The thing about musicals is they don't just sing. They dance too. I wish they'd do neither.

Love this movie! Great music and Rita Moreno is spectacular.

Love and Rivalry: The Timeless Story of West Side Story The original West Side Story, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, is a 1961 film adaptation of the Broadway musical. The film is available for viewing on a variety of platforms, ›including Amazon Prime, Hulu, and MAX, and is 2 and a half hours long. This adaption of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of forbidden love set among gang conflicts in 1950s New York. Tony, a Jet, falls hopelessly in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the Sharks' leader, sparking a series of disastrous events. The most notable aspect of this movie is the music, singing, and choreography. Leonard Bernstein’s musical competition left a lot of room for choreographers to assemble entrancing dance numbers that captivated an audience, which they for sure did. Each dance sequence not only dazzles visually but also advances the narrative. The opening prologue, performed without dialogue, brilliantly establishes the simmering conflict between the Jets and Sharks. Natalie Wood delivers an enthralling portrayal as the Puerto Rican who falls in love with Richard Beymer, despite the rule on group intermingling. Perhaps the most colorful performance comes from George Chakiris, leader of the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. Rita Moreno, who is in love with Chakiris, delivers a fierce performance. Co-directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, the show effectively blends theatrical choreography and film techniques. Robbins' dance routines, particularly the opening prologue and the gym dance, blend effortlessly into the story, expressing the intensity and energy of the gangs. Leonard Bernstein's original soundtrack, along with , remains a masterwork, featuring iconic songs such as "Tonight" and "Somewhere." The orchestration, which incorporates classical symphonic themes with jazz and Latin influences, heightens the drama and emotional stakes of the plot. Boris Leven's production design brilliantly depicts the dirty yet glorified streets of New York. Irene Sharaff's costume design emphasizes the cultural contrast between the Jets and Sharks, with the Sharks wearing vivid, colorful outfits and the Jets in muted tones. Numbers such as "Maria" and "America" demonstrate Bernstein's mastery of creating complicated and emotionally emotional melodies. Color and shadow are critical elements in West Side Story's visual storytelling. The cinematography defines the Jets and Sharks' conflicting worlds with rich, saturated colors. The Sharks' sceneries frequently use reds and yellows, whereas the Jets' themes trend toward cooler tones, suggesting their stoicism and territoriality. Shadows are often used to heighten tension and express the themes of division. The fire escape scene, where Tony and Maria declare their love, is bathed in soft, romantic light, as opposed to the looming shadows of the gritty urban environment. I especially appreciate the usage of shadows to differentiate the gangs and to highlight racial disparities. The Sharks are typically placed in shadowy areas and visually associated with danger and secrecy, whereas the Jets signifying white privilege, are frequently represented in brighter, more open areas. Not only is the usage of colors, light, and shadows visually stunning, but also adds to the themes of the film. The 1961 film West Side Story is a cinematic classic. Its ground-breaking choreography, unforgettable performances, and emotional storytelling continue to enchant viewers. Leonard Bernstein's brilliant score and Jerome Robbins' revolutionary dance sets a high standard for musicals even decades later. The visceral way that song and dance portray the story reminds listeners of the musical genre's particular power. I was on an emotional rollercoaster as I watched, from wanting to dance along, to feeling the characters grief and heartbreak. Despite being nearly 60 years old, the film remains vibrant and relevant. Its visual techniques, performances, and timeless story ensure that it continues to be a cornerstone of musical cinema. I feel as though West Side Story is a great musical to show a friend who is new or apprehensive to the genre of musicals. It is a classic that does not need to be touched or remade. Experiencing West Side Story is an all-encompassing journey that merges visuals, audio, and feelings in ways that few movies are able to replicate. I believe many people will be able to see themselves in a character, or the story. Thumbs up to this timeless classic, which established the benchmark for musical adaptations in movies.

I really appreciated the Orchestra accompanying the scene of sexual abuse with exciting bursts of energy it helped convey that such an act is quite mean. daddy o

A beautiful film and a beautiful musical. There are elements that have not aged the best but this film is one that I absolutely love and really captures the love of theater.

Good movie with a great score and soundtrack. Good acting

I think that this film is a timeless piece that encapsulates the meaning of true love. However, I think that the film is very long, and at times it can drag on. Growing up watching this film, it always brings back great memories of times I wish I could relive.

This is by far one of the best musicals I have ever watched! The performances played by the characters were beautiful along with the music that took place during the scenes. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, but especially people who enjoy musicals filled with dancing and singing!

Bar none the best musical I have ever watched!!! Pretty much everything about it is perfect. Rita Moreno shines and the dancing and songs are second to none. If you go by the new one only, you're making a really, really big mistake.

