The movie
West Side Story is a 1961 American musical, romantic drama film. It was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The cast includes Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris. The story was inspired by Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.
The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same title. Leonard Bernstein composed the music. Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics. The soundtrack by itself is a masterpiece.
It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10 Awards, including that of Best Picture. It is the musical with most wins.
New York City, 1957. Two teenage gangs compete for the control of the Upper West Side. The Jets is a group of Whites led by Riff (played by Tamblyn). They have a constant quarrel against the Sharks. The latter are Puerto Ricans led by Bernardo (played by Chakiris).
At a dance, where the two gangs together with their girlfriends, as well as members of their families avoid to intermingle, the best friend of Riff, Tony (played by Beymer), and the sister of Bernardo, Maria (played by Wood) fall in love. Obviously, Bernardo does not accept this .
The story unfolds with adventurous and romantic scenes. It reminds us of the original story of Romeo and Juliet. No doubt that we are expecting a rather dramatic end.
The scene
The Jets have gathered to arrange their next plans. In the meantime, they make fun of one of their constant chaser, Police Sergeant Krupke and of the “whole system”, which tries to handle the issue either as a social problem or as a pathological one.
It is one of the most successful satiric musical scenes in the film history.
West Side Story certainly deserves a leading place in any cinephile library.
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