One of worst Oscar mistakes ever. Yeah, he could dance. But act? And to think that George C. Scott and Montgomery Clift lost to this? Even Peter Falk and Jackie Gleason had it all over him. Voters must have have just gone down list and checked everything WSS. Awful choice. Yeah, Rita Moreno too.
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Fay Bainter, who displayed one of the most memorable expressions in film history in "The Children's Hour," should have won the Oscar that year, but the Academy wanted to pat itself on the back and show the world how tolerant and progressive it was by awarding the shiny little guy to a Hispanic woman. Another reason Rita Moreno won was because the country was swept up in West Side Story fever that year (it was the "Titanic" blockbuster of 1961) and the Academy members felt they should award an Oscar to one of the actresses in the film, and Rita was the popular choice -- Natalie had already been nominated that same year in the Best Actress category for Splendor in the Grass. This was also around the same general time period when Hollywood was beginning to finally recognize and reward the performances of actors from various races and nationalities. Rita Moreno gave a good performance, but I don't think it was worthy of an Oscar; I'm sure others will disagree, some strongly. As with Elizabeth Taylor winning her first Oscar the previous year mainly because she almost died of pneumonia -- and she was the first to admit it -- Rita Moreno also won for reasons not really pertaining to her performance in WSS. Fay Bainter deserved it, and at the time many thought she'd win it...and maybe Ms. Bainter would have won if she had also been in West Side Story!
Plus, Fay Bainter was a much nicer person too, but she was white and couldn't carry a tune or snap her fingers, and all these things worked against her at voting time. Poor Fay, she just couldn't be a Jet "all the way."
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It's bizarre that he was nominated, much less win. The role of Bernardo is rather nondescript and those who have played him onstage have never been singled out with a nomination of any kind. (Usually, it's Anita and/or Maria who get nominated.) Likewise, Chakiris is nothing much in the film version. When I first learned that Rita Moreno and George Chakiris had won Supporting Oscars for this film, I assumed Chakiris had played Riff since that was the supporting male role that made an impression on me. I thought Russ Tamblyn was award-worthy and probably deserved the nomination over Chakiris. My guess is that the Academy saw Anita and Bernardo as a package deal and decided to nominate (and eventually award) them both.
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I strenuously disagree with the notion that George Chakiris's and Rita Moreno's performances in the film West Side Story weren't worthy of the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor/Actress that they won the year West Side Story came out on film, because I think they were both fabulous in playing the roles of (Shark gangleader) Bernardo and his firebrand of a girlfriend, Anita.
I do agree, however, that Russ Tamblyn (and Tucker Smith, too!) would've also been worthy of an Oscar, as well, because they, too were really fabulous in their roles in this great classic film.
It was way obvious, Chakris' outstanding performance as Bernardo. Russ Tamblin was indeed good, as Riff. But Chakris was sharper, bolder, cleaner, and very sexy. No he was no 'mediocre actor' as some would criticize. He threw himself into 'Bernardo', and it paid off. In fact, his performance nearly upstaged the rest of the cast (outside the Jet's 'Jet Song' and 'Gee, Officer Krupke')
Peanutlee33
George Chakiris really did do a bang-up (meaning fabulous) job of playing the role of the handsome and sardonic (but fiery) Bernardo. Rita Moreno, as his firebrand girlfriend, Anita, was a perfect balance for Chakiris...they both suited each other well, not only for their roles as Bernardo and Anita, but personality-wise, they made a great pair. Russ Tamblyn was excellent as Riff, and he, too, should've won an Award, but that's my take on it.
shareI had read some of the backstory that Tamblin was recognized for his charismatic and outstanding portrayal of Riff. However, it was Chakiris that more openly stood out as the fiery, sardonic Bernardo. I think if the producers/directors had pushed more fight (no pun) or 'ooomph' into Riff's character, or made him far nastier than he was for the film, or even greater tension between he and Bernardo... perhaps the actor would have been an Oscar contender as well :)
Peanutlee33
For starters, however, West Side Story is a musical. Secondly, one of the greatest assets of the film version of West Side Story is that the various, individual personalities of both the jets and Sharks were shown with such intensity, and, thirdly, Riff clearly did have an arrogance, cockiness and nastiness behind the veneer of charm that he frequently displayed.
shareI do agree with you, that Tamblin indeed delivered a fine portrayal as the arrogant, sarcastic, cocksure, Riff... in certain retrospect. However, I felt it was not as strong as Chakiris' performance :)
Peanutlee33
I see what you're saying, oprivr33, but I feel that Russ Tamblyn's performance/portrayal as the arrogant, sarcastic, cocksure and nasty Riff, in its own way, was equally strong, because the role of Riff suited Russ Tamblyn just as much as the role of the Shark gang leader, Bernardo, suited George Chakiris, if one gets the drift.
sharewinning an oscar didn't seem to do much for his career
I had such a crush on George Chakiris as a child and yes have heard the rumours