One of the great movie musicals. It manages to both be stylistic and deeply real

Aye, I have hate buddy boy, I'll kill your brother

I really liked the story! i think it was well done as a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, especially with all the details that were similar to the original story of Romeo and Juliet. Most of the songs were nice and I liked them, but some of the songs were a bit hard to get a grip on. The melodies were a bit unclear and in musicals I personally find it a little frustrating, if the music is messy. There were still some songs that I enjoyed, for instance I really loved 'America' and the whole scene was really cool! The costume design was also pretty nice. In my opinion, the costumes could've been more extra, but I think it suited the concept well. I would recommend this movie to people that like old-school musicals like 'Grease'!

perfect. my favourite film of all time.

ALL TIME CLASSIC ALLWAYS

Film Review: West Side Story - A Cinematic Piece That Transcends Time and Place West Side Story is a classic musical drama film directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, based on the book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The film was released in 1961 and ran for 2 hours and 33 minutes. It is available on multiple streaming platforms and is considered a must for musical theater lovers. The story is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in 1950s New York, where rival gangs replace feuding families.The film follows the story of the white gang, the Jets, and the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks, who are constantly in conflict with each other. The Jets are led by Riff (Russ Tamblyn) and Sharkia Bernardo (George Chakiris). There is a turf war between the two groups, but things take a complicated turn when former Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer) falls in love with Bernardo's sister Maria (Natalie Wood). The acting in West Side Story is excellent, with several performances that stand out. One outstanding performance is that of George Chakiris, who played Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. Chakiris brings intensity to the role and makes it clear that Bernardo is not to be underestimated. Her dance sequences are particularly noteworthy and her athleticism and grace are on full display. Another outstanding performance comes from Rita Moreno who played Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend and Maria's confidant.Moreno brings liveliness and energy to the role, delivering her lines and singing her songs with impeccable timing and emotion. Moreno's performance won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise co-directed West Side Story, and their work stands out in the film's set design and cinematography. The film's choreography, also created by Robbins, is particularly impressive. The dance sequences are an integral part of the story, and Robbins' creations add depth and emotion to an already exciting story. One example of effective direction is the opening sequence of the film, which sets the tone for the entire film. The camera moves smoothly through the streets of New York and captures the hustle and bustle of the city. The series ends with a shot of the Jets and Sharks facing off, foreshadowing the conflict to come. Another example of effective direction is the use of color throughout the film. Jets are associated with cooler colors such as blue, while sharks are associated with warmer colors such as red. This color coding helps distinguish the two groups and increases the visual appeal of the film. The production design and musical choices of "West Side Story" fit the film, the era and the production perfectly.The music of the film, composed by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is the highlight of the film.The songs are catchy, emotional and an integral part of the story. One example of effective production design is the use of graffiti throughout the film. Graffiti was an important part of New York street culture in the 1950s, and its presence in the film adds authenticity. The graffiti is a reminder that the Jets and Sharks aren't the only teams vying for control of the city. Another example of effective production planning is planning the set for the film's climax. The final scene takes place in an abandoned playground where the Jets and Sharks meet for the last time.The playground is the perfect place for the ultimate showdown with swings and monkey bars. In conclusion, West Side Story is a cinematic masterpiece that has stood the test of time. The film's music, choreography, performances, direction and production design are all exceptional, and the themes covered are still relevant today. While not without its faults, the film remains an important part of American cultural history and a must-see for any musical theater lover. West Side Story is a testament to the power of art to address social issues and transcend time and place. It is a true classic that continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the world. Overall, West Side Story gets a solid thumbs up. It is a cinematic masterpiece that has stood the test of time. The film's music, choreography and performances are exceptional, and the direction and production design are superb. This is a great example of a modern retelling of a classic story with themes that are still relevant today. West Side Story is a must-see for anyone who loves musical theater, and it's easy to see why it has remained a beloved classic for over half a century.

