[EponineBarker]

Was anyone else here not too impressed/fond of Richard Beymer's performance in the film version of WSS? Even when I first saw the movie when I was younger, I never really liked him as Tony. The fact that he doesn't sing isn't my biggest issue with him (would've been nice if they could've cast someone who could sing, but considering that Natalie Wood, who I like, was dubbed too, I'm not going to complain too much) but his acting was rather dull and at times unconvincing to me. I'm not going to try to compare him to anyone else who played Tony, but I think in the film, Beymer's performance just seemed a lot weaker compared to the other principals in the cast.

Anyone else have an opinion (good or bad) about Beymer as Tony?

[Salome]

its "cast" not "casted".



I wasnt fond of Beymer either..or Natalie Wood that much. Chakaris and Moreno stole the film.

[Yakko]

Look every actor who has played Tony sucked! They always seem to forget that he was a JET!!!!

[Salome]

not every one i saw a regional production with a very strong tony and maria. very bleieveable.

[Yakko]

[Salome]

I wouldnt pay pro prices to see WSS.

[RainbowJude]

Richard Beymer is an awful Tony. Sure, it's a thankless role - but I've also seen better performances in the part. It is possible. Beymer just doesn't cut it.

Later days
David

[WSSfan]

It's agreed that Richard Beymer was a rather weak, lacklustre Tony in the film version of West Side Story, but, I learned something fairly recently that I hadn't known before; Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood had an extremely bad rapport with each other off-screen and in real life. To be exact, however, Natalie Wood, for some reason, disliked Beymer even more than he disliked her, and, in fact, Natalie Wood had attempted to get Richard Beymer kicked off the set on several occasions. This clearly bothered Richard Beymer, and I think it more than likely affected his abiilty to play the role of Tony in the film version of WSS. That being said, I'm willing to give Richard Beymer a bit of the benefit of the doubt and say that, had the relations between he and Natalie Wood been better, Richard Beymer might have played a stronger role as West Side Story's Tony in the film version. Just my two cents.