Review: West Side Story (1961)

Those who hate musicals, hate life.

The 1961 cinematic adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet still holds up remarkably well 54 years after it’s original release.

The direction by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise (Robbins handling most of the dance sequences, Wise the more dramatic sequences) is amazing, managing to both feel gritty and real, yet fantastical and artistic at the same time. Obviously, the choreography by Robbins is top notch, lending a surreal aura to the proceedings, flowing seamlessly with the narrative and fitting each of the characters perfectly. In many ways, Robbins and Wise intentionally up the romanticism of the story, giving the New York streets this sense of scope and larger then life wonder to them. They aren’t going for ‘realism’ but rather unabashed romanticism, and for a story that is a romance through and through, it works perfectly.

Being a music, music and lyrics are key, and really, the score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is top tier, and possibly their best work, either collaborative or solo. From Bernstein’s sharp, intense music, to Sondheim’s witty and poetic lyrics, the songs do an excellent job at getting into the character’s heads, and moving the plot forwards as well.

The acting is very good too, with Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer doing excellent jobs at embodying the young, innocent love that Maria and Tony have for each other. True, it is a bit weird to imagine Natalie Wood as a Puerto Rican and Richard Beymer as a street kid, but it doesn’t sink the film by any means, since they both given such earnest performances that one’s disbelief is easily suspended. Marni Nixon does a great job at seamlessly overdubbing Natalie Wood’s vocals, not because Wood was a bad singer, but because it was common studio practice for musicals at the time. As overdubbing goes though, one would never know unless you were told.

The supporting cast is also great, with Russ Tamblyn doing a great job as the charismatic gang leader Riff, in a role I really feel was snubbed for a Best Supporting Actor nomination. However, George Chakiris did score not only a nomination, but a win as the rival gang leader (and smooth criminal) Bernardo. The back and forth between Tamblyn and Chakiris is excellent, and I can understand by Chakiris managed the win. He makes his (relatively) brief screen time memorable, and really makes his mark. Rita Moreno also managed to net a win for Best Supporting Actress as the fiery Anita, who serves as Maria’s companion, friend, and voice of cynical reason. Like Chakiris, she makes her screen time really count, and she’s also got some kicking dance moves, and rocking pipes.

The rest of the cast all do exceptional jobs in their roles. Nobody here is trying to out perform or undermine the other. Instead, they all work together seamlessly, and all go for their best and it shows.

The cinematography and art direction also does a great job contributing to the somewhat dreamlike aura, with deep, rich colors and sharp set design. The camera work is quite good to, using the wide aspect ratio beautifully.

So suffice to say, 54 years on, I think West Side Story still holds up beautifully. It’s a poetic, deeply romantic and impactful film, and one of the best musicals to come out of Hollywood.

5 out of 5.