West Side Story is A Powerful Depiction of Cultural Division Basic Information The 1961 original film of West Side Story depicts the life of two New York rival street gangs. The Jets, white Americans, and the Sharks, Puerto Ricans, fight to control their neighborhood territory. Amidst this fighting, Tony, a white American, and Maria, a Puerto Rican, fall into a forbidden love. The gang's rivalry turns fatal, costing the lives of both Jets and Sharks, as well as the love between Tony and Maria. This iconic film, released in October of 1961, was the highest grossing film of the year at $44.1 million, won 11 Academy Awards, was highly esteemed by the United States Library of Congress, and was placed on the National Film Registry. This film can be viewed on a variety of streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple 온라인카지노추천, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube. The Acting/Singing The acting and singing perfectly capture the mood and time period. One performance that stands out is that between Maria and Tony at the dance when they first see each other. The cinematic choices to dim the lights, focus on just those two, and create an aura of entrancement was enthralling. All acting and production choices resulted in a moment that truly captured the feeling and reality of "love at first sight." Maria is the younger sister of Bernardo, leader of the Sharks street gang. Tony is associated with the rival street gang, the Jets. Because of these facts, their love is immediately forbidden. Yet, in this moment at the dance, they are simply infatuated with one another, unbothered by any gang or cultural ties. A second riveting performance was that of the song "Gee, Officer Krupke" when Riff, leader of the Jets street gang, and his followers reveal why they are the way they are. This performance stands out because of its comedic delivery of some pretty intense home situations. Although the Jets have undesirable life circumstances, they seem to cope through connection with one another and relief through humor. The Direction Co-directors Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise effectively stage the piece and maintain a clear story and narrative with their respective focuses on choreography and production. The opening aerial view of the city set the stage for the New York City stomping grounds of the film. As the audience hovered over the buildings and then dove into the working class streets, the quiet, subtle music and sounds lended themselves to a mysterious, almost eerie feel. This perfectly foreshadowed the final, devastating events of the film and set the audience up for the ending. The presence of rivalry was immediately evident within the opening minutes of the film with the Jets and Sharks "dance fighting," wearing serious and aggressive looks, sticking to their own packs, and police breaking up the brawl. This obvious rivalry remained consistent throughout the film due to the tension in dialogue, body language, song/dance, and action/events between the two gangs. This build up exploded during the knife fight and then escalated into the killing of Tony, which marked the finale of the gang rivalry as members from both sides carried Tony's body away. Robins and Wise effectively stage the rough gang world marked by cultural division and maintain a clear story and narrative of the details and results of this world. The Design The production team, including executive producer Walter Mirisch, co-directors Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, assistant director Robert Relyea, cinematographer Daniel Fapp, music arranger Leonard Bernstein, costume designer Paul Tazewell, and production designers Victor Gangelin and Boris Leven, worked relentlessly to present a realistic and moving film. This group embodies an impressive team of talent, with many recognitions given to each member. Some works from these masterminds include The Magnificent Seven, stage version of West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Jeremiah Johnson, and Hamilton. The design of the set was very fitting for the working class New York City setting. The chain link fences, crumbled building debris, graffiti, and characters' dirty faces and clothes portrayed a rough neighborhood. The costumes often signified who the Jets were and who the Sharks were, each group wearing their own color schemes. Other powerful color choices include those in the scenes leading up to the fight with black and red, portraying danger, anticipation, revenge, love, and intensity. Much of the music choice also reflected this atmosphere, enhancing the mood of the place with full, loud, colorful, and even aggressive song and dance numbers. The softer song and dance numbers sprinkled throughout the film captured the fragile, blossoming love between Tony and Maria amidst the turmoil between gangs and cultures. This contrast greatly emphasized the reality of separation between the groups of people. The separation between the white Americans and the Puerto Ricans, a running theme in the film, was particularly and spectacularly portrayed in the production design choices. "America," for example, performed by Anita and the Sharks, highlighted the hypocrisy of and stipulations for success in America (based on skin color, accent, etc.). Set in the 1950's, the production choices greatly reflect tension between cultural groups living in America at the time. Overall Reaction I was immediately enraptured with the film. The slow opening of melody and dancing, portraying the rivalry between the two gangs was done in such a profound way without a single word being uttered. I felt connected to the characters as I experienced a glimpse of their lives alongside them. I felt every emotion as I watched the scenes play out, bouncing from anger at the senseless rivalry, joy at first love, helplessness at harm, hopefulness at reunion, and devastation at death. It was heart wrenching to see so much hate result in so much hurt for these people. This is a timeless piece that effectively transfers across all time periods, showcasing and warning against the destruction of division.

A film that has stood the test of time as one of the greatest musicals ever made.

