WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Musical / Romance

Director: Jerome Robbins / Robert Wise

Cast: Natalie Wood / Richard Beymer / Russ Tamblyn

Plot

In this modernization of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” young lovers Maria and Tony fall in love, despite both being from different ethnic backgrounds and a gang rivalry that threatens to tear the couple apart.

What I Liked

More than a half a century of hindsight gives some perspective on just how influential “West Side Story” would be in terms of influencing trends in future American filmmaking.  Its direct impact can be seen in two ways, historically.  Certainly the concept of modernizing classic literature to make it more relatable for a teen audience has proven to be a successful formula repeatedly since 1961.  Also successful has been the concept of a dance-oriented drama marketed toward teenagers.  So “West Side Story” could be seen as the grandparent of everything from “Clueless” to, unfortunately, “Step Up Revolution.”

Aside from historic relevance, “West Side Story” does have some impressive elements.  Most outstanding are those associated with the film’s production values.  The cinematography brings an epic scale to the petty dramas of teenage street gangs and, when required, the camerawork matches the smoothness of the expertly choreographed dance scenes.

Much of the film was shot on location in New York’s streets but even on the constructed sets the filmmakers create the feel of an endless and labyrinthine urban wilderness, fraught with possibilities both violent and romantic.  Contrasting that vastness is the insular world created by the characters themselves, filled with limitations, rivalries, and passions that are completely ignorant of a world outside of the city streets.

What I Disliked

Despite these strengths, “West Side Story” is still a musical.  A musical about impoverished street thugs.  It just doesn’t work.  I don’t like musicals to begin with, so doubtless my personal prejudices are coloring my description here, but knife-wielding gangs prancing about on their toes and singing “I just met a girl named Maria” neither makes sense nor entertains.  I will fully admit that on a technical level the music and dance scenes are marvelously executed.  It’s the scenarios that don’t make sense.  Of course I’ve always had this problem with musicals in general.  Someone in the middle of a conversation or dramatic moment just suddenly breaking into a song only serves to rip this viewer clean out of the moment.  Instead of feeling like part of the action on screen, suddenly I’m an observer emotionally detached from what I am witnessing.

Ultimately, it took me four viewings to get through “West Side Story,” a chore I will not repeat, despite the film’s redeeming qualities.

Most Memorable Scene

The most beautiful and dazzling of all of the movie’s classic musical moments takes place on the tenement roof tops as the Puerto Rican Sharks and their women debate the pros and cons of living in an America full of both opportunity and racism.  The song “America” and the Latin American influenced dance moves make for the most interesting and entertaining moment of a film that I found dull otherwise.

My Rating: 2 out of 5