Bernstein's music, Sondheim's lyrics and Robbins's choreography are great, but as a movie it falls short of the truly inspired cinematic musicals.
West Side Story (1961)
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Reviews Counted:49
Fresh:45
Rotten:4
Average Rating:8.1/10
Consensus: Buoyed by Robert Wise's dazzling direction, Leonard Bernstein's score, and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics, West Side Story remains perhaps the most iconic of all the Shakespeare adaptations to visit the big screen.
Theatrical Release:26-08-2005
Synopsis: Considered one of the most popular musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY earned director Robert Wise an Oscar for Best Director as well as nine other Academy Awards, including Best Picture.... Considered one of the most popular musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY earned director Robert Wise an Oscar for Best Director as well as nine other Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Realistically portrayed characters and their surroundings and expert editing complementing innovative dance sequences mark this highly stylized modern-day Romeo and Juliet tale. The stage is set in New York's Upper West Side in the 1950s, where the area's slums are plagued by racial tensions acted on by two rival gangs: the Puerto Rican Sharks and the Caucasian Jets. In the middle of this mess is young, innocent Maria (Natalie Wood), a Puerto Rican seamstress whose brother, Bernardo (George Chakiris), is the leader of the Sharks. Despite the warnings of Anita (Rita Moreno), Bernardo's fiery girlfriend, Maria falls in love with a young, hopeful Polish boy, Tony (Richard Beymer), who used to belong to the Jets, now headed by Riff (Russ Tamblyn). When Tony, on Maria's urging, tries to stop a rumble between the gangs, tragedy ensues, marking their dedicated love affair with violence and desperation. The infectious, lyrical landmark score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim help round out one of the greatest musical experiences ever captured on film. [More]
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, Simon Oakland, Tony Mordente, Eliot Feld, David Winters
Director: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
Director: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
Screenwriter: Ernest Lehman
Producer: Robert Wise
Composer: Leonard Bernstein, Johnny Green
Reviews for West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein's rich, eloquent and demanding score is still a powerful experience.
Technically stunning, with dazzling choreography matching an unforgettable score.
How does the film -- which won ten Oscars on its 1961 release -- stand up now? Very well indeed.
It's the groundbreaking combination of toe-tapping tunes and wailing pathos, which makes this a truly arresting musical.
Unhappily, the film shares a serious flaw in the essential conception of the show; both are founded on a phony literary analogy and on some potentially vicious pseudo-sociology.
Decent 1961 adaptation of the Bernstein-Robbins musical, if you can handle Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood in the leads.
An energetic and vibrant musical that modernizes the Romeo and Juliet story ably and with great passion.
One of the most effective musical movies, due to its Shakespearean inspiration, Robbins' exciting dances, Bernstein's exquisite score, Sondheim's witty lyrics; but you have to contend with schmaltzy love story and Marnie Nixon dubbing Natalie Wood
[This] is a world unlike any other, a phenomenal filmmaking achievement.
Latest News for West Side Story
June 22, 2007:
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August 17, 2006:
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When Tim Burton and Johnny Depp get together, pretty wild movies tend to happen. Frankly I think all five of their previous collaborations have been darn fine films, and here's... More...
September 15, 2005:
Hollywood Giant Robert Wise Passes Away at 91
Master filmmaker and 4-time Oscar winner Robert Wise has died at the age of 91. Probably best known as the director of films like "The Sound of Music," "West Side... More...
July 06, 2005:
Legendary Screenwriter Ernest Lehman Passes Away
Veteran screenwriter / producer Ernest Lehman passed away on July 2nd after a lengthy illness. Mr. Lehman was nominated for a half-dozen Oscars over the course of his... More...
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