"West Side Story" Provides Classic Enjoyment to Generations of Viewers

I found the film version of the musical play, "West Side Story" to be a classic, able to be used for study and provide entertainment for generations of viewers. Released in 1961, the movie directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins was highly successful, updating Shakespeare's famous "Romeo and Juliet" to the New York slum gangs. It features Natalie Wood in the part of Maria, Richard Beymer in the part of Tony, Rita Moreno in the part of Anita, George Chakiris in the part of Bernardo and Russ Tamblyn in the part of Riff.

While watching the prologue of this motion picture, I could immediately identify with its theme. During this time, the camera settles in on a basketball court in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and a gang of male youths are seen, snapping their fingers to the rhythm of the music. Aggressiveness and violence are symbolized with different physical confrontations. This is a dangerous atmosphere, where a person could get hurt if they're not one of a crowd.

The plot can be described as a melodrama. This story begins in the late 1950s, on the rough city streets of Manhattan, where hate and violence are common, everyday things. The power of ruling the public turf is currently fought for between two local street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. The Jets are an Anglo gang run by Riff, a local hoodlum, and the Sharks are a Puerto Rican gang run by Bernardo, a recent immigrant from San Juan.

A romance begins when Bernardo's sister, Maria, meets and falls in love with Riff's best friend, Tony, at a communal dance held in a local gymnasium. Maria was already engaged to Chino (Jose de Vega), a fellow gang member of Bernardo, but had no romantic feelings toward him. Tony had recently quit the Jets, but that made little difference to Bernardo, who almost immediately separated the two of them. But as time went on, Tony and Maria found ways to be together, and develop their romance. They have problems with outside circumstances, but are sure their love can triumph over all evil.

But a rumble was held between the two gangs that tore their world apart. During the course of the fighting, Riff was stabbed to death by Bernardo, which provoked Tony to take the switchblade of his dead friend and kill Bernardo himself. When Chino went to Maria to inform her of her brother's death, she was overly concerned about Tony's safety. This angered Chino so much that he swore vengeance against his rival for Maria's affections. Later, when Tony came to Maria to tell his version of what happened, she was very angered, but did not revoke her love for him. Together, they made plans to run away.

Fate would not have it so. Because of reasons they could not control, their plans were diverted, their rendezvous was put off, and a false message was communicated to Tony that Chino, in his jealous anger, had murdered Maria. Tony ran out into the streets, shouting "Come and get me, too, Chino!..."

Suddenly, Maria appeared on the scene, and when Tony recognized her, he was overjoyed. The two ran to embrace, but as they were approaching each other, Chino stepped out of the shadows and shot Tony in cold blood. Maria, holding her lover in her arms, had to watch him die. The story concludes with both gangs and the police coming on screen with Maria, showing their grief. The love between Tony and Maria won over the hate between the two ethnic groups.

The music used in this film can be categorized under a mixture of genres, indicating an ethnic diversity. Crossovers are used in the musical numbers, and different genres of dance music accompany the entire storyline. The aggressive music in the beginning, when the two gangs were fighting each other, symbolized the division between the Jets and the Sharks. When love was expressed, the mood of the music grew soft and gentle.

Virtually always done in groups, both large and small, the dancing performed in this film takes place in modern form. These dances convey the atmosphere of the setting of the rough Manhattan streets, and show the racial diversity of the characters. A Puerto Rican background with Latin flair is defined in either or a blend of modern dance and jazz, and it is possible to see both ethnicities working against each other while dancing. The group dancing in the beginning of the film accentuates the division between the two gangs, and the solo and pair dancing performed later on represents the love that won over it.

I believe that this film is intended to reach people who are not informed about the consequences of hate. Everything seems to spring from the hate the Jets and the Sharks have for each other, for it keeps Tony and Maria apart and contributes to Tony's death at the end of the film. All of the deaths that happened show people what can result from hate. Especially when playing around with knives or guns. This is very significant in today's world if you consider the crime rate and the percentage gangs take of it.

"West Side Story" could really show people that the hate that breeds violence needs to be stopped. When this work was first produced, it was intended to deal with the fighting street gangs of that period. It was meant to show that violence is not the answer for the hate gangs had against each other. In today's world, this film can also reach the issue of racism. It is significant because it proved that love could exist among all that hate between the two ethnic groups.

Primarily, I feel that this film is important because its general characteristics are key elements of a work of art. It has aesthetic value with its conflicting ethnic groups. It has order in its dancing and plot. It has an intent communicated in a message-do not resort to violence. It is symbolic with a "Romeo and Juliet" theme. And, there is much skill in the singing and dancing performed.

This film is available from the following places on the World Wide Web:

*http://www.amazon.com/West-Side-Story-Special-Collectors/dp/B00008972S

*http://www.reel.com/movie.asp?MID=2367

*http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited.com/product.asp?sku=D36995&redir=%2Fspecial_list.asp%3Fid%3Dr3%26n%3D1