself up reverting to a perfect standing position. An ovation followed and M.C. Sammy Davis Jr immediately congratulated him, both exchanging hand slaps. It was 1-derful !!!

[@jkoncz]

Enjoyed this allot . Seems Tamblyn is a great person as well as a dancer and actor. I would love to meet him and have a beer!

[@jeanettesmith765]

81? He looks incredible and is such an humble guy.

[@davidbarcena2141]

Tony Mordente for a time was married to Chita Rivera .. after WSS he had a small cameo part in the WW2 film The Longest Day .. he eventually went into directing, mostly TV shows ...

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Too Richard Beymer had a cameo in The Longest Day (1962).

[@jackrenglish]

I WORKED WITH TONY..GREAT PRO..JE

[@cliffedward]

I did read that the dancers were suffering a lot of injuries under Robbins. Torn ligament,twisted ankles, sprains,bruises. He wanted the dancers to perform steps that were almost humanly impossible

[@dianemilligan3839]

Russ mentioned a few years ago in an interview on The View that he also suffered from shin splints, which is also very painful.

[@crisguia]

I read that Robbins was let go and replaced because he was causing the filming to be behind schedule with his endless takes, demanding that Russ, George and the others did their dance numbers perfectly. Dancing and jumping around on the hot pavement over and over again caused the injuries.

[@erzug]

And he was an absolute perfectionist. Do it over and over until he thinks it's perfect.

[@jacquelinerussell8530]

cliffedward Yes me too stupid

[@kimberlysommers2124]

I cannot believe how modest he is!!

[@kirsteni.russell5903]

Russ Tamblyn was a wonderful Riff, and I'm so glad he was able to do the kind of dancing he did best for the role. He transformed that role! As for Anybody's--Russ Tamblyn asks what "Anybody's" means if not "anybody's girl," so why is she a tomboy? But I always thought she could be anybody's daughter, and that's why she's a "tomboy."

[@erzug]

And George Chakiris was a terrific Bernardo.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@erzug Yes. It'd be fascinating to see any surviving film clip of his prior London theatrical-WSS Riff.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

While "Anybody's" might mean an orphan and/or ex- foster child with no home nor family besides Jets, I agree with Russ Tamblyn that her gang nickname means that, like a stray cat, she is sexually available to any street tomcat, especially any Jet. And like street cats howso female, she has developed fierce survival instincts and moves. And given the era's modest full skirts for females, she wears pants for better street mobility, but too form fitting allure. And as to "wear the pants" sartorially symbolizes being in charge of one's fate.

[@DRIVEIN101]

Sue Oakes was wonderful as Anybodys. I wonder what became of her?

[@ontheground09]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks so much 👍

[@humanbeing524]

Tony in West Side Story was supposed to be Romeo. Romeo was "star crossed" and in love. In the Shakespeare play, his friends make fun of Romeo because - they think - love has changed him, made him "weak". Romeo overhears Mercutio making fun of his short-lived passion for Rosaline and Romeo responds "he jests at scars that never felt a wound" because Mercutio who is always fighting has never been in love. Richard Beymer was perfectly cast.

[@joinjen3854]

Yes, he had such a sweet innocence. I also loved him in THE LONGEST DAY.

[@2034916]

Thank you for saying that about Richard. The ending would not have evoked such emotion if Richard hadn’t done such a good job of expressing grief and heartache. I loved his performance.

[@jeanettesmith765]

@@2034916 I agree that Richard Beymer was wonderful.

[@Womanwithblackdog]

OMG. You were born to dance. I assumed you had intense background. Also soooo sexy. My favorite character was Riff because of you.

[@ruthrodriguez9346]

Russ Tamblyn: 2:30 Jerome Robbins is fired. Tony Mordente replaced Jerome.

[@TheBeteljuice]

He'll always be Dr. Russ Tamblyn, pervert shrink with a heart of gold, to me.

[@backto-il9ne]

He looks 40. Also, I see Amber in his eyes. Great interview.

[@erzug]

Looks good for 81ish.

[@valerieverdi2730]

My girlfriends and I used a street in our town to try to simulate the amazing choreography. We all snapped our fingers really well. What fun!

[@1kinut800]

In the movie, the dance in the gym was horribly shot. The other dances were incredible however they were shot. The varying angles shots in Cool really added to the tension.

[@colinbaker3916]

1kinu T My only problem with the Dance At The Gym is that, as the Promenade accelerates, as Tony and Maria are about to kiss, it looks like the dancers are goose stepping with Nazi salutes. The most striking thing for me about West Side Story is the different arrangements of America, magical in the film, inadequate- in comparison- on stage.

[@eldiran2]

@@colinbaker3916 I agree--the ONLY improvement in the film was changing 'America' into a rivary between the women and the men, whereas, in the original play it is simply between the women, and isn't as powerful an anti-American statement.

[@colinbaker3916]

eric russell I don’t quite see it that way. The girls love America. My problem is that the stage version gives no voice to the Sharks, making them seem like the baddies.

[@watchman1178]

So, he was something like 81 here? He seems quite a bit younger than that.

[@Womanwithblackdog]

Dancers are born.😋

[@carolmassengill5642]

Gifted

[@gulmerton2394]

Who is 81? Russ or the interviewer’s voice?

[@jeanettesmith765]

Kind of a rude comment.

[@deniseharris1615]

I enjoyed this video. He is just the way I assumed he would be.....a nice guy.

[@666kinski]

Russ Tamblyn is a Fucking bad ass!

[@nicolamcguinness8689]

Rest in peace Liam neeson

[@TomSmith-ym9ej]

I think "Anybody" reflects on that she was either lesbian or transgender - neither male nor female but yet, she's both. She's Anybody.

[@jeanettesmith765]

That actress played that part so well.

[@quackslikeaduck]

Looking weirdly like Bill Murray here

[@chefnapsol2777]

what's with the interviewer? he sounded unprepared.

[@blakefletcher9834]

i think he kinda sounds like he's struggling with early stages of parkinson's but hopefully im wrong

[@jackrenglish]

YEP

[@vincentwilson7679]

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TONY MORDENTE

[@jackrenglish]

I KNOW TONY..DIRECTING NOW..JE..6/2021

[@annemaryevans4721]

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