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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Kate Pluta

A classic American musical with strong social commentary, WEST SIDE STORY updates Shakespeare's tragedy about star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet to 1950s New York City, where second-generation American street gang the Jets are at constant odds with rival Puerto Rican gang the Sharks. A showdown is inevitable, but love gets in the way when Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of Sharks leader Bernardo (George Chakiris).

Is It Any Good?

5

Co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, this beautiful musical is a visual masterpiece packed with talent. The music of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is unforgettable, as are the Oscar-winning performances of George Chakiris as Bernardo and Rita Moreno as Anita, the spunky girlfriend of Bernardo and confidant of Maria.

The raging emotions of the characters are expressed through song and dance (Jerome Robbins' choreography mixes jazz, ballet, and Latin influences), resulting in a kinetic display of emotion more expressive than words. Stylish street-wise sets and cinematic technique take the movie to another level, rich with visual symbolism.

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