mplo
West Side Story, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, began as a famous late-1950's Broadway stage musical that opened in late September of 1957, in New York City's Winter Garden. It played there for two whole years, before embarking on a national tour, and becoming famous throughout the world. Four years later, Walter Mirisch bought the rights to the film, and West Side Story was made into a beautifully spectacular motion picture that won ten well-deserved Academy Awards, including Best Picture of 1961, when it was released, in late October of that year.
Set on the pulsating, finger-snapping West Side of 1950's-1960's Manhattan, West Side Story is about love and romance that proliferates amid conflict between two warring street gangs; the white Ethnic American Jets, led by Riff, and the newly-arrived Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. There's constant tension and hostility between the two gangs, and, after an afternoon playground melee, which is broken up by Lt. Schrank and Ofcr. Krupke, Riff debates with the rest of the Jets and decides to challenge Bernardo and the Sharks to a rumble once and for all.
Tony, the founder and ex-leader of the Jets, who's looking for something besides gang life and the streets, but doesn't know what he's looking for, is working full time at Doc's Candy Store. He is visited by his old buddy, Riff, who wants Tony to be his lieutenant for the rumble between the Jets and Sharks. Tony declines, but is persuaded by Riff to meet him and the Jets at a dance at the local gym that night, at around ten. Reluctantly, Tony agrees.
Maria, the younger sister of Shark gang leader Bernardo, and Anita, who's Bernardo's girlfriend, both work as seamstresses in a local Bridal Shop in their neighborhood. Anita is busy altering an old white communion dress for Maria to wear to the dance that night. She ignores Maria's complaints and arguments about the neck not being low enough and continues with her work. Maria reluctantly tries on the dress, loves it, and is excited about the real beginning as a "young lady of America". The Sharks come to take Anita and Maria to the dance.
At the dance, the kids are having a good time, dancing wildly. Glad Hand, the social worker, tries to get the Jets, Sharks and their girls into a get-together dance, which fails miserably. The gangs break up and go with their own, the girls following behind them. The dance becomes a competition between the Jets and the Sharks, leading up to what will be a deadly show-down; the rumble.
Tony comes in, and is embraced by his old friend, Riff, and his girlfriend, Graziella. Tony spots Maria from across the room. They meet, fall in love and begin dancing together. They're broken up by an enraged Bernardo, who orders Maria home. A scuffle seems eminent, but Glad Hand, and eventually Riff, intervene. Riff invites Bernardo to meet him and the Jets at Doc's Candy Store at midnight, for a pre-rumble War Council. Bernardo agrees.
Tony and Maria meet on the fire escape of her apartment, introduce themselves, and then agree to meet at the Bridal Shop the next evening, at six o'clock. After a short lecture from Bernardo to Maria about her having danced with Tony, Maria goes to bed. Meanwhile, Bernardo and the Sharks and their girls, including Anita, have a dispute on their tenement rooftop about the virtues of the American experience.
Bernardo, the Sharks and their girls, who are partying on their tenement rooftop, argue about the virtues/vices of the American experience, and about Maria's having danced with Tony.
Riff, the Jets and their girls assemble outside Doc's Candy Store, and await the Sharks' arrival. Officer Krupke stops by, warns the Jets against troublemaking, then departs. The Jets lampoon Ofcr. Krupke when he goes. The Jets and their girls go into the Candy Store, sit down, and wait for Bernardo and the Sharks. Anybodys, a tomboy and a Jets "wannabe", wants to be a Jet, but Riff won't let her and rejects her at every turn. Riff warns the girls to leave when the Sharks arrive, which Graziella and Velma do, but Anybodys, who's spotted by Riff despite efforts to make herself invisible, shoves the Sharks like a big, tough guy as she leaves.
