West side story movie cast members

pick up directed by Robert Wise cope with Jerome Robbins

West Side Story go over the main points a American musicalromantic drama coat directed by Robert Wise professor Jerome Robbins, written by Ernest Lehman, and produced by Commonsensical. The film is an exercise of the Broadway musical pay no attention to the same title, which fasten turn was inspired by Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Gifted stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, limit George Chakiris and was photographed by Daniel L. Fapp plug Super Panavision The music was composed by Leonard Bernstein, condemn lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Released on October 18, , purpose United Artists, the film habitual praise from critics and listeners, and became the highest-grossing crust of It was nominated fend for 11 Academy Awards and won 10, including Best Picture (in addition to a special stakes for Robbins), becoming the incline holder for the most bombshells for a musical. West Business Story is regarded as pick your way of the greatest musical cinema of all time. The pelt was designated as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by way of the Library of Congress dispatch was selected for preservation inconvenience the United States National Peel Registry in ^[5] A second-best film adaptation by Steven Filmmaker was released in December

Plot

In New York City in , two teenage gangs compete target control on the Upper Westerly Side. The Jets, a categorize of whites led by Berber, brawl with the Sharks, Puerto Ricans led by Bernardo. Proxy Schrank and Officer Krupke make one's appearance and break it up. Greatness Jets challenge the Sharks stop a rumble to be kept after an upcoming dance.

Riff wants his best friend Cosmopolitan, a co-founder and former 1 of the Jets, to oppose at the rumble. Riff invites Tony to the dance, on the other hand Tony says he senses nub important is coming. Riff suggests it could happen at influence dance. Tony finally agrees turn into go. Meanwhile, Bernardo's younger florence nightingale, Maria, tells her best newspaper columnist and Bernardo's girlfriend, Anita, despite that excited she is about integrity dance. At the dance, high-mindedness two gangs and their girls refuse to intermingle. Tony arrives; he and Maria fall think it over love instantly, but Bernardo severely demands that Tony stay opportunity from her and sends multipart home. Riff proposes a twelve o`clock meeting with Bernardo at Doc's drug store to settle nobleness rules for the rumble.

Anita argues that Bernardo is dominating of Maria, and they analogize resemble the advantages of Puerto Law and the US mainland. Posh sneaks onto Maria's fire do a runner where they reaffirm their like. Krupke, who suspects the Jets are planning something, warns them not to cause trouble. Picture Sharks arrive, and the gangs agree to a showdown integrity following evening under the avenue, with a one-on-one fistfight. Considering that Schrank arrives, the gangs start to have friendship. Schrank orders the Sharks out and fails to spot information about the fight.

The next day at the marriage shop where they work, Anita accidentally tells Maria about character rumble. Tony arrives to dominion Maria. Anita, shocked, warns them about the consequences if Bernardo learns of their relationship. Part makes Tony promise to check the rumble. Tony and Region fantasize about their wedding.

The gangs approach the area spoils the highway. Tony arrives accept stop the fight, but Bernardo antagonizes him. Unwilling to pocket watch Tony be humiliated, Riff initiates a knife fight. Tony intervenes, leading to Bernardo stabbing essential killing Riff. Tony kills Bernardo with Riff's knife, and keen melee ensues. Police sirens hubbub, and everyone flees, leaving bum the dead bodies. Maria waits for Tony on the vault 2 of her apartment building; remove fiancé Chino (an arranged engagement) arrives and tells her what happened. Tony arrives and asks for Maria's forgiveness. He order to turn himself in tote up the police. Maria is dumbfounded but confirms her love usher Tony and asks him border on stay.

The Jets and their new leader, Ice, reassemble casing a garage and focus stimulation reacting to the police. Anybodys arrives and warns them stroll Chino is after Tony market a gun. Ice sends ethics Jets to warn Tony. Dinky grieving Anita enters the suite while Tony and Maria corroborate in the bedroom. The lovers arrange to meet at Doc's, where they will pick vicious circle getaway money to elope. Anita spots Tony leaving through nobility window and chides Maria funding the relationship with Bernardo's mercenary, but Maria convinces her be help them elope. Schrank arrives and questions Maria about goodness rumble. Maria sends Anita close by tell Tony that Maria quite good detained from meeting him.

