West Side Story is a re-imagining of Shakespeare's classic love and death fest, Romeo & Juliet. The movie is an adaptation of the original 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. It stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer and was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film version was released in 1961 and was a huge success, winning a shit-ton of awards and becoming the second highest grossing film of the year in the USA.
Set in the West Side's Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan, the plot centers around two rival gangs duking it out for control. The Jets, a white gang led by Riff, battle the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang led by Bernardo, in a classic turf war.
The gangs engage in some fun- and to the modern viewer, quite campy- street brawls while Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Schrank bust in once-in-a-while to break things up and make menacing threats. These early throw-downs are probably my favorite part of the movie. What an awesome juxtaposition of classic musical choreography and wacky, stylized street-brawling! Never have a group of men looked so graceful and so tough at the same moment. This is a true testament to Jerome Robbins, the choreography director, who was shit-canned over money issues.
The tension comes to a head at the upcoming dance, where the Jets challenge the Sharks to a battle for control of the neighborhood. In preparation for this, Riff turns to co-founder of the Jets, Tony, who has left the gang for a steady paycheck. Tony is reluctant, citing his feeling that something big is about to happen for him. Riff points out that the dance may just hold the something big he's waiting for, enticing Tony to join them. The best part of this scene is when Tony and Riff cement their BFF status with the lines, “Womb to tomb”, and “Birth to earth”. Unfortunately, the original Broadway line, “Sperm to worm” was changed because of censorship issues. Damn the man!
At the dance, Tony meets Maria (Natalie Wood)- Bernardo's sister, and the two fall instantly in love. A fantastic special effects scene quivers us into a land where no one exists but Maria and Tony. They hold each other longingly, kiss, and tumble head-over-heels. Uh-oh. You can well-imagine that the Sharks and Jets are none too happy about this development. Bernardo is especially miffed, since he has promised Maria to his buddy, uber-dork Chino.
Tony and Maria try desperately to think of a way to be together. Amidst these secret meetings, Tony decides it would be a really great idea to barge into the sewing shop where Maria works and bump into Maria’s best gal-pal, as well as Bernardo’s main squeeze, Anita. With a shrug, the young lovers decide to fess-up to Anita, leaving her flabbergasted but willing to keep her lips zipped.
Another of the greatest numbers in the flick comes from a moment on a roof top, just before the war-council, when the Sharks and their girls sing about America. Check it out here.
Meanwhile, the war council meets and Tony talks both groups into engaging in a "fair fight", between each of the gangs’ top pugilists- Ice and Bernardo. Maria gets wind of the show-down and tells Tony to stop it all-together.
At the fight, Tony busts in at the last minute, flinging himself between the combatants in an attempt to stop the fight. Bernardo taunts Tony by essentially calling him a chicken and slapping him around. Riff ain’t letting anybody but him man-handle his bro like that, and pulls a knife from the pocket of his fashion-forward skinny-jeans. Bernardo wields his own knife as the Jets hold Tony back. Another awesomely-wacky, beautifully choreographed fight ensues, ending with Riff about to land the death blow over Bernardo. Tony breaks free and stops Riff at the last second. Unfortunately for Riff, Bernardo charges and Riff winds up on the pointy end of the knife. Immediately Bernardo realizes what a mistake he's made, but in a fit of rage, Tony stabs Bernardo. This sparks a huge battle between the gangs. Sirens wailing scatter all but the dead and Tony. Anybody’s- a cool chick who wants to be in the Jets so badly she’d kill Chino and stitch on his penis- rescues Tony.
Tony goes to beg Maria's forgiveness before turning himself in. She won't let him. Seemingly unshaken by her brother’s gruesome death at the hands of her boy-toy, she not only forgives Tony, but plans to elope with him just before she gives him her flower.
Anita essentially catches Maria with Tony. After much ado, she agrees to meet Tony to give him a message that Maria will be a bit late to meet him and carry out the genius plan of get money from Doc and run away together, as Maria has to answer Lieutenant Crazy Eyes questions first.
Anita goes to Doc’s, where Tony is hiding. The Jets are protecting the place and physically assault Anita. Doc breaks it up but Anita has had enough. She tells them all how much they suck. As she storms out, she informs them that Chino has killed Maria in a fit of rage. Doc reinforces the notion that they all do, in fact, suck, banishing them from his store. After the Jets are gone, Doc gives Tony the dough and informs him that Maria is dead.
Tony has a breakdown that seems totally justified considering he’s known Maria for what, like, 38 hours or so? He flings himself out into the streets, hollering for Chino to come and get him too. Maria pops around the corner and yells to Tony but not before Chino gladly obliges Tony by shooting him just as he runs to embrace Maria.
Maria and Tony collapse in an embrace, sharing some hopeful last words. After Tony dies, Maria goes into a rage, taking the pistol from Chino and waving it menacingly at both gangs, who have arrived at the sound of the gun shot. She lays the blame for all the deaths squarely on the shoulders of both groups. As sirens wail in the distance, Maria falls to the ground.
In the end, as Krupke and Lieutenant Hairy Eyeball arrive, three Jets start to pick Tony’s body up, and are aided by two Sharks. Everyone, it seems, has learned a valuable lesson. Chino alone is left to take the wrap.
I’ve got to say that I feel like slapping myself in the face for having not seen this movie until now. I absolutely love going to live productions, but rarely have the time or cash to do so. West Side Story was a fantastic movie and has definitely made it on my list of must-see live shows.
Having said that, I’m always partly against the idea of the Romeo & Juliet storyline. Don’t get me wrong, I am a hopeless romantic. I root for the Joey & Dawsons, Sam & Dianes, Tony & Angelas, and, of course, the Luke & Lorelais of the world. However, I have a real issue with the Hollywood propaganda of- we just met, we’re madly in love, *insert random tragedy here*, I can’t live without you, I WON’T live without you, oh shit we’re dead, but hey, it was totally worth it for that one awesome day who hung out together dancing, lesson learned.
A fun little bit of trivia for all the Gilmore girls Superfans out there: Miss Celine, played by Alex Borstein, once refers to Lorelai as Natalie Wood. Anyone with eyeballs can immediately see the similarities between Natalie Wood and Lauren Graham. The flawless skin; large, glimmering eyes; gorgeous legs that go for days…OK I’m back.
I’ve been trying to come up with a rating system that is fun, funny and clever. Here’s what I’ve landed on:
Pippi Longstocking’s Gold Coins
Pippi, adorable oddball that she is, would never want a standard 1-10 rating system. In light of this, I have opted for a system as follows:
1 Gold Pippi Coin= Pure crap
1 Sack of Gold Pippi Coins= Pretty Good
1 Treasure Chest of Gold Pippi Coins= Fantastic
1 Cave of Pippi Coins= Holy shit, this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen!
I am awarding West Side Story 1 Treasure Chest of Gold Pippi Coins. Great flick that I will certainly watch again, and it has inspired me to see the live version. Can’t get behind teen suicide over a two-day love affair, but the wonderfully choreographed dance/fight scenes are off the hook.
Thanks for joining me for the first edition of Dean’s Black, White & Read Nights! Hope you’ll tell your friends and come back again! If you'd like to leave me some feedback or ask questions, email me at LukesJamHands@gmail.com.
Next up….Rosemary’s Baby.
