West Side Story (1961) | |
| Director(s) | Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise |
| Producer(s) | Saul Chaplin (associate), Robert Wise, Walter Mirisch (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Crime, Drama, Musical, Romance |
| Top Topics | Based on Play, Coming of Age, New York, Romance (Drama), Romance (Musical), Tragic Love |
Featured Cast:
West Side Story Overview:
West Side Story (1961) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and produced by Robert Wise, Walter Mirisch and Saul Chaplin.
SYNOPSIS
This is a jumping, heart-throbbing leap forward for film musicals, full of melodies you know by heart, frenetic dancing, and a time-tested romance. Based loosely on Romeo and Juliet, Laurents's stage production follows two New York street gangs and the ill-starred romance between Wood and Beymer that crosses the line between them. Moreno sparkles and Wood's luminous beauty would have any young gangster singing her name. Robbins clashed with Wise (who also brought stage smash The Sound of Music to the screen) and choreographed only four numbers (including "I Feel Pretty" and "America") but they're athletic, balletic stunners. The immortal songs (by Bernstein and Sondheim) also include "Maria," "The Jet Song," "Officer Krupke," and "Tonight."
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.West Side Story was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1997.
Academy Awards 1961 --- Ceremony Number 34 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | George Chakiris | Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | Rita Moreno | Won |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Boris Leven; Set Decoration: Victor A. Gangelin | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Daniel L. Fapp | Won |
| Best Director | Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Thomas Stanford | Won |
| Best Music - Scoring | Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal | Won |
| Best Picture | Robert Wise, Producer | Won |
| Best Writing | Ernest Lehman | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
West Side Story (2021)
By Alyson on Feb 10, 2022 From The Best Picture ProjectLike many, I had my doubts when I heard that Steven Spielberg was directing a remake of West Side Story. First of all, the man has never taken on a musical. Second, West Side Story is already a masterpiece. How could he, even the great Spielberg, improve such a wonderful film? Long story short, he d... Read full article
Musical Monday: West Side Story (2021)
on Dec 13, 2021 From Comet Over HollywoodIt?s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week?s musical:West Side Story (2021) ? Music... Read full article
Musical Monday: West Side Story (1961)
on May 3, 2021 From Comet Over HollywoodIt?s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week?s musical: West Side Story (1961) ? Mus... Read full article
Classic Conversations: Two Award-Winning Costume Designers Re-Imagine ‘Rebecca’ and ‘West Side Story’
By Danny Miller on Nov 14, 2019 From Classic Movie Hub BlogAs classic movie lovers, we can be a very sensitive group when it comes to messing with our favorites. Even movies that seem to get a new version for each successive generation get severely criticized by those of us who are devotees of the originals. While Lady Gaga received a lot of acclaim... Read full article
Field Trip: “West Side Story” at AMC River East 21 on the big screen June 24
By Stephen Reginald on Jun 11, 2018 From Classic Movie ManField Trip: “West Side Story” at AMC River East 21 on the big screen June 24 West Side Story on the big screen Date: June 24 Where: AMC River East 21, 322 East Illinois, Chicago, IL Time: 2:00 p.m. This electrifying musical, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics from Stephe... Read full article
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Quotes from
Tony: What time?
Riff: Ten.
Tony: Ten it is.
Riff: Womb to tomb!
Tony: Birth to Earth. And I'll live to regret this.
Riff: Who knows? Maybe what you've been waitin' on will be twitchin at the dance tonight.
Tony: Who knows? Could be... Who knows?
Doc: When do you kids stop? You make this world lousy!
Action: We didn't make it, Doc.
Riff: We gotta stand up to them Doc; it's important.
Doc: Fighting over a little piece of street is so important?
Action: To us it is!
Doc: To hoodlums it is!
Action: Who're you callin' a hoodlum?
Doc: War councils...
Action: Don't start, Doc.
Doc: ...Rumbles...
Action: D'you hear me, Doc?
Doc: Why, when I was your age...
Action: When *you* was my age? When my old man was my age, when my brother was my age... You was never my age, none of ya! And the sooner you creeps get hip to that, the sooner you'll dig us!
Doc: I'll dig you an early grave, that's what I'll dig.
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Facts about
Opening dance sequences were shot on the upper west side of Manhattan where Lincoln Center stands today. This area was condemned and the buildings were in the process of being demolished to make way for Lincoln Center. The demolition of these buildings was delayed so that the filming of these sequences could be completed.
The ship seen in the opening aerial view of the city is the SS United States of the United States Lines. It first sailed in 1952 and was laid up in the late 1960's and has been idle ever since. It was recently bought by NCL to be refurbished as a cruise ship. The SS United States currently sits rusting away at a pier on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. PA.
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