Natalie Wood is a legendary actress, who left an indelible mark on Hollywood with her timeless performances in films such as West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause. Her influence and talent can still be felt today, nearly 60 years after her untimely death. However, many fans of the classic film are unaware that most of Wood’s singing voice in West Side Story was not actually her own.
The 1961 musical adaptation of the Broadway play featured some of the greatest songs ever written for the silver screen, such as “Tonight” and “Somewhere”. While Natalie Wood was certainly capable of singing, producers chose to dub her singing voice with that of Marni Nixon. While it may not have been obvious at the time, this decision ultimately highlighted Wood’s acting prowess while enabling viewers to enjoy some truly impressive vocals in the film.
In addition to Marni Nixon’s work, Jackie Ward also provided some vocal accompaniment during certain scenes. For example, she recorded the intro to “You’re Gonna Hear From Me” for the movie’s original screen test sequence.
Natalie Wood was an iconic star whose influence will continue to live on trough her memorable performances in classic films like West Side Story. While she did not actually provide her own vocals for most of these roles, she still managed to captivate audiences with her acting and left a lasting impression on millions around the world.
Who Sang ‘Maria’ in West Side Story?
The actual singing voice of Maria in the film West Side Story (1961) was Marni Nixon. Although Natalie Wood performed her lines onscreen, her singing was replaced with Marni Nixon’s voice in post-production. The producers kept this a secret from the star and instead complimented Natalie Wood on her vocal performance after she had recorded the songs. Marni Nixon, an acclaimed singer and actress, had a long career providing singing voices for numerous actresses including Deborah Kerr in The King and I (1956), Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964), and Angela Lansbury in Beauty and the Beast (1991).
Source: bostonglobe.com
Do the Actors in West Side Story Perform Their Own Singing?
No, the actors in the 2021 version of West Side Story did not do their own singing. While the cast lip synced to their own voices for some songs, a significant portion of the original movie’s songs were dubbed with “ghost singers” – professional singers hired to perform the vocal parts. Some of these ghost singers included Marni Nixon, Betty Wand and Jimmy Bryant. Overall, the music was still sung by members of the cast, but their vocal parts were replaced by ghost singers hired for their singing abilities and experience.
Natalie Wood’s Age When Starring in West Side Story
Natalie Wood was seven years old when she starred in the movie West Side Story. Her younger sister, Lana, stated that Robert Pichel discovered her and wanted to adopt her, prompting Wood to get the part.
Did Natalie Wood Sing?
No, Natalie Wood did not actually sing in most of her films. Although she performed her own singing voice in the screen test version of “You’re Gonna Hear From Me,” it was mostly dubbed by vocalist Jackie Ward.
Was Natalie Wood’s Voice Dubbed in West Side Story?
Yes, Natalie Wood’s voice was dubbed in the 1961 film production of West Side Story. The singer Marni Nixon provided all of the vocals for Wood’s character, Maria. Although Wood had some singing experience, Nixon was deemed to have a more operatic sound which fit the tone of the movie better. In addition to her part in West Side Story, Nixon also provided the singing voices for other films including The King and I (1956) and My Fair Lady (1964).
Source: newsweek.com
Does Ansel Elgort Have a Role in ‘West Side’?
Yes, Ansel Elgort sang his own vocals in the musical West Side Story. He was cast as Tony, a role that was originally sung by Jimmy Bryant. This is an example of movie magic, as Elgort’s face matched the character but not necessarily the necessary pipes for singing.
Did Rachel Zegler Sing in ‘West Side Story’?
Yes, Rachel Zegler actually sang in the 2021 version of West Side Story. She provided the singing voice for Maria, and collaborated with Ansel Elgort to perform iconic songs from Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. Zegler was praised for her strong vocal abilities, which were showcased in her vocal performances throughout the movie. She also recorded a full album of songs from West Side Story with other cast members for Columbia Records.
Is Rachel Ziegler a Part of West Side Story?
Yes, Rachel Zegler is singing in the upcoming West Side Story movie directed by Steven Spielberg. She has been cast as Maria and can be heard singing “Tonight” in the recently released trailer. The song, written by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is one of the most iconic songs from the musical and Rachel Zegler’s rendition is sure to be a standout performance.
Did Tony and Maria Sing in West Side Story?
Yes, Tony and Maria actally sang in West Side Story. The musical was adapted from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and tells the story of two teenagers who fall in love despite their families’ long-standing rivalry. Tony is a member of the Jets, a local street gang, while Maria is part of the Sharks, a rival gang.
The score for West Side Story was composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Most of the musical numbers are sung by Tony, Maria, and the rest of their respective gangs. In addition to their solo songs, there are several duets featuring Tony and Maria throughout the show. These include “Tonight,” “One Hand One Heart,” and “Somewhere.”
For the film adaptation of West Side Story released in 1961, Tony was played by Richard Beymer and Maria was played by Natalie Wood. Both actors had singing voices dubbed over by professional singers for most of their songs. Marni Nixon provided Wood’s singing voice for most of her parts; Beymer’s singing voice was provided by Jimmy Bryant.
In 2021, Steven Spielberg directed a new version of West Side Story starring Ansel Elgort as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria. Both Elgort and Zegler sang their own parts in this adaptation; Elgort reportedly worked with vocal coaches to improve his singing before filming began. Additionally, Zegler earned an award from the National Association for Music Education for her performance in West Side Story.
The Singer Behind Natalie Wood’s Vocals in West Side Story
The vocals for Natalie Wood in the 1961 movie West Side Story were dubbed by actress Marni Nixon. Nixon was hired to re-record Wood’s songs in a studio with an orchestra, which included songs like “Tonight,” “I Feel Pretty,” “One Hand, One Heart” and “Somewhere.” Although Wood had originally recorded the songs herself, her voice was not used in the final cut of the film. Instead, Nixon lent her voice to bring the music to life and make it more cinematic.
Tony’s Nationality in West Side Story
Tony in West Side Story is a Polish-Irish Catholic. He is of both Polish and Irish descent, though his family appears to have a strong Irish Catholic background. Tony is the leader of the Jets, a gang of white American youths from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and his ethnicity is integral to his character. His heritage gves him an outsider status, as he faces prejudice from both the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang from the Lower East Side, and from other members of the Jets. This ultimately leads to tragedy for Tony, as he falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, leader of the Sharks.
Age of Maria in West Side Story
Maria is 18 years old in West Side Story. She is an independent young woman living in New York City, striving to create her own life away from the gentrification of the city. Maria has a strong will and desires to make her own decisions, which she showcases when she meets Tony.
Conclusion
Natalie Wood was a talented actress and singer whose career spanned four decades. Although her singing voice was often dubbed by another vocalist in many of her films, Wood still managed to make an impact in the entertainment industry. Her performance as Maria in West Side Story (1961) sealed her place as an iconic star and earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Wood had a remarkable ability to bring characters to life through both her acting and singing, ensuring that she will remain an icon in Hollywood for years to come.
