West Side Story – 1961 – English

West Side Story – 1961 – English

Full movie in English – Musical – Drama – Romance

West Side Story – 1961 – English

Musical film directed in 1961 by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, and starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, Simon Oakland, Ned Glass, William Bramley, Tucker Smith, Tony Mordente, David Winters, Eliot Feld, Bert Michaels, David Bean, Robert Banas…

Synopsis: West Side Story is the award-winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”. The feuding families become two warring New York City gangs–the white Jets led by Riff and the Latino Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. But when Riff’s best friend (and former Jet) Tony and Bernardo’s younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love. Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away. Then the Sharks and Jets plan a rumble under the highway–whoever wins gains control of the streets. Maria sends Tony to stop it, hoping it can end the violence. It goes terribly wrong, and before the lovers know what’s happened, tragedy strikes and doesn’t stop until the climactic and heartbreaking ending.

Review: This masterpiece has kept intact all of its energy all of its power and it remains a mind blowing novelty. “Singing in the Rain” has those qualities but the setting is a natural for the infections musical numbers. In “West Side Story” we visit Romeo And Juliet in New York among feuding street gangs. Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins create an experience for the ages. Natalie Wood is devastatingly gorgeous and even if the singing voice is not hers she manages to make it hers. The blandness of Richard Beymer works wonders for his Tony and Russ Tamblyn is a dynamo of youthful exuberance. But perhaps, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris steal the limelight. They are spectacular – As Oscar time they won Oscars over Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift in “Judgement At Nuremberg” To conclude let me reiterate “West Side Story” is a film to visit and revisit.