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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Richard Beymer
aretha4eva-1 — 19 years ago(August 06, 2006 03:55 PM)
Let me start by saying that Richard Beymer was obviously talented, being cast in a big movie such as, "West Side Story," with a big star like Natalie Wood, but I must say, watching the movie, his acting seems a little awkward for me, as if he needed more acting experience or something like that. He wasn't as polished as say, Natalie Wood or Rita Moreno. Having said that, not that this is relevant to anything substantial, but, Beymer seemed gay to me, i.e. very feminine manerisms, like is walking, or strolling, during a number in the movie. Also, is acting style seems feminine, like his idol was Audrey Hepburn, or someone like that. Any comments on this? And again, I respect Beymer. This isn't an attack on him, but more, an observation.
P.S. Audrey Hepburn isn't a bad idol. -
rachelandstephanie — 19 years ago(August 18, 2006 01:07 PM)
Lots of people say he was gay, but I think it's just rumours. I never really noticed his "feminine mannerisms". Could you mention a few particular scenes in the movie.
I've been a fan since I was about 3 (looks and acting) so I don't want to beleive this. If it is true, it doesnt bother me too much.
You better get a kick out of living because dying's a pain in the ass ~ Frank Sinatra -
ameized — 19 years ago(October 21, 2006 09:15 PM)
Richard dated Sharon Tate (Roman Polanski's deceased wife) back when he was filming "Adventures of A Young Man". I think I read somewhere that they were still dating when he made "West Side Story" and he helped her with her acting skills, but later on they broke up and she started dating a French actor. I found this excerpt on a website about them:
"Paul Newman, Richard Beymer, and Susan Strasberg were filming the movie, Adventures of A Young Man in a town nearby Verona. With a group of friends, Sharon came upon the movie set and caught Richard Beymer's eye. He invited her to lunch and gave her his agent's number telling her to contact him if she was ever in the States. Sharon's brushes with stardom continued, she got work as an extra in the movie Barrabas, as well as a Pat Boone special. Meanwhile, she continued to see Beymer while he was in Italy filming.
In 1962, Paul was promoted to Major and reassigned to Fort McArthur in California. Sharon - who while dating Richard Beymer had started seriously considering a career in acting - hitchhiked down to Hollywood and contacted Beymer's agent Hal Gefsky." -
melissajazz — 18 years ago(April 09, 2007 03:43 PM)
I read a few bios and autobio of Andy Kauffman, and he lived with Richard and his long-term girlfriend for a while. I also owned a book with a few Richard Beymer poems and art pieces displayed, and he wrote a poem about his first sexual experience with a young african-american woman. Don't ask me the name of the bookI lost it and don't remember. I bought it on ebay YEARS ago.
"So come I Dare you Turn the page" -
LPurch6636 — 18 years ago(November 19, 2007 11:55 AM)
I have always thought that Mr. Beymer was "effeminate" as "Tony" and it has always really bothered me when I watch "West Side Story." You notice it especially he often had "stances" or "poses" as he was singing the very long song of "Maria" as he walked down various streets, for example. (The first time I saw the movie was when it first came out; I was 13 years old, and did not know about things like homosexuality. I just thought he was "girly." ) It could be that the director wasn't helping him much by pointing it out that he needed to "man-up" the male lead. I saw him speak on the "West Side Story" DVD and thought he was totally "manly" at age 69. He was only in his early twenties when he made "West Side Story" and might not yet have "come into his full manhood." (Or had learned how to "act like a man" even if his inclinations were toward the feminine side. The role of "Tony" definitely called for a "man"; he would have been eaten alive among the Sharks and Jets otherwise.)
Flanagan -
Lazaka — 17 years ago(November 07, 2008 06:13 AM)
Yeah I believe firmly he's gay. Also, I did notice the femininity of almost all the men in the movie. I believe it was due to the whole gay tone of the movie and it seemed like the dib68rector(s) or definitely the choreographer was gay and were trying to do their best at directing these men to act manly but it didn't transcend onto the screen. How do I want to phrase this, it was almost like some real gay guy was trying to look up "manly phrases" or moves to use but it came across even more gay. I love this movie, one of my favorites but it has a heavy gay overtone to it and I think that at least 75% of the guys in the cast had to have been gay or they were portrayed that way.
Back to Richard, I actually didn't think he was gay when I watched him, but after I looked at his bio and found that he was never married nor did they mention any girlfriend (they mentioned a friend, Sharon Tate, as a friend who was a girl) but no mention of wife, sexuality or lovers. I came to the boards to see if anyone asked this question. It's no big deal, who cares really. His chemistry was unbelievable with Natalie, I cannot believe they didn't get along, what great actors! -
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Tom Sutpen — 16 years ago(October 04, 2009 08:00 PM)
Whether Richard Beymer is gay or not is meaningless. He was badly miscast in 'West Side 1c84Story' (as was everybody, with the exceptions of Rita Moreno, Simon Oakland and Ned Glass), I mainly fault Jerome Robbins and/or Robert Wise for not seeing this and failing to adjust the character to make the actor playing him a better fit.
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