And here's another of my irregular old interviews from my journalist days....This time it's from 1996 when I met up with Hollywood star George Chakiris backstage in Cardiff's New Theatre...
'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’; Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend' as a distinguished looking man holds out a string of diamonds to her.
A trio of young Puerto Ricans pick their way through the decaying back streets of 50's New York. Their speed picks up as the music builds and their leader, a tall, handsome guy, better tailored than the rest, explodes into a balletic mix of dance and street machismo that leads into the opening titles of ‘West Side Story’.
Jane Eyre looks out of a window across the wind-blasted grounds of Thornfield Hall, trembling as she remembers the manic laughter that drifted down from the forbidden upper floor.
Then she stiffens; the shadow of her employer, the mysterious and taciturn Mr. Rochester has fallen across her.
Three very different roles, one actor. Then again, Oscar winner (for ‘West Side Story’) George Chakiris is one of those talented players who refuses to be pigeon-holed and is equally at home in any of the theatrical disciplines.
With all this experience behind him it's perhaps not that surprising that his very first professional engagement was as a boy soprano.
"Oh yes,' he smiles. “I grew up in Arizona where I attended a local church. But when I was 12 my family moved to Long Beach, California, and my Arizona choir-master absolutely demanded that I should go to the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and audition for them. I did, was accepted, and was thrilled to discover that the choir regularly featured in movies.
My first film was called 'Song Of love' (l947) and starred a young Katherine Hepburn."
Movies
Growing up in Arizona and then Florida, George`s whole world was movies.
"When I was a kid I never heard of the theatre or even ballet. Los Angeles then and now, was and is a cultural desert for live entertainment. So movies were the whole world to me. I used to walk home singing the songs and trying to remember the dance steps."
Surprisingly, George hadn`t envisioned dance as playing so large a part in his career.
“I had gone along after school on the off-chance, and I saw this wonderful, wonderful, dance school. I was hooked and so I got a job downtown in an ad agency as a messenger and attended class by night."
This led him back before the cameras.
"I had always intended to be an actor, but my first professional job was in the chorus of 'Brigadoon', and from there I went on to about a dozen others including 'Meet Me In Las Vegas' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' with Marilyn Monroe - I danced with her again in 'There's No Business Like Show Business' - a movie with Debbie Reynolds called ‘Give A Girl A Break`, and a little film called ‘White Christmas."
Was Marilyn as difficult to work with as they say?
"I personally never had any problems with her, shall we say. The thing to remember is that in those days she wasn't the legend she is today. She was a major star, yes, but she wasn`t MARILYN MONROE. She seemed to be thoroughly professional, and thoroughly together in her head. Poor Marilyn."
Then of course came ‘West Side Story`. Even though this was the role that would make his name, George didn't actually want to play the part of 'Bernardo', leader of the Sharks, in the movie.
"That`s right, I wanted to play the part that I played on stage - in London, if you can believe that - of Riff, leader of the Jets. Really, I hadn`t expected movie dancing to be a large part in my life anymore as I had moved to New York by then hoping to find work on the Broadway stage.
"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. West Side Story had been running on Broadway for a year, I was sleeping on a friends couch, and the chance came to audition for the London stage production.
Now theatre casting can be far more adventurous than film or television casting, and I ended up as Riff even though I'm dark haired."
And yet George didn't decide to capitalise on his Oscar-winning theatrical success, but instead went off in other directions.
"l decided to concentrate on my acting and started this roller-coaster ride that is my career and is still not slowing down.
What would he say were the highlights of his career?
“A musical ironically, ‘The Young Ladies of Rochefort`, that I made in France in |967 with one of my heroes, the late, great Gene Kelly. Also I played ‘Dracula' on stage, again in London, and that was something I would never have been considered for in the US.
I must say that, ultimately I prefer stage to screen. Some of the best moments of my life have been on stage, like last year where I played the French diplomat in the British National Tour of 'M. Butterfly' - I always seem to come back to England don`t I? - or in one of the many theatre shows I played at home like `Guys and Dolls`, ‘Camelot,' or ‘The King And l’."
Ambitions
After all that he’s done, has he any ambitions left?
“Well, I do have one. I love the Merchant - Ivory productions - what I call those classic English movies. I would love to be in one of those, but as an American, it`s unlikely."
Many people would have thought it unlikely for him to have played Mr. Rochester.
How did it feel to be offered the part?
"Scared, amazed, originally, then scared, I mean, here I was, an American about to step into the shoes of one of the great British romantic heroes."
One last question, and it`s the one that has to be asked, cliché though it is. Does he still dance?
"Oh yes. I still attend class every day. it`s a part of my life now. It keeps me limber, and I feel all the better for it."
It obviously works. As you can see by looking at his youthful appearance. Amazingly, George will be 63 next birthday.
Pen: John Sinclair
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