West Side Story, a United Artists production released in 1961, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, is more than just a musical; it’s a cultural landmark that continues to resonate with its powerful storytelling and unforgettable music. The movie is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical, which itself was a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, transposed to the streets of 1950s New York City. It places two rival gangs, the Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang, at the center of the narrative.
Natalie Wood plays Maria, a young Puerto Rican woman who has recently arrived in America, and who quickly finds herself falling in love with Tony, a former member of the Jets, played by Richard Beymer. The conflict between the two gangs provides the backdrop for their romance, a relationship that’s ultimately doomed from the start. George Chakiris plays Bernardo, Maria’s protective brother and leader of the Sharks. Rita Moreno is Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend and Maria’s confidante, and she delivers a powerhouse performance. Russ Tamblyn plays Riff, the leader of the Jets.
The movie is incredibly well made. The choreography, a collaboration between Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, is energetic and expressive, the dances are a form of communication in themselves, showing the raw emotions and tensions simmering beneath the surface of the story. Leonard Bernstein’s score and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics are timeless, and they work brilliantly with the dance to move the story forward. The songs range from joyous and optimistic, like “Maria,” to angry and despairing, like “Gee, Officer Krupke.”
West Side Story is a powerful commentary on prejudice, violence, and the destructive nature of hatred. It manages to be both a grand spectacle and an intimate character study. It makes the viewer think about the social issues that are as relevant now as they were sixty years ago. It is a film that shows that love and hope can exist, even in the darkest places. This is a movie that has earned its status as a true classic.
West Side Story is a United Artists production.
Release Date: 1961
Directors: Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins
Cast: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn