West Side Story

Name: West Side Story
Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime, Musical
Released: December 13, 1961
Duration: 153 min
Rating: 86
Cast: George Chakiris, Natalie Wood, Ned Glass, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno

1961

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: December 13, 1961 | Approved

Starring: George Chakiris, Natalie Wood, Ned Glass, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, Simon Oakland, Tony Mordente, Tucker Smith, William Bramley

Summary: Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.

Director: Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Crime, Musical

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 153 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

West Side Story remains a landmark of musical history. But if the drama had been as edgy as the choreography, if the lead performances had matched Moreno's fierce concentration, if the gangs had been more dangerous and less like bad-boy Archies and Jugheads, if the ending had delivered on the pathos and tragedy of the original, there's no telling what might have resulted. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Jerome Robbins’s legendary choreography needs the biggest screen it can get; when the movie’s firing on all cylinders of music, lyrics and motion (twice: “America” and “Gee, Officer Krupke”) there’s little to touch it. Read full review

100

Michael Wilmington

West Side Story has a nonpareil set of songs and dances, with ecstatic, exuberant, wonderful music by Leonard Bernstein and witty or heart-tearing lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. [Sing-a-long] Read full review

100

Bosley Crowther

What they have done with West Side Story in knocking it down and moving it from stage to screen is to reconstruct its fine material into nothing short of a cinema masterpiece...In every respect, the recreation of the Arthur Laurents-Leonard Bernstein musical in the dynamic forms of motion pictures is superbly and appropriately achieved. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Represents a brave and effective fusion of serious and fantasy elements, and offers two and one-half hours of solid entertainment. Admittedly, there are times when West Side Story strikes a campy or discordant note, but those instances are overbalanced by the more frequent moments when it offers its own brand of cinematic magic. Read full review

David Jenkins

Although it’s impossible to fault the euphoric dance sequences and ultra-melodic tunes, the dramatic scenes linking the big numbers all fall flat and the illicit affair at the film’s core remains fatally underdeveloped until its fudged finale. Read full review

Pauline Kael

The irony of this hyped-up, slam-bang production is that those involved apparently don't really believe that beauty and romance can be expressed in modern rhythms, because whenever their Romeo and Juliet enter the scene, the dialogue becomes painfully old-fashioned and mawkish, the dancing turns to simpering, sickly romantic ballet, and sugary old stars hover in the sky. When true love enters the film, Bernstein abandons Gershwin and begins to echo Richard Rodgers, Rudolf Friml, and Victor Herbert.

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User Reviews

LuissDt

Apr 8, 2022

West Side Story from 1961 is simply unforgettable and loving with great performances and magical musical performances.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dostoyevsky3

May 5, 2020

Through its legendary performances, lovable music, and important themes and messages. This classic Romeo and Juliet Masterpiece brings the Broadway musical to life as one of the greatest films in existence.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

The3AcademySins

Feb 5, 2018

West Side Story is one of the best, if not THE best, film adaptations of a musical to ever grace the cinema. Bernstein's score, Sondheim's lyrics, and Jerome Robbin's choreography hold up today, and the themes of hope, hatred, love, The American Dream, downtrodden youth, and racism stillWest Side Story is one of the best, if not THE best, film adaptations of a musical to ever grace the cinema. Bernstein's score, Sondheim's lyrics, and Jerome Robbin's choreography hold up today, and the themes of hope, hatred, love, The American Dream, downtrodden youth, and racism still exist today, almost 57 years later. If you are a fan of musicals, classic cinema, or just film in general, you absolutely cannot miss West Side Story.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

giglio

Apr 6, 2020

RITA MORENO RITA MORENO RITA MORENO RITA MORENO RITA MORENO RITA MORENO aaaaa

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

amheretojudge

Jun 12, 2018

co-ordinated as a mirror..

West Side Story As much as simple and familiar path the tale walks on, there is just too much of passion and enthusiasm towards the project and the work that went behind the camera, which makes it almost impossible to not be affected or mesmerized by it. Theco-ordinated as a mirror..

West Side Story

As much as simple and familiar path the tale walks on, there is just too much of passion and enthusiasm towards the project and the work that went behind the camera, which makes it almost impossible to not be affected or mesmerized by it. The technical aspects like costume design, sound department and choreography is rich in details and makes its immensely entertaining at the largest scale possible. The first half of the feature is simply and utterly beautiful and pleasing to encounter where everything is mushy-gushy and mellow but as soon as the second half kicks in, the whole plot turns into this hegemony of "humane" nature conflicts and ironically more poetic than the first half. The execution by the director is decent but in here the editing plays a major role and sweeps away the charm as it is perfectly done. The performance is decent by the lead characters but all the limelight is stolen by the supporting cast especially Rita Moreno. The only minor conflict in it is the amount of time it takes to make the definite point, which can be challenging at some times. West Side Story is a musical act co-ordinated as a mirror; which is the ideology of the society in here that we all reside in.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mahmus

Sep 25, 2020

Beautifully shot, edited and directed.

The film's somewhat predictable Romeo and Juliet story is elevated by some very impressive song and dance numbers, as well as its gorgeous cinematography and creative editing. It's definitely a little too long, but it's great piece of filmmaking withBeautifully shot, edited and directed.

The film's somewhat predictable Romeo and Juliet story is elevated by some very impressive song and dance numbers, as well as its gorgeous cinematography and creative editing.

It's definitely a little too long, but it's great piece of filmmaking with some really biting commentary on racial discrimination (the song "America" is a perfect example).

I love the ending credits.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Izago

Mar 3, 2019

assisti em 2019, filme simples, normal ao meu ver, não consegui entrar dentro do filme, ele se mostra serio mas com brincadeiras, com o musical e suas musicas e danças algumas são boas e outras mais o menos, eu esperava mais, não achei que combinou.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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