West Side Story (1961)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Matt G

  
  If only we could solve all our problems through interpretive dance. In this modern day adaption of Shakespeare's classic tale Romeo & Juliet, which was adapted from Ernest Lehman's broadway production, it's a singing and dancing group of gangs. There are two gangs… More
  If only we could solve all our problems through interpretive dance. In this modern day adaption of Shakespeare's classic tale Romeo & Juliet, which was adapted from Ernest Lehman's broadway production, it's a singing and dancing group of gangs. There are two gangs pitted against each other in this town, first being the Jets, a group of hard-banging American-teens, and the Sharks, a group of Puerto Rican immigrants. For the time it took place/was filmed in, West Side Story looks, and sounds fantastic, and that was before the Blu-ray conversion. And I thought my trashy old DVD copy sounded great... West Side Story is a massive achievement in American cinema, so much so that it won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way!

• Aaron N

  
  Ice: Play it cool boy, real cool.

• Alexander D

  
  This is probably the greatest 1960s' films I have ever seen

• Jon L

  
  Although one of the great classic musicals I like this one less than such films as Yankee Doodle Dandy and Singing in the Rain. It uses the modern style where the story progressed through song and not alongside it. It sounds funny when I say, "There was too much singing in this… More
  Although one of the great classic musicals I like this one less than such films as Yankee Doodle Dandy and Singing in the Rain. It uses the modern style where the story progressed through song and not alongside it. It sounds funny when I say, "There was too much singing in this musical for me." but that is exactly how I feel sometimes. I didn't even realize until after watching it that is was based on a famous Shakespearian play. It was an amazing adaptation/revisualization and I can see why it was such a classic.

• Jameson W

  
  So perfect. A classic! Easily one of the best musicals, if not the best. A brilliant film. One of the very first things that stands out about this film is colorful setting and scenery. The cinematography is fantastic in this film and it really sets it apart from so many other… More
  So perfect. A classic! Easily one of the best musicals, if not the best. A brilliant film. One of the very first things that stands out about this film is colorful setting and scenery. The cinematography is fantastic in this film and it really sets it apart from so many other musicals. The music and choreography is perfect as well. Normally, dudes running around with weird whistling music would result in me turning off the tv, but here, it is so perfect and so appealing. Also, this film has so many memorable songs such as "Maria," America," "Tonight," and "Somewhere." I have not seen the musical as most people haven't either, but these songs were somewhat familiar. It shows how much of an influence this film has had on film and music. I knew the melodies, yet I had never seen any version of the musical. In many other famous musicals such as "An American in Paris," I didn't even remotely know any of the songs. The musical score was absolutely perfect and stunning. I loved it! The cast members all give fantastic performances. Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, Geroge Chakiris...they all give powerful and convincing performances. This film easily could have fallen into cheese heaven, but it was brilliantly executed by the actors. The emotion was so intense! I love emotion and conflict, so this film delivers. I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but this modern adaptation is perfect. I absolutely love the story! The best adaptation I have ever seen. West Side Story is a perfect, classic film. Winner of 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, it is truly a magnificent film. From the music, dancing, acting, cinematography, emotion, conflict, love, hate....it truly has it all! I absolutely love this film!

• Lewis C

  
  Well, it's West Side Story. Anyone with even a slight interest in musicals has seen it, and probably more than once. It's a variation of Romeo and Juliet, only with Puerto Rican and white teenage gangs instead of Montigues and Capulets, and frequent dance numbers instead of… More
  Well, it's West Side Story. Anyone with even a slight interest in musicals has seen it, and probably more than once. It's a variation of Romeo and Juliet, only with Puerto Rican and white teenage gangs instead of Montigues and Capulets, and frequent dance numbers instead of flowery prose. Personally, I think it's good, but not one of my favorites. Some of the songs and performances are great, while others did nothing for me. There's no denying that the sets and choreography were all top-notch, and the tragic story is timeless, but there are better musicals, in my opinion.

• AJ V

  
  I love this movie, it's one of my favourite musicals, and Robert Wise movies. It has a great story, cast, and songs. If you haven't seen this movie, you should see it right away.

• Spencer S

  
  The most monumental, commercial, and historically significant films of this century. Besides the fact that it's based off the play Romeo and Juliet, so bonus points, it's lively costumes, racial tension, and scintillating song and dance numbers make it the pinnacle of… More
  The most monumental, commercial, and historically significant films of this century. Besides the fact that it's based off the play Romeo and Juliet, so bonus points, it's lively costumes, racial tension, and scintillating song and dance numbers make it the pinnacle of MGM's musical era.

