During the filming for the musical number "Cool" in "West Side Story,
Eliot became very sick with pneumonia. Choreographer, Jerome Robbins,
was a perfectionist and hard task master. The studio that they were
filming in was extremely hot with all the lights and, between takes,
the actors would go outside in the cold air to cool off. This all took
its toll on Eliot and he collapsed and had to be taken off to hospital.
"Cool" was one of the most physically demanding dance sequences in the
entire movie and when you consider that Feld had pneumonia, your
respect for his skill goes up tenfold. Fellow dancer and actor, Harvey
Hohnhecker stated that, when it was finally announced "that's a wrap",
the dancers all ritually burned their knee pads, so glad were they that
it was all over.
