West Side Story
Musical about two youngsters from rival NYC gangs who fall in love.
- Director: Jerome Robbins
- Genre:Drama / Musical / Romance
- Runtime:147 minutes
Cast
Natalie Wood : Maria
Richard Beymer : Tony
Russ Tamblyn : Riff
Rita Moreno : Anita
George Chakiris : Bernardo
Official Site:-
The film opens in the streets of Manhattan in the late summer of 1957. There is a mounting tension set to music (“Prologue”) between a white American gang, the Jets, led by Riff (Russ Tamblyn), and a rival gang of Puerto Rican immigrants, the Sharks, led by Bernardo (George Chakiris). The Jets harass the Sharks, causing them to fight and beat members of the other gang up. When the Sharks become angry and beat up Baby John (Eliot Feld), Baby John calls for help from the Jets, who begin fighting with the Sharks. Soon after, Lt. Shrank (Simon Oakland) and Officer Krupke (William Bramley) arrive, Shrank telling the members of both gangs to get out and not to cause trouble while he is in charge of the beat. Still angry, the Jets and the Sharks soon disperse.
Later, the Jets discuss challenging the Sharks to one last all out fight, or “rumble”, that will decide who gets control of the streets, and they will deliver the challenge to the Sharks at a dance later that night. Riff and the other Jets sing about their gang pride (“Jet Song”). Riff decides that his best friend Tony, a co-founder of the Jets who has left the gang to work at a local store, would be the best member of the Jets to present the challenge to the Sharks, despite opposition from Action (Tony Mordente). When Riff visits Tony (Richard Beymer) at the store, Tony tells Riff that he senses something very important is about to happen to him (“Something’s Coming”). Tony initially refuses Riff’s request to meet with the Sharks, but he later changes his mind and comes along.
At the bridal shop where she works, Bernardo’s sister, Maria (Natalie Wood) complains to Bernardo’s girlfriend, Anita (Rita Moreno) and other coworkers. Maria believes that Bernardo is overprotective, never allowing her to have enough fun. Bernardo arrives and takes her to the dance. At the gym, the Jets, Sharks and girls are greatly enjoying themselves. (“Dance At The Gym”) The announcer tries to get the members of the rival gangs to dance together, boys on the outside and girls on the inside to create a mix-up. Even so, the rival gang members and their girlfriends remain apart. Tony and Maria see each other, become infatuated, almost going into a trance-like state and begin to dance, oblivious of the rivalry between their ethnic groups. They eventually kiss, but Bernardo angrily interrupts them. He orders Maria home, and tells Tony to stay away from his sister. Tony leaves in a happy daze, singing of his newfound love. (“Maria”). He does not know her name, but eventually he hears her name being called and sings of it. Meanwhile, Riff challenges Bernardo to the “war council”, for which they agree to meet at Doc’s drug store. Read more
