West side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50 fifty years ago, the film version of the acclaimed broadway musical premiered in theaters across the country. Jets and their girls on one side and sharks and their girls on the othe. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid1950s. West side story written by arthur laurents is actually a modern adaptation of shakespeares romeo and juliet. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Musical theatre typically took a lighthearted approach, even when broaching serious issues. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its. West side story 1010 movie clip killed by hate 1961 hd duration. With a screenplay by ernest lehman, the film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet.
The script for the musical, which tells the romeo and julietinspired. Half a century plus after its original release, west side story still stands as a milestone in movie musical history. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a pattern for. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. Oct 18, 2016 west side story is a magnificent show, a milestone in movie musicals, a boxoffice smash. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. West side story movie remake news, release date, cast, plot.
The bedroom as a window opening onto the fire escape, a bed on a wall, a small shrine to the virgin, and a curtained doorway, rear. Ask anything you want to know, or answer other peoples questions. Steven spielberg to remake west side story but will it. West side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rivals sister.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeare s romeo and juliet. West side story opens december 18, 2020 actors renowned in theater and film, those new to the silver screen, and a host of talented singers and dancers will join steven spielberg and his crew in bringing a new adaptation of the original, beloved stage musical west side stor y to the cinema for a. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. Everything we know about the west side story remake from. West side story is a musical written by arthur laurents, with music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim the story was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet, and is set in the upper west side neighbourhood in new york city in the mid 1950s it follows the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Let it be noted that the film musical, the one dramatic. It is a workingclass neighborhood with a mixture of ethnic groups. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an urban renewal project for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhoods.
West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. At the dance in the local gym, the group is divided. It stars natalie wood, richard beymer, russ tamblyn, rita moreno, and george chakiris, and was photographed. Bernsteins score, sondheims lyrics, and jerome robbins choreography hold up today, and the themes of hope, hatred, love, the american dream, downtrodden youth, and racism still west side story is one of the best, if not the best, film adaptations of a musical to ever grace the cinema. Half a century plus after its original release, west side story still stands as a milestone in movie. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Released october 18th, 1961, west side story stars natalie wood, richard beymer, russ tamblyn, george chakiris the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 31 min, and received a score of 86 out of.
The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s. West side story 1961 stream and watch online moviefone. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. What other productions of west side story are there. In the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood would be cleared to make room for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhood. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. Based on the 1957 broadway stage production of the same name, west side story has become one of the most wellknown musicals of all time. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Jan 14, 2019 west side story will be produced and directed by spielberg from a script by oscarnominated screenwriter and pulitzer prizewinning playwright tony kushner. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. On the harsh streets of the upper west side two gangs battle for control of the turf. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that ancient grudges are no match for true love. West side story is one of the best, if not the best, film adaptations of a musical to ever grace the cinema. West side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50.
The question and answer section for west side story 1961 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Oct 17, 2011 west side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50 fifty years ago, the film version of the acclaimed broadway musical premiered in theaters across the country. In news that will thrill musical theatre fans, steven spielberg is at the helm of a new cinematic version of west side story. It follows the same basic path of the shakespeare plot. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. West side story steven spielberg, director december 18. Setting plot movie book similarities west side story is about two gangs, the sharks and the jets, who fight over who is the best gang on the street.
For once, the bonus features add significantly to the experience with a host of facts and comparative original cast recordings with the dubbed voices of the released feature which were extremely interesting. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. West side story compared to romeo and juliet 3084 words pages. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the. Our online west side story trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top west side story quizzes. West side story movie remake news, release date, cast. 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. West side story will be produced and directed by spielberg from a script by oscarnominated screenwriter and pulitzer prizewinning playwright tony. Dec 05, 2011 west side story 1010 movie clip killed by hate 1961 hd duration. This west side story remake will follow the same plot as the original, detailing a heated feud between the jets, a white american gang, and the sharks, their puerto. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Jul 30, 20 west side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. Although west side story was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 academy awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse singin in the rain is probably more seen and certainly better loved.
When west side story opened on broadway in 1957, it was a new kind of musical. Not too long after the opening scene, a scuffle between rival gang members occurs and police officers. West side story 1961 film essay questions gradesaver. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that. The movie, filled with exhilarating dance sequences choreographed by jerome robbins and memorable songsincluding tonight, maria, and somewhereby leonard bernstein music and stephen sondheim lyrics, won 10. A comprehensive database of west side story quizzes online, test your knowledge with west side story quiz questions.
One of the ideas bounced around early on by choreographer jerome robbins was having the plot. Spielberg confirmed earlier this year that his reinvention of west side story will be released in the us on the 18th december 2020. The film is set in the rough neighborhood of lincoln square on the west side of manhattan during the summer of 1957. At the time, the phrase broadway musical was synonymous with musical comedy. West side story it was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. There is a door between the bedroom and the parlor.
West side story summary and study guide supersummary. Riff and his lieutenants move to challenge bernardo and his lieutenants, but they are interrupted by glad hand, the chaperone who is overseeing the dance, and officer krupke. The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. Four years after west side story hit broadway in 1957, the production was made into a film. Jun 05, 2019 what other productions of west side story are there. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. Author and authors purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. A musical in which a modern day romeo and juliet are involved in new york street gangs. West side story opens december 18, 2020 actors renowned in theater and film, those new to the silver screen, and a host of talented singers and dancers will join steven spielberg and his crew in bringing a new adaptation of the original, beloved stage musical west side stor y to the cinema for a december 18, 2020 release. West side story, adapted from romeo and juliet, could have been east side story. An adaptation of the 1957 musical, west side story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. West side story is a magnificent show, a milestone in movie musicals, a boxoffice smash. Everything we know so far about the west side story.
Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. West side story 1961 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. In this famous ensemble number from the movie west side story, the women are basically arguing with the men about the virtues of living in new york city instead of their native puerto rico. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. Two youngsters from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. Romeo and juliet west side story a comparison contrast. It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing west side story 1961 near you. Based on the novel by marcia davenport, a new york society lady barbara stanwyck and her husband james mason have problems when he begins seeing a younger woman ava gardner. There is palpable tension in the air as two gangs vie for dominance of the area. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story.
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