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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Synopsis

Over a 70+ year career, Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) Award Winners of our time. Born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm, Moreno and her seamstress mother immigrated to New York City when Moreno was five years old. After studying dance and performing on Broadway, Moreno was cast as any ethnic minority the Hollywood studios needed filled, be it Polynesian, Native American or Egyptian. Despite becoming the first Latina actress to win an Academy Award for her role as Anita in “West Side Story” (1961), the studios continued to offer Moreno lesser roles as stereotypical ethnic minorities, ignoring her proven talent.

RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT illuminates the humor and the grace of Moreno, as well as lesser-known struggles faced on her path to stardom, including pernicious Hollywood sexism and abuse, a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando, and serious depression a year before she emerged an Oscar winner. Moreno’s talent and resilience triumphed over adversity, as she broke barriers, fought for representation and forged the path for new generations of artists.

Cast

  • Rita Moreno
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Norman Lear
  • George Chakiris
  • Morgan Freeman
  • Eva Longoria
  • Mitzi Gaynor
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Gloria Estefan
  • Terrence McNally

Atom User Reviews

4.7 out of 5
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Verified Review

Inspiring life story, but includes promotion of abortion, which I do not agree with.

JM
Jed M

Metacritic

80
Dec 14, 2021

Through all the accolades bestowed by colleagues, critics and even presidents, the documentary is at its strongest when it speaks to Moreno’s impact on future Latin American performers, giving them the role model she never had.

Emma Fraser
Little White Lies
80
Jun 17, 2021

Moreno is given full rein of her story, which doubles as a case study in the highs and lows of showbiz for a woman of color.

Metacritic review by Beatrice Loayza
Beatrice Loayza
The New York Times