WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

Directed by: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
Based on the Broadway play by: Arthur Laurents
Music and lyrics by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Simon Oakland, Ned Glass, William Bramley, John Astin, Penny Santon, Tucker Smith, Tony Mordente, David Winters, Eliot Feld, Bert Michaels, David Bean, Robert Banas, Anthony "Scooter" Teague, Harvey Hohnecker, Tommy Abbott, Jose De Vega, Jay Norman, Gus Trikonis, Eddie Verso, Jaime Rogers, Larry Roquemore, Robert Thompson, Nick Covacevich, Rudy Del Campo, Andre Tayir, Susan Oakes, Pat Tribble, Francesca Bellini, Elaine Joyce, Yvonne Othon, Suzie Kaye, Joanne Miya, Marni Nixon, Jimmy Bryant, Betty Wand

152 minutes
(NR - adult themes)

PLOT:
On the west side of New York City, the Jets and the Sharks are Polish and Puerto Rican gangs respectively who hate each other and who battle each other for territory in their neighborhood. Their feud makes a small connection when at a gymnasium dance, Tony, one of the founders of the Jets but who is now inactive in the gang, and Maria, the recently arrived sister of the Sharks' leader Bernardo, spot each other across the crowded room and fall in love at first sight. For many of the male gang members, that connection is the last straw in their feud that leads to the decision to have a rumble to determine territory once and for all. Conversely, Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, supports Maria's decision to romance whomever she wants, even a Jet. However, even Anita may be able to endure so much in her stance to support true love. As Maria and Tony try to meet each other clandestinely at any opportunity, Maria makes a request of him to foster peace between the Jets and Sharks, which inadvertently leads to a series of tragic events not only for the collective but personally for Maria and Tony.

TRAILER: