Video Flashback: WEST SIDE STORY Sweeps the 1962 Academy Awards!

On this day in 1962, the groundbreaking screen adaptation of Jerome Robbin's West Side Story swept the Academy Awards, taking home a whopping ten wins, including Best Picture.

Check out archived footage below to see Rita Moreno, George Charkiris, and the whole West Side Story team take home awards for this silver screen classic!

The 1961 musical film was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. It was an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris.

Released on October 18, 1961 through United Artists, the film became the second highest grossing film of the year in the United States and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10, including Best Picture (as well as a special award for Robbins), becoming the record holder for the most wins for a movie musical.

Re-live all of West Side Story's historic wins here!