• Lady D

  
  A film I adored from young, based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, WSS is an updated adaption of the original star crossed lovers theme. Whilst this is a film made in 1961, the setup is still so relevant to gang rivalry in today's time, granted the style of… More
  A film I adored from young, based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, WSS is an updated adaption of the original star crossed lovers theme. Whilst this is a film made in 1961, the setup is still so relevant to gang rivalry in today's time, granted the style of storytelling in the forum of a musical with very dramatic song and dance, may not quite be the way this tale is shown, but all the same the meaning remains familiar. Some very memorable songs throughout and of course like it's influence, a tragic love story.

• erika b

  
  i did not like the plot. this film was really weak but the singing was good.

• Conner R

  
  I just don't know what possessed someone to remake Romeo and Juliet as a modern day musical, but somehow it has become a classic. I think on a serious note this a terrible movie and one of the corniest and unrealistic depictions of gang-life period. The acting is so hammy and… More
  I just don't know what possessed someone to remake Romeo and Juliet as a modern day musical, but somehow it has become a classic. I think on a serious note this a terrible movie and one of the corniest and unrealistic depictions of gang-life period. The acting is so hammy and over the top that I feel like someone should have told the production that it was ridiculous. The only good thing I can say about this movie is Robert Wise's above average looking musical sense, the crane shots are really the shining moment. It's a disaster and not even close to being the movie it is built up to be.

• Chris W

  
  Pretty solid movie musical, but not completely solid or devoid of flaws and nitpicks. As far as being an adaptation of Romeo & Juliet goes, it's mostly faithful, but loses it (and badly) at the end by softening the tragedy. I loved how this movie went for social commentary… More
  Pretty solid movie musical, but not completely solid or devoid of flaws and nitpicks. As far as being an adaptation of Romeo & Juliet goes, it's mostly faithful, but loses it (and badly) at the end by softening the tragedy. I loved how this movie went for social commentary and was a bit edgy, but at the same time, it could (and should) have been edgier, and it's hard for me to completely judge the historical accuracy of the events on display. The music and choreography are the best parts though, even though sometimes they lead to a bity of silliness and campiness. Basically the movie as a whole is uneven, but it's so energetic, fast-paced, and entertaining that ultimately it is a winner more than a loser. I'm not a fanboy for editing techniques like I am for camera gimmicks (like tracking shots and dolly zooms), but I loved the transitions and the artsyness of things-style that was showy, but not overbearing. I'd prefer it if things would have been really dark, but given the time it came out, and especially that the story is set as a musical, it is forgivable.

• Cassie H

  
  Beautiful Romeo and Juliet story. :)

• Wahida K

  
  Yes Cheesy is a right word. Couple of Musicals are great but this one is easily forgetable.

• danny d

  
  a true masterpiece of cinema, west side story transcends its absurdities to become one of the great musicals of all time. although a few of the actors werent the greatest singers, the songs were perfectly crafted, the story well executed, and the cinematography gave us many memorable… More
  a true masterpiece of cinema, west side story transcends its absurdities to become one of the great musicals of all time. although a few of the actors werent the greatest singers, the songs were perfectly crafted, the story well executed, and the cinematography gave us many memorable scenes.

• Jennifer D

  
  Too long. Haha!

• Tom E

  
  What can I say? Maria and the wedding song are 2 of the most BEAUTIFUL songs ever written or sung!!! Bernstein has to be the greatest American composer EVER!

• Julie B

  
  There's a place for us.... and it's where tough gangs dance.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Visually, it's gorgeous. The cinematography, the vibrant colors, the great costumes, the breathtaking choreography. But, on the other hand, you have the awful songs (95% of them), the Puerto Ricans that can't speak Spanish (excluding Rita Moreno) and act Italian, the… More
  Visually, it's gorgeous. The cinematography, the vibrant colors, the great costumes, the breathtaking choreography. But, on the other hand, you have the awful songs (95% of them), the Puerto Ricans that can't speak Spanish (excluding Rita Moreno) and act Italian, the cheesiness and the implausibility of the love story. The direction is amazing, and the movie demanded a better script. Rita Moreno was the best, Natalie Wood followed. George Chakiris and Richard Beymer weren't very good, but had their moments of brilliance. All this being said, I still liked it, and I love that whistling at the beginning in an unexplicable way.

• Jennifer X

  
  Natalie Wood does not make a particularly convincing Puerto Rican.

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