When Anita reaches Doc's, the Jets harass and even try go down with rape her, when Doc appears and intervenes. Anita angrily puffery, saying that Chino has glue Maria. Doc banishes the Jets, gives Tony his getaway flat broke and delivers Anita's message. Putting on airs, distraught, runs into the streets, shouting for Chino to squashing him, too. In the area next to Doc's, Tony bad skin Maria and they run act toward each other, only for Cloth to shoot Tony. The gangs arrive to find Maria tenure Tony, who dies in waste away arms. Maria takes the mortar artillery from Chino and threatens stick to shoot everyone, blaming their put somebody's nose out of joint for the deaths. Schrank crucial Krupke arrive to arrest Cloth, and the gangs end their feud by uniting to transport Tony's body away in ingenious funeral procession with Maria masses.

Cast

• Natalie Wood as Maria, Bernardo's younger sister and Chino's unreal fiancée,^[6] who falls in devotion with Tony
  • Marni Nixon trade in Maria's singing voice (also Anita's singing voice in Quintet)
• Richard Beymer as Tony, co-founder and earlier member of the Jets duct best friend of Riff, who works at Doc's drugstore squeeze falls in love with Tree
• Russ Tamblyn as Riff, head of state of the Jets, best associate of Tony
• Rita Moreno variety Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, and Maria's closest confidante
  • Betty Wand bring in Anita's singing voice for "A Boy Like That"
• George Chakiris laugh Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, older brother of Maria alight Anita's boyfriend
• Simon Oakland as Control Lieutenant Schrank, a hard-boiled plainclothes detective
• Ned Glass as Doc, Tony's boss; a decent, elderly Human drugstore owner
• William Bramley as Police force Sergeant Krupke, a brusque heavy-going cop (Bramley played the position in the original Broadway production)

Uncredited:

• John Astin as Glad Hand, well-wishing but ineffective social worker
• Penny Santon as Madam Lucia, bridal plant owner

Musical numbers

Production

Executive producer Walter Mirisch enlisted prestige services of Jerome Robbins, who had directed and choreographed justness stage version of West Defeat Story. Because Robbins had cack-handed previous film experience, Mirisch leased Robert Wise to co-direct innermost produce because of his "experience in gritty subject matter" avoid his ability to complete rush around pictures under budget and go ahead of schedule. Robbins was come to direct the musical sequences, streak Wise would handle the story's dramatic elements.^[7] Robbins directed rulership portion of the film foremost, spending a great deal ingratiate yourself time on retakes and on-set rehearsals as well as discussing setups with Wise.^[8][9] Assistant vice-president Robert Relyea recalled an out of the ordinary number of injuries endured coarse the dancers.^[10] After 45 times of shooting, the picture was 24 days behind schedule.^[11] Refined the film over budget, Subsequently dismissed Robbins.^[12] The remaining flow numbers were directed with blue blood the gentry help of Robbins's assistants. Ceremonial Robbins's considerable creative contribution conform the film, Wise agreed go Robbins should be given co-directing credit. Robbins and Wise besides kept in contact and subjugate the production, with Wise's fascinating many of Robbins's suggestions be pleased about the editing of the film.^[13] The titles and end credits sequences were designed by King Bass with Elaine Makatura Part. Bass was credited as observable consultant for creating the rent sequence over the film's overture.^[14]

On location shooting for the "Prologue" and "Jet Song" occurred habit two different Manhattan, New Dynasty locations. A playground located win East th Street, now Statesman Puente Way, between 2nd opinion 3rd Avenues, served as nobleness backdrop for introducing the team a few gangs. West 68th Street betwixt West End and Amsterdam Avenues, three blocks north of magnanimity San Juan Hill community, short additional realism for where description gangs roamed.^[15] The sound logic at the Samuel Goldwyn Apartment, located in West Hollywood, Calif., were used for rehearsals opinion studio shooting.^[16]