In terms of sheer talent, West Side Story is the collaboration of giants. It all started with the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. The story of star-crossed lovers was the inspiration for the Arthur Laurents book. The book became the 1957 Broadway musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim is a living legend. With the exception of maybe Rodgers & Hammerstein (who are beyond reproach), Sondheim is perhaps the greatest musical lyricist. His songs are heavenly with the right voice. Director Robert Wise was a giant among giants. Wise cut his teeth editing films like Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons. The Orson Welles collaborator then directed 26 films in a variety of genres before landing West Side Story. Wise co-directed the film with Jerome Robbins who conceived, choregraphed, and directed the stage show. I love that musicals have this insane amount of collaboration. All these people mentioned above are masters at their craft and the melding of their talent really shows. West Side Story won 10 Academy Awards. Only three other films have surpassed that, but those other three weren't musicals. Natalie Wood is incredible as Maria Nunez. She lights up the screen and carries the emotional weight of the story. Richard Beymer is fine (if somewhat vanilla) as Tony Wyzek. Tony gets shadowed by Russ Tamblyn as Riff Lorton. Riff is the charismatic leader of the Jets and a gifted dancer. The strongest couple in the film is Rita Moreno and George Chakiris as Puerto Rican lovers Anita and Bernardo. It's no wonder they won supporting Oscars and the leads did not. The "West Side" in the title refers to the West Side of Manhattan which borders the Hudson River and faces New Jersey. The film takes place in Lincoln Square which is why Arthur Laurents referred to his book as "Romeo and Juliet in Hell's Kitchen." The story is simple enough. The Sharks and the Jets represent the Capulets and the Montagues. Both stories take place in about four days. Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks and Maria is his sister who just arrived in America. West Side Story remains a landmark of musical history because of the music and choreography. Jerome Robbins spent months rehearsing the elaborate dance numbers with the cast. He was such a perfectionist that he went way over schedule and got fired off the film. His assistants took over choreography duties. The film begins with the sound of whistling and overhead shots of New York. There are long shots of the Jets snapping in unison and not a single word is spoken. There's something so hypnotic about gang members in street clothes who can snap and dance. "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way. From your first cigarette, to your last dying day." The two gangs meet and begin to dance fight around the city. It's a vision that's so specific and unique you have to see it to believe it. Despite being gang members there is honor among thieves. When two cops break up the fight, Baby John doesn't rat out the Shark that nicked him. These kids may have a turf war going on, but they dislike the fuzz even more. Maria, meanwhile, is supposed to marry a fellow Puerto Rican named Chino but she is not interested. She is instead interested in Tony whom she meets at a dance. Bernardo forbids the relationship in Romero and Juliet fashion. Tony has friends in the Jets but doesn't want that life. After a squabble at the dance, Tony arranges a compromise where a Jet (Riff) and a Shark (Bernardo) have a one-on-one fist fight to settle the hash. In the third act, Riff initiates a knife fight with Bernardo and Bernardo kills him in self-defense. Tony then kills Bernardo in retaliation. If the film has one problem it's that Maria forgives and takes Tony back too quickly. I understand that the film is following Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt kills Mercutio in a duel and Romeo kills Tybalt in return. Montague argues that Romeo has justly executed Tybalt for the murder of Mercutio. It's just that Bernardo is more caring and innocent compared to Tybalt. Bernardo agreed to a fist fight and Riff pulled a knife. Tony considers himself guilty of murder and wants to turn himself in. But Chino, who still carries a torch for Maria, kills Tony out of revenge. This is (perhaps) the film's way of stating that Tony was not justified in killing Bernardo. Still, the fact that Maria was ready to run away with Tony doesn't speak well of her. It's also really ballsy that Maria sends Anita to deliver a message to Tony. Anita is a saintly character who tries to help Maria only to get harassed by the Sharks. Good thing the noble and fair-minded Doc was there to intervene. My favorite song is probably "America," where Anita sings in favor of her new country while Bernardo responds with corresponding criticisms. Rosalia, Juano, and a whole bunch of other people chime in as the discussion goes back and forth. I love Anita's unwavering optimism. She reminds me of my grandparents. She's a patriot who wants to assimilate and be all that she can be. This is the same conversation we have today. America has its problems but compared to most countries it's the land of milk and honey. Bernardo's pessimism is his downfall. "Maria" is a love ballad about Tony's heartfelt longing. I love the idea that "suddenly that name will never be the same to me." In "I Feel Pretty," Maria confesses how wonderful Tony makes her feel. She feels all the things she didn't feel with Chino. The song is a simple yet memorable melody. It captures Maria's blissful and newfound sense of confidence. West Side Story is a masterful enigma. Roger Ebert said it well, "West Side Story created a genuinely new kind of movie dancing, and it can be said that if street gangs did dance, they would dance something like the Jets and the Sharks in this movie, and not like a Broadway chorus line."

A great film. Could watch it over and over again.

This is so iconic. So yes, this version doesnt hit as hard, as Steven Spielberg his new version, but Steven his version would not have hit this hard without this version of this iconic musical. The songs are of course amazing, the acting is decent, this kinda holds up. On the technical levels, i didnt thought it was half that but honestly, i mean of course some transition really dont hold up and the cinematography isnt half as colorfull as the new one, but their were some really nice shots in the movie. New York really felt like a place of the Jetts and the Sharks, so that was really well done. Overall an iconic movie, which is not nearly as good as Steven Spielberg his new adaptation, but i didnt except it to be.