A strongly recommended title for general film collections, not to mention those with strong Hispanic elements. Pura Belpré Honor winner Anika Aldamuy Denise (Planting Stories) and New York Times bestselling. ![]() The documentary instead compares Moreno with the iconic actress-dancer Rita Hayworth, who likewise went through ordeals of studio manipulation, forced plastic surgery, and bad relationships, and whose ultimately tragic life arc might well have been Rita Moreno's. Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alvero Marcano December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican-born American actress, dancer, and singer. Books similar to A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer by Anika Aldamuy Denise. ![]() Unfamiliar viewers might assume Rita Moreno was the lone Hispanic/Latina star of the silver screen, when in fact Dolores del Rio, Lupe Velez, Katy Jurado, and Linda Crystal also had marquee value. The now-widowed, vivacious Moreno, liberated in more ways than one, has lived to see the harsh spotlight shown on moviedom's ingrained sexual harassment, and witnessed better roles offered to minority performers and Hispanic characters (of her Oscar-winning role as Anita in West Side Story, Moreno said she was appalled by the negative lyrics insulting Puerto Rico-but in the original drafts they were even worse). Even the heroine's famously decades-long marriage to a stable, non-showbiz spouse (cardiologist Leonard Gordon) is recalled in terms less romantic and more controlling. Her tumultuous love affair with Marlon Brando was real (and initiated Moreno into the realm of political activism), but Brando's controlling narcissism brought Moreno to attempt suicide. I realized early that having young men dancers in your life is like running a kindergarten. ![]() I had three boy dancers, she says looking back at her Toronto bookings. In Hollywood, a young Rita experienced the good (watching Gene Kelly make Singin' in the Rain), bad and ugly of the studio system of Technicolor's golden age-sexual harassment, rape, abortion, being cast as stereotyped, dusky "island girls" and shallow pretty faces, and being packaged on arranged dates with male stars for photo ops. Moreno also occasionally worked in Canada, headlining as a singer/dancer in the late- ‘70s/early ‘80s at the Royal York Hotel’s Imperial Room. Moreno won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1959's classic West Side Story under director Robert Wise here she is shown turning 89, concurrently with filming a returning role in Steven Spielberg's remake of the iconic musical (it is to director Mariem Pérez Riera's credit that it does not become a promo piece for the Spielberg blockbuster). Moreno's career is truly a sweeping one, starting with her singing as a teenager to US soldiers departing for WWII. is an equal if not greater part of the portrait. That the Puerto Rico-born entertainer also broke barriers as a Hispanic female performer, hailed here by Miranda, Eva Longoria, George Chakaris, Hector Elizondo, Morgan Freeman, et al. Informative author’s note and timeline included.Aired on PBS-TV's American Masters (after a theatrical run) the homage to durable actress-singer-dancer Rita Moreno was partially produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also appears and joins those paying tribute to the subject for her scope and "EGOT" achievement of being a show-business multi-award winner-possessing an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy. There, she fought to be seen and heard and eventually reached the pinnacle of success, landing her iconic role in West Side Story and, finally, winning her groundbreaking Oscar.īrought to life by Leo Espinosa’s bold and vibrant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise’s lyrical text, including Spanish phrases throughout, this gorgeous tribute to the life and career of the first Latinx person to have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award will inspire little dreamers everywhere. Rita Moreno proved she still has impressive dance moves in an appearance on the Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon Tuesday. ![]() Working to overcome the language barrier and bullying she experienced in a strange new country, Rita eventually made her way to Hollywood with a dream to be a star. When young Rosita moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, she didn’t know what to expect-but she knew she loved to sing and dance. The script called for Rita to sing, dance, and act with the Muppets, making full use of her talent and comedic timing. A gorgeous picture book biography about Puerto Rican American trailblazing superstar Rita Moreno, from critically acclaimed author Anika Aldamuy Denise ( Planting Stories) and New York Times bestselling illustrator Leo Espinosa ( Islandborn).
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