10 Worst Examples Of Hollywood Whitewashing
9. Natalie Wood As Maria (West Side Story, 1961)
A contemporary update on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story focuses on a New York gang war between the Jets – who are white American – and the Sharks – who are Puerto Rican. It’s a very clever use of the classic text, maintaining Shakespeare’s powerful romantic drama while having something to say about troubled race relations in America, which is thematically front and centre throughout.
And yet, the Juliet figure is played by a white woman, Natalie Wood. Though the Rebel Without A Cause star no doubt brought in audiences, and her spray tan and accent aren't as painfully over the top as they could be, it is a shame that this was seen as more important than staying true to the racially charged story.
Oh yeah, and the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo, is played by Greek-American George Chakiris. But these were the sixties, and this would never happen today, would it...?
Well, maybe not as explicitly.