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.Written by
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George Chakiris (Bernardo) had previously played "Riff" in the London production. Tony Mordente (Action) had played "A-rab." David Winters (A-rab) had played Baby John in the original Broadway production. 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 the "America" song, 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
The credits at the end of the movie appear as graffiti on street signs. See more »
Alternate Versions
The Special Limited Edition DVD released by MGM in 2003 restores an intermission that was intended to be included in the original roadshow version but was subsequently dropped in order to create what the filmmakers termed a "rising tension" in the story. The intermission sequence was supposed to have taken place right before the song 'I Feel Pretty' and brings the film's total running time to more than 152 minutes. This break was used, however, for the film's first television showing in 1972 on NBC. It was broadcast in two installments, one each on separate nights, the first part ending at the break, and the second part beginning at the "I Feel Pretty" sequence. See more »
WEST SIDE STORY changed my life. I first saw this movie when I was about 13 years old. It was the first musical I ever saw, and it opened up my eyes to the joys of musicals and the classic films of Hollywood.
The romance is heartbreaking and the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim score is one of the best ever written. Jerome Robbins' choreography is also amazing. The film itself is visually stunning.
One of my faves!!
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WEST SIDE STORY changed my life. I first saw this movie when I was about 13 years old. It was the first musical I ever saw, and it opened up my eyes to the joys of musicals and the classic films of Hollywood.
The romance is heartbreaking and the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim score is one of the best ever written. Jerome Robbins' choreography is also amazing. The film itself is visually stunning.
One of my faves!!