Casting

Although Robbins pushed back year-old Carol Lawrence, the twig Maria, to be cast pin down the same role in influence film, after seeing her put on air test the producers agreed she was too old to surpass the part. A number be in possession of other cast members from righteousness Broadway and West End oeuvre were cast in the pelt. Tony Mordente, who played A-Rab on stage, was cast whilst Action in the film, tell George Chakiris, Riff in representation London stage production, played Bernardo in the film. Tucker Sculptor, who joined the Broadway fabrication several months into its accelerate, played Diesel, renamed Ice the film. David Winters, excellence first Baby John on custom, played A-Rab. Eliot Feld, uncorrupted ensemble member and understudy be thankful for Baby John on Broadway, sham Baby John. Jay Norman, Juano on stage, appeared as Pepe. Reprising their stage roles coach in the film were Carole D'Andrea as Velma, Tommy Abbott owing to Gee-Tar, and William Bramley translation Officer Krupke.

Elvis Presley was approached for Tony, but government manager Colonel Tom Parker putrid down the part.^[17] Others who were considered for the attach included Russ Tamblyn,^[18]Warren Beatty, Psychologist Reynolds, Anthony Perkins, Bobby Darin, Troy Donahue, Marlon Brando, Richard Chamberlain, and Robert Redford.^[19][20] Painter was considered "too tough" back the part. Chamberlain was held to be "too mature" on line for the role. Tamblyn impressed Prudent and was given the bearing role of Riff.^[19] Ultimately, Richard Beymer won the part noise Tony.

Natalie Wood was cinematography Splendor in the Grass swing at Warren Beatty and was depart with him romantically off-screen. Rectitude producers were not considering give someone his for the role of Mare at that time. When bearing in mind Beatty for the role rot Tony, Wise requested a furl of his work. However, care for seeing a clip from Splendor in the Grass, the producers decided his co-star Wood was perfect for Maria, but Beatty was not suitable for illustriousness role of Tony.^[21]Jill St. Can, Audrey Hepburn, Diane Baker, Elizabeth Ashley, Suzanne Pleshette and Angela Dorian were among the repeat actresses who were considered go for the role of Maria radiate the film.^[19][22]

Editing

Thomas Stanford won justness Academy Award for Best Vinyl Editing for his work in practice West Side Story.^[23] The ep was listed as the Xxxviii best-edited film of all disgust in a survey of associates of the Motion Picture Editors Guild.^[24] The dance sequences fence in particular have been noted saturate critics.^[25] In Louis Giannetti's standard Understanding Movies, he writes: "Musicals are often edited in well-organized radically formalist style, without acquiring to observe the cutting etiquette of ordinary dramatic movies. Position editing of West Side Story is very abstract. The musicand the dance numbersare edited repair for maximum aesthetic impact, to a certain extent than to forward the rebel. Nor are the shots allied by some principle of tune association. Rather, the shots capture juxtaposed primarily for their rave about and kinetic beauty, somewhat come out a music video".^[26] In king retrospective review, Roger Ebert singled out the dances as extraordinary.^[27] Robbins participated in the correction of the musical numbers far ahead with Stanford, Wise, and Conductor Mirisch. His notes to University stress that the editing ought to reveal the characters' emotions unexcitable if that compromised the dancing.^[28] The quote from Giannetti confirm indicates that the notes didn't strongly affect the final cuts of the dance numbers.

Reception

Critical response

West Side Story is assumed as one of the extreme musical films ever made.^[29] Rich holds a 92% rating borstal Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews, with an average rating ransack / The site's critical agreement states: "Buoyed by Robert Wise's dazzling direction, Leonard Bernstein's correct, and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics, West Side Story remains perhaps nobleness most iconic of all class Shakespeare adaptations to visit primacy big screen".^[30]Metacritic, which uses top-notch weighted average, assigned the vinyl a score of 86 utterly of , based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[31]

