“Latinos were sticking their heads out the window, screaming ‘She did it, she did it!'” Rita Moreno fondly remembers the historic moment she received the Academy Award for Best Actress for “West Side Story.”
Written Features
Rita Moreno biography and timeline
The divided states of “America” – why Rita Moreno objected to West Side Story’s original lyrics
Rita Moreno won her EGOT status with these 4 roles
5 Rita Moreno roles you may have forgotten
3 life lessons from Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno Q&A: Her career from Puerto Rico to Hollywood
Mariem Pérez Riera’s Director’s Statement
Declaración de la Directora Mariem Pérez Riera
Our Rita: How Rita Moreno’s Puerto Rican roots changed American culture
Video Features
Clip | How Rita Moreno became a social activist
Clip | Rita Moreno gives one of the shortest Oscars speeches ever
Clip | Rita Moreno on facing sexism in the industry
Clip | Rita Moreno’s mother inspired her “One Day at a Time” role
Clip | Behind the Scenes | Rita Moreno
Clip | Lin-Manuel Miranda on his first viewing of “West Side Story”
TRANSCRIPT
- Having to examine yourself and finding value in yourself is the only way to become a whole person.
It's the only way.
And I think that the only way is therapy.
- And I think she chooses the road less traveled, and I think it's why she's got all these awards.
- Show you what it's like in Hollywood on Oscar night.
The stars arriving and the general feeling of excitement that is here on this biggest of all nights for the motion pictures.
- The car came to pick me up first.
And then we went and we picked up Rita and she said, I'm practicing my loser's face. (laughs) - We made all kinds of sour grapes speeches in the big limousine that Goldwyn Studios had hired for us on the way to the theater, because we were so sure we wouldn't win.
And we made up all these hilarious speeches.
'I didn't want it anyway.'
And 'it's a lousy movie' and all that kind of stuff.
- Natalie Wood, making her entrance.
- On Oscar night, my friend told me who lived in the Hispanic ghetto or the Barrio.
She said all the windows were open because it was very, very hot.
And you could hear the Oscars on all the television sets and when Rock Hudson came on and said the nominees for best featured actress... - Judy Garland in Judgment at Nuremberg.
- The place went stone quiet.
- And Rita Moreno in West Side Story.
May I have the envelope please?
Rita Moreno in West Side Story.
(applause) - And when he called my name out, the place went crazy.
Latinos were sticking their heads out the window screaming, 'She did it, she did it!'
- All I remember thinking was, I mustn't run to the stage.
I must have dignity.
And it was so hard not to just run up there and grab it out of the arms of Rock Hudson, who was the fellow who gave it to me.
- I can't believe it!
(audience laughs) Good Lord!
I leave you with that.
(audience laughs) (audience applause)
