The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: West Side Story (1961)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend: 

West Side Story (1961) 

What is the most iconic musical of all time? There are plenty of musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood that could take that crown. One such contender is West Side Story. A classic retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, this street gang musical tells the tale of a gang member who falls in love with the sister of a rival gang member. This film has scale, energy, personality, and technical prowess. All these things you would love to have in a movie musical. Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise brought this beloved musical to the big screen and has been part of the culture zeitgeist since its release in 1961. 

What is the most important piece of a musical? Well…the music! West Side Story certainly has plenty of music to pull the audience in and engage them from start to finish. The music that sets the framework for all the musical numbers certainly comes from great stock. Leonard Bernstein’s music is rich with emotion and personality. These tunes are earworms for sure and are so iconic that you will recognize them once those first few notes are played. But the songs are what really grab you for sure. When you have someone as beloved and talented as Stephen Sondheim working on those lyrics, that is something special. You have romantic songs like “Maria”, silly songs like “Gee Officer Krupke”, and charming ones like “I Feel Pretty”. There is a truly iconic song like “America” that embodies all the themes about the American Dream. This is one of the most beloved musicals of all time and music certainly has a big influence on that for sure. 

What else injects the film with so much personality? The direction. Wise & Robbins are able to accomplish a lot from the opening scene. The camera soaring into this neighborhood helps get the audience engrossed in the world of the film and this specific space in New York City. You feel the streets come to life and the Jets and the Sharks come to blow (through dance) throughout this opening sequence. Bernstein’s music works perfectly with direction, editing, and choreography to tie this whole sequence together. But Wise can capture so much emotion throughout this film. The love and connection are palpable during the performance of the song “Maria”. You feel the hate, grief, and despair of the rumble between the Sharks and the Jets. There is just so much life in this film and without the impressive direction this would all just fall flat. 

How about the performers? There are some interesting layers to how this film was realized through the performances you see…the performances you only hear. The most iconic performance for sure is from the acting legend Rita Moreno. Her energy and spark as Anita is essential to so many great moments like “America”. You need the connection to “Romeo & Juliet”, Tony and Maria, to feel real and there is good chemistry between Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood. George Chakiris might not match the background of Bernardo (it certainly was of the times) but he did his own singing, which was impactful. But there needs to be some acknowledgement to Marni Nixon, Jimmy Bryant, and Betty Wand who all lent their voices to the bigger stars.

How does this film stand the test of time still? The tale is old as time (or at least as old as 1596). The romance resonates. The American Dream is something that still brings so many to America (which has gotten more complex in present times). This is an impactful cautionary tale against fighting over our differences and looking to unite for our common good. Even Steven Spielberg saw it so significantly that he remade it for a modern era (bonus recommendation over on Disney+). 

West Side Story is streaming on Hulu.