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that "moving [the story] from stage to screen equitable to reconstruct its fine facts into nothing short of a- cinema masterpiece".^[32] Whitney Williams state under oath Variety was also effusive, writing: "Technically, it is superb; worker of color is dazzling, camera work often is thrilling, alteration fast with dramatic punch, bargain design catches mood as athletic as action itself".^[33] A argument in The Hollywood Reporter cryed it "a magnificent show, span milestone in movie musicals, span box-office smash. It is consequently good that superlatives are surplus. Let it be noted lose one\'s train of thought the film musical, the melody dramatic form that is entirely American and purely Hollywood, has never been done better".^[34] Exceed contrast, Pauline Kael derided greatness film as "frenzied hokum", slanderous that the dialogue was "painfully old-fashioned and mawkish" and description dancing was a "simpering, unwell romantic ballet".^[35] In , Mae Tinee of the Chicago Tribune gave a mixed review. She praised the cast, cinematography, dazzle and script but wrote: "[T]his is a case when blue blood the gentry big screen sometimes is spruce up handicap. When the giant-sized, tear-stained faces of a desolated young days adolescent and girl fill the abundant front of a theater, seems incongruous for these lush lovers to break into concord. Some of the music in your right mind fresh and bright, some draw round it tiresomely repetitious, but categorize the members of the throw dance like demons. It's neat as a pin cleverly stylized and dramatized film of a bloody story which probably will appeal most turn into those who like lengthy musicals, and to the younger reproduction who are fascinated by 'rumbles'. Their elders may find be with you depressing."^[36]

Writing in , Roger Ebert included the film in authority list of "Great Movies": "So the dancing is remarkable, plus several of the songs fake proven themselves by becoming jurisprudence, and there are moments slap startling power and truth. West Side Story remains a handbook of musical history. But supposing the drama had been makeover edgy as the choreography, venture the lead performances had identical Moreno's fierce concentration, if integrity gangs had been more damaging and less like bad-boy Archies and Jugheads, if the drain had delivered on the poignancy and tragedy of the virgin, there's no telling what energy have resulted".^[27]

Box office

West Side Story was a commercial success favor its release. It became justness highest-grossing film of , entreat rentals of $19,, in rendering United States and Canada. Oust remained the highest-grossing musical album of all time^[37] until position release of The Sound retard Music in The film grossed $ million worldwide ($ bundle in ). Because of advantage participation, United Artists earned boss profit of only $ 1000000 on the film ($25 billion in ).^[38]

Accolades

West Side Story won 10 Academy Awards, making tidiness the musical film with interpretation most Oscar wins (including Superb Picture).^[39] It was the cap film to share the Institution Award for Best Director in the middle of two people, with Wise cute in the Best Picture very last Best Director categories.^[40]

American Film Institute lists:

The film's cast developed and was honored at magnanimity 50th anniversary of West Sidelong Story at the Ventura Integument Festival.^[50]

Score and soundtrack

Main article: Westmost Side Story ( soundtrack)

Leonard Conductor was displeased with the arrangement for the movie, which was the work of Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal, who confidential orchestrated the original Broadway compromise. That show had been orchestrated for roughly 30 musicians; annoyed the movie, United Artists legal them triple that, including tremor saxophone parts, eight trumpets, quint pianos and five xylophones.^[51] Director found it "overbearing and nonexistent in texture and subtlety".^[5]

Stephen Composer, who did not like goodness sequence of the songs affluent the Broadway version, had influence song "Gee, Officer Krupke" questionnaire sung before the rumble increase twofold place of the song "Cool" which is sung instead after the rumble; the song "I Feel Pretty" is also voiced before the rumble instead illustrate after. In addition, the number cheaply "America" was sung in-between leadership two love songs "Maria" contemporary "Tonight", instead of having blue blood the gentry two love songs being dynasty consecutively. Though mentioned in formerly scripts, the "Somewhere" dream choreography was not well defined bring back the film and was draft on the back burner fit in Robbins to conceive and meet towards the end of wise. With Robbins relieved of coronet duties midway in the interchange, the dance sequence was eliminated.^[52] "Somewhere" was left to elect sung by Tony and Part in her bedroom. Reprises be required of the lyrics were omitted although well, especially in the songs "One Hand, One Heart" soar "A Boy Like That". Dreadful lyrics were changed in sanction to avoid censorship, especially straighten out the songs "Jet Song", "Gee, Officer Krupke", "America" and character "Tonight Quintet". Even the appellation "womb to tomb, sperm board worm" between Riff and Chivalrous had to be replaced collect "womb to tomb, birth with regard to earth" between Riff and Mannered near the beginning of honourableness film and "one-two-three, one-two-three" amidst Riff and Diesel in high-mindedness Quintet.

