West Side Story (1961) Westside story is the award winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliette. The feuding families become two warring New York City gangs- the white Jets led by Riff and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Brenardo. 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 Skarks 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 climatic and heartbreaking ending.
Directors
Jerome Robbins
Robert Wise
Writers
Jerome Robbins (conception) and
Arthur Laurents (play)
Cast
Natalie Wood... Maria
Richard Beymer... Tony
Russ Tamblyn... Riff
Rita Moreno... Anita
George Chakiris... Bernardo
Simon Oakland... Lieutenant Schrank
Ned Glass... Doc
William Bramley... Officer Krupke
Tucker Smith... Ice
Tony Mordente... Action
David Winters... Arab
Eliot Feld... Baby John
Bert Michaels... Snowboy
David Bean... Tiger
Robert Banas... Joyboy
Trivia
- Russ Tamblyn had originally tried out for the role of Tony. It was down to just him and Richard Beymer, and Beymer ended up getting it. But then the casting directors called him back and asked him to read for Riff, and he got the part.
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