West Side Story
Friday, 1:00 pm, Culbreth
Director: Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins
Writer: Ernest Lehman
Cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp
Cast: Richard Beymer, Natalie Wood
Running Time: 152 min
Winner of 10 Academy Awards in 1961—including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Actor and Actress—West Side Story transplants the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet to the tenements of New York City. Adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Broadway production, all the songs written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the original Broadway production were retained for this version, as was Jerome Robbins’s electrifying, exhilarating, energetic choreography, re-created in some of the most startling and balletic dance sequences ever recorded on film. Director Robert Wise imbues the film with swooping aerial shots, giving Manhattan a weight and life of its own.
Shakespeare’s feuding families are replaced by brawling street gangs. The Montagues become the Anglo Jets, led by Riff, and the Capulets are the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. At a dance, Tony, former leader of the Jets and Riff’s best friend; and Maria, Bernardo’s little sister, see each other across the room and it’s love at first sight. With opposition from both sides, they meet secretly and their love grows deeper. However, the gangs are plotting one last rumble, a fight that will finally end the battle for control of the streets. But everything goes terribly wrong, and hearts and lives are shattered as the fateful tale moves inexorably to its sorrowful ending.
