Search - West Side Story [Widescreen]

Romeo and Juliet is updated to the tenements of New York City in this Oscar-winning musical landmark. Adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Broadway production, the movie opens with an overhead shot of Manhattan, an effect that director Robert Wise would repeat over the Alps in The Sound of Music four years later. We are introduced to two rival street gangs: the Jets, second-generation American teens, and the Sharks, Puerto Rican immigrants. When the war between the Jets and Sharks reaches a fever pitch, Jets leader Riff (Russ Tamblyn) decides to challenge the Sharks to one last "winner take all" rumble. He decides to meet Sharks leader Bernardo (George Chakiris) for a war council at a gymnasium dance; to bolster his argument, Riff wants his old pal Tony (Richard Beymer), the cofounder of the Jets, to come along. But Tony has set his sights on vistas beyond the neighborhood and has fallen in love with Bernardo's sister, Maria (Natalie Wood), a love that, as in Romeo and Juliet, will eventually end in tragedy. In contrast to the usual slash-and-burn policy of Hollywood musical adaptations, all the songs written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the original Broadway production of West Side Story were retained for the film version, although some alterations were made to appease the Hollywood censors, and the original order of two songs was reversed for stronger dramatic impact. The movie more than retains the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, which is recreated in some of the most startling and balletic dance sequences ever recorded on film. West Side Story won an almost-record ten Oscars, including Best Picture, supporting awards to Chakiris and Rita Moreno as Bernardo's girlfriend, Anita, and Best Director to Robbins and Wise. Richard Beymer's singing was dubbed by Jimmy Bryant, Natalie Wood's by Marni Nixon (who also dubbed Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady), and Rita Moreno's by Betty Wand. The film's New York tenement locations were later razed to make room for Lincoln Center. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Natalie Wood - Maria
Richard Beymer - Tony
Russ Tamblyn - Riff
Rita Moreno - Anita
George Chakiris - Bernardo

1962	Best Film - Any Source (nominee)	British Academy of Film and Television	Robert Wise
1962	Best Film - Any Source (nominee)	British Academy of Film and Television	Jerome Robbins
1961	Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (nominee)	Golden Globe	Richard Beymer
1961	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner)	Golden Globe	George Chakiris
1961	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Golden Globe	Rita Moreno
1961	Best Director (nominee)	Golden Globe	Jerome Robbins
1961	Best Director (nominee)	Golden Globe	Robert Wise
1961	Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ernest Lehman
1961	Best Color Art Direction (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Boris Leven
1961	Best Color Art Direction (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Victor A. Gangelin
1961	Best Color Cinematography (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Daniel L. Fapp
1961	Best Color Costume Design (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Irene Sharaff
1961	Best Director (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Robert Wise
1961	Best Director (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Jerome Robbins
1961	Best Editing (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Thomas G. Stanford
1961	Best Picture (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Robert Wise
1961	Best Musical Score (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Johnny Green
1961	Best Musical Score (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Sid Ramin
1961	Best Musical Score (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Irwin Kostal
1961	Best Musical Score (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Saul Chaplin
1961	Best Sound (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Fred Hynes
1961	Best Sound (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Gordon Sawyer
1961	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	George Chakiris
1961	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Rita Moreno

Robert Wise's beloved adaptation of West Side Story comes to DVD with a great 2.20:1 widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio. The English soundtrack is rendered in a muscular Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. French and English subtitles are accessible. Extra features include the theatrical trailer and an eight-page booklet containing production information and trivia. Although some may complain about the paucity of supplemental material on this release, having the widescreen image, which preserves all of Jerome Robbins' brilliant choreography, will be more than enough to satisfy the average fan of musicals. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of West Side Story [Widescreen]...
14	The Adventures of Robin Hood (PG)
28	Oklahoma! (G)
8	Yankee Doodle Dandy [Special Edition] (NR)
22	South Pacific (NR)
50	My Fair Lady (G)
39	Singin' in the Rain [Remastered] (G)
3	Pygmalion
3	The Red Shoes (NR)
These movies have the subject or theme of West Side Story [Widescreen]...
2	The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
30	The Man in the Moon (PG-13)
4	Easter Parade [Special Edition] (NR)
2	The World of Henry Orient (NR)
1	Humoresque (NR)
4	New York, New York [Special Edition] (PG)
9	East of Eden (PG)
126	Dirty Dancing (PG-13)
24	Love Story (PG)
S	Carlos Saura's Flamenco Trilogy
1	Roberta (NR)
These movies share cast/crew with West Side Story [Widescreen]...
28	The King and I (G)
70	The Sound of Music [Special Edition] (G)
12	The Sand Pebbles (PG-13)
13	The Haunting (G)
S	Odds Against Tomorrow (NR)
39	Singin' in the Rain [Remastered] (G)
1	I Want to Live! (NR)
10	Twin Peaks
20	Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (G)
1	That Midnight Kiss/The Toast of New Orleans (NR)
9	That Touch of Mink (NR)
S	Classic Musicals Collection: Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 3
These movies cover the same subjects as West Side Story [Widescreen]...
S	A Little Night Music (PG)
S	The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Tragedy
31	Romeo and Juliet (PG)
1	Romeo and Juliet (NR)
2	Rooftops (R)
3	Sunday in the Park with George (NR)
4	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (NR)
63	William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (PG-13)
?	Opera Stars Sing Broadway
These movies are similar to West Side Story [Widescreen]...
79	Grease [Widescreen] (PG)
66	The Outsiders (PG)
20	Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (G)
37	Grease 2 (PG)
6	Into the Woods
32	Crazy/Beautiful (PG-13)
4	The Blackboard Jungle (NR)
28	Rebel Without a Cause