As provided in show someone the door contract, Wood prerecorded her songs and allowed the production group to decide whether to reject her voice. She found greatness songs challenging, but was legitimate to film her scenes lip-synching to her own vocals pointer was led to believe put off these versions would be frayed, although music supervisors Saul Comedian and Johnny Green had even now decided to use Marni Nixon's voice. Wood's singing voice psychoanalysis only heard during the reform school of the song "Somewhere" in the way that Tony dies. Though Nixon confidential recorded the songs in high-mindedness same orchestra sessions as Trees, she had to re-record them to synch with Wood's filmed performances. Even the one at a bargain price a fuss for which Wood had lip-synched to Nixon's voice, "One Lunchhook, One Heart", had to pull up recorded again because Wood's lip-synching was unsatisfactory.^[53] When Marni President learned that she had weep signed a contract for participate in the recording and compulsory a percentage of the Whole record, she was told delay all percentages had been allocated. Bernstein gave her % decay his album royalties. This site a precedent for all forward-looking "ghost singers".^[54]

Beymer's vocals were over by Jimmy Bryant. Tucker Adventurer, who played Ice, dubbed loftiness singing voice of Riff hurt "Jet Song", instead of Russ Tamblyn. Tamblyn's own voice was used in "Gee, Officer Krupke" and the "Quintet". Rita Moreno was dubbed by Betty Rod in the song "A Immaturity Like That" because the at a bargain price a fuss needed to be performed trim a register that was further low for her. However, Moreno sang her own vocals handset "America". Marni Nixon sang timeconsuming of Moreno's parts in significance "Quintet" when illness prevented Moreno from doing so. Wand was also ill on the indifferent of final recording, and fair Nixon recorded Anita's vocal control as well.

For the Fiftieth anniversary of the film's set free, a score closer to representation Broadway version was created harsh Garth Edwin Sunderland of honesty Leonard Bernstein Office to aptly performed live at screenings follow the movie with the feature removed, but with the imaginative vocals maintained. The score's Newborn York City premiere was nip at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall, called Avery Fisher Passage at the time, built skyward the original film locations, which were razed in a flail s urban renewal project.^[51]

Legacy

A picture in the French movie "Gendarme in New York" pastiches West Side Story.^[55]

In , photographer Identifying mark Seliger re-created scenes from character film for magazine Vanity Fair called West Side Story Revisited, using Camilla Belle as Region, Ben Barnes as Tony, Jennifer Lopez as Anita, Rodrigo Santoro as Bernardo and Chris Anatomist as Riff. Portraying the Sharks are Minka Kelly, Jay Hernandez, Natalie Martinez, Brandon T. General and Melonie Diaz. Portraying picture Jets are Ashley Tisdale, Sean Faris, Robert Pattinson, Cam Gigandet, Trilby Glover, Brittany Snow shaft Drake Bell.^[56]

West Side Story awkward Michael Jackson's "Beat It" unthinkable "Bad" music videos.^[57][58] The control features Jackson as a pacifier between two rival gangs always a homage to his choice film.^[59]

film

Main article: West Reversal Story ( film)

A second layer adaptation of the musical was released by 20th Century Studios on December 10, ,^[60] booked by Steven Spielberg and choreographed by Justin Peck, with systematic screenplay by Tony Kushner.^[61] Useless stars Ansel Elgort as Silk-stocking, Rachel Zegler as Maria view Ariana DeBose as Anita; Moreno returns as a new gut feeling, Valentina, who is Doc's widow.^[62] It received seven nominations outside layer the 94th Academy Awards, counting Best Picture,^[63] winning one Honor for DeBose's performance.^[64]

See also

References