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West Side Story (1961)

7.6
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Ratings: 7.6/10 from 47,790 users  
Reviews: 286 user | 98 critic

Musical about two youngsters from rival NYC gangs who fall in love.

Writers:

(screenplay), (book), 2 more credits »
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Title: West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story (1961) on IMDb 7.6/10

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Won 10 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
...
Schrank
...
Doc
William Bramley ...
...
Ice
Tony Mordente ...
David Winters ...
Eliot Feld ...
Bert Michaels ...
David Bean ...
Tiger
Robert Banas ...
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Storyline

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 Puerto Rican 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. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

THE MOST ACCLAIMED MOTION PICTURE OF OUR TIME! (re-release) See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

23 December 1961 (Japan)  »

Also Known As:

Amor sin barreras  »

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$43,650,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(35 mm magnetic prints)| (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints)| (35 mm optical prints)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the entire production, the actors wore out 200 pairs of shoes, applied more than 100lbs of make-up, split 27 pairs of pants and performed in 30 different recording sessions. See more »

Goofs

After the war council, Schrank says that he rebuked the Jets the same day. That means that all events before the war council were on that day too. The dance started at 10 PM, and that leaves very little time for America, the balcony scene and the war council. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
[the Jets dance across the streets of New York, eventually coming to a playground where they toss around a basketball. The ball is intercepted by Bernardo, leader of the Sharks]
Riff: [snaps fingers at Bernardo] Come on.
[Bernardo drops the ball, Riff picks it up]
Riff: Beat it.
See more »

Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits; a red tinted aerial still of Manhattan with the title is shown as the overture plays. As the overture ends, the red tint is removed and the shot segues to aerial photography of Manhattan streets and landmarks. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Frasier: The Show Where Woody Shows Up (1999) See more »

Soundtracks

"Dance at the Gym"
(1957) (uncredited)
Composed by Leonard Bernstein
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
A shame that it's not in the top 250.
19 May 2002 | by (Arlington, TX) – See all my reviews

One of the truly great musicals of all time, its a shame that those who do not care for musicals have to vote to bring it down. If you do not care for musicals, then you should not vote a "1" just because you do not like ALL musicals.

That aside, a great musical score with a great story to back it up. Leonard Bernstein out does himself in this movie. This is definetly a movie to see; an classic for all time. Like its trailer says, "West Side Story does not grow old."


49 of 81 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Natalie Wood STUNK in this film! willbrax
Russ Tamblyn would have made a better tcsung
Natalie Wood is White Eileen7183
7.7 rating is shocking... peter_joshua
Interesting Trivia (I hope) KatAshley
What do you think happens to maria after the movie ends? jeronavdg
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