West Side Story (1961)

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Tell Me What You Feel

West Side Story (1961)

8/10

Starring

Natalie Wood

Richard Beymer

Russ Tamblyn

Rita Moreno

George Chakiris

Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins

Distributed by United Artists

No matter how much you’ve seen it, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet story is one love story that will be told for years to come.

West Side Story is an adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet story. The movie itself is based on the book of the same name.

Elvis was actually approached to come and play the role of Tony but he turned it down and opted for other musicals. If Elvis had known that this movie will be set in the range of classics to be seen maybe he would have picked the offer.

The movie tells the story of two rival gangs, the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans). The jets decide to challenge the Sharks for who takes control of the streets at a dance that night. Riff the leader decides to call Tony Wycek (Richard Beymer), a co-founder of the Jets who has left the gang to work at a local candy/drug store, would be the best member to present the challenge to the Sharks.

At the dance that night Tony gets there and meets Maria (Natalie Wood) and it was love at first sight. Tony gets carried away by her presence and everything else from here I need you the reader to go watch it yourself.

The movie still has its marks in Hollywood, as some of the songs are still being used, and also in the Michael Jackson Bad video the standoff between the rival gang leaders is similar to that in the movie.

The film holds the distinction of being the musical film with the most Academy Award wins (10 wins), including Best Picture.

One thing you will also find yourself liking is the choreography during the singing, it was warm and enjoyable. The movie script is also well written as it takes you through a Romeo and Juliet story with its own ideology and fun that you may actually forget that you are watching a Shakespeare adaptation.

The director Robert Wise has won the Academy award for Best Director and Best Picture, for West Side Story (1961)and The Sound of Music (1965). He was also nominated for Best Film Editing for Citizen Kane (1941).

This is a movie to see.