My West Side Story: A Memoir

Written by George Chakiris and Lindsay Harrison

Narrated by George Chakiris and George Newbern

George Chakiris famously played the angry gang leader Bernardo in the film version of West Side Story (1961), for which he won an Oscar for best supporting actor. My West Side Story is an insider's look at how this theatrical and cinematic landmark evolved from a conversation in Jerome Robbins's Manhattan apartment between him, Arthur Laurents, and Leonard Bernstein to ten Oscars, three Golden Globes, two Tony Awards, and a Grammy. While also a memoir of Chakiris's long and distinguished career, the emphasis is on West Side Story. Here are profiles of the film's stars and directors, from Natalie Wood and "lovely" Richard Beymer, to the mercurial Jerome Robbins and "passionate" Rita Moreno, with whom Chakiris remains friends. "I know exactly where my gratitude belongs," Chakiris writes, "and I still marvel at how, unbeknownst to me at the time, the joyful path of my life was paved one night in 1949 when Jerome Robbins sat Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents down in his apartment and announced, 'I have an idea.' "

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781684579167

Reviews for My West Side Story

[knahs_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found the book very readable and had a hard time putting it down. I was familiar with Chakiris' work in West Side Story (who isn't) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, I did not realize he has an extensive film career working with many greats like Yul Brynner, Charlton Heston, Dirk Bogarde, and so many others and it was interesting to hear what they were like. Additionally, he also met many others such as Phyllis Diller, Brigitte Bardot, Marlene Dietrich, and Frank Sinatra and again, most interesting to hear of those encounters. However, what I did not understand is he had purchased a house for his mom and siblings after his father's death and then several years later his manager (who he did not seem to trust but stayed with) told him he had to sell it. I assume it was for money reasons but he never explained nor did he tell us how his family reacted. He is not the first actor to be fleeced by his manager and if he was, he should have come out and told us what happened since he brought it up. It would not be held against him. He seemed to feel that his management did not always have his best interested in mind but yet stayed with them but you never knew if he did eventually drop them or not.. While he might not have wanted to share these details, it may help others to have the strength to stick up for themselves in similar circumstances.