Rita Moreno And West Side Story Question..

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:57am

I have always been confused about Rita and her singing in the WSS film.

I know Betty Wand definitely dubbed her in A BOY LIKE THAT. Others say she does her own singing AMERICA and most of the QUINTET. I know, Nixon had do some of Anita's higher stuff in the QUINTET. But then I've also heard Wand dubbed her in both of those numbers too.

Doe's anyone know for sure if we ever hear Moreno singing in the movie? Or is it all Betty Wand?

Updated On: 11/25/07 at 12:57 AM

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:19am

I personally think that Moreno is singing in "America" and the low parts in the Quintet. I think it just sounds too uncannily like her. I have no proof, but then again I have no real evidence to the contrary. Rita Moreno seemed pretty up front about the dubbing otherwise.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:28am

Yes, Rita Moreno insists that most of the singing is her own, except for "A Boy Like That" (Betty Wand) and the last part of the "Quintet" (Marni Nixon). I think the soundtrack credits Betty Wand for all of Anita's singing, but that's wrong. I think that credit had to do with some legal matter, but as it is in the soundtrack credits is incorrect. It's pretty apparent where it's Rita's own voice and where it's not. She's said in interviews how she wasn't happy with Betty Wand's vocal performance of "A Boy Like That" because it didn't match her acting. You'll notice that in the movie, her lip-syncing isn't always matching the voice because she ultimately didn't care and decided to act how she would have sung it if she had the chops to sing it. Hey, if it means you'll win an Oscar, do what you must. I personally think her performance is pretty brilliant.

~Steven