Doc tries, to no avail, to get the boys to talk it out, instead of rumbling, but the War council proceeds. After a small dispute that culminates in the exchange of racial and ethnic insults between the two gangs. the War Council goes on. They agree to meet the next night, under the highway for the rumble. To seal the deal, the two leaders, Riff and Bernardo, shake on it. Just as they're calling weapons, in comes Tony, who stands his ground despite Riff's entreaties to come over to the Jets' side, and suggests a "fair" fight between the best men in each gang. It's agreed upon, despite Bernardo's disappointment that he won't be fighting Tony, but will fight Ice, instead, when Riff picks him. Lt. Schrank comes in, banishes the Sharks from the Candy Store, and asks the Jets about the rumble the next night. The Jets won't answer, and Lt. Schrank begins insulting them about their familial and ethnic backgrounds.
The next night is intense. Anita and Bernardo plan on spending a big evening together after the rumble.
Tony and Maria meet at the Bridal Shop as planned, despite Anita's clear disapproval of their relationship. The Jets and Sharks meet at a designated spot under the highway for the rumble.
After Anita admonishes Maria to "be home in fifteen minutes", she leaves and Maria and Tony pledge their love by a mock wedding, using the various mannequins in the Bridal Shop. Despite Tony's not planning to to go the rumble, Maria makes him promise to go and stop it, which Tony agrees .
Just as the rumble is getting underway, Tony arrives, gets between Bernardo and Ice, and tries to shake hands with Bernardo. This tactic backfires. Bernardo, enraged by Tony's interested in his sister, begins roughing Tony up and insulting him for his trouble. Angered and puzzled, Riff intervenes and warns Bernardo to cease and desist, which he refuses to do.
Losing patience, Riff hits Bernardo. The two leaders then begin to fight with switchblades. Tony breaks free of Tiger and Ice's grasp, and tries to stop Riff from stabbing Bernardo. Riff is knifed to death,handing Tony his knife as he falls to the ground. Tony, in retaliation for Riff's death, stabs Bernardo. The Jets and Sharks engage in a melee, then flee the police and go into hiding. Tony, in a state of bewilderment and grief at what he's done, calls Maria's name, until Anybody's, who's been hiding out in the shadows, drags Tony away from danger.
The Jets, who're now led by Ice and hiding out in a garage, are advised to keep cool. They're stunned and upset by the killings, and Baby John, who's moved to tears. is comforted by his buddy, A-Rab. Graziella weeps over the death of Riff, and is comforted by Velma and several Jets. Action, noticing that Baby John's tears, is about to descend on him, but A-Rab comes to Baby-John's defense. Action and A-Rab begin fighting, and Ice orders everyone inside the garage (after an irate tenant residing in an apartment above the garage, throws a glass dish at them to scare them). Action threatens the tenant with a rock. The Jets and their girls all dance away their tensions and get 'cooil".
Maria, who's been waiting for Tony on her rooftop, learns of her brother's death through Chino, who happens to come by. Maria refuses to believe it, calling Chino a liar, but Chino runs downstairs and reported it to the rest of the family. Hoping that it's not true, Maria kneels and says a hail mary, and Tony, climbs into her bedroom window. Maria starts beating Tony and calling him a killer, but she can't hate him for what he's done.
Maria and Anita are visited by Schrank, and questioned about the night before. Under questioning from Lt. Schrank, Maria states that she danced with Jose, who's from Puerto Rico. Anita figures out that Maria's hiding Tony in her bedroom, knocks frantically on Maria's door, and scolds Maria for allowing Tony to approach her. Tony escapes through Maria's bedroom window, upon advising Maria to meet him at Doc's so they can elope together. Under the excuse that she has a headache, Maria asks Anita to go to Doc's store to warn Tony that Chino's gunning for him. Reluctantly, Anita agrees.
Out on the street, Anybodys spies around, learns that Chino is gunning for Tony to avenge Bernardo's death, and reports what she's just learned back to the Jets. Determined to protect Tony from Chino, the Jets look for Tony. Anybodys finds Tony and sends him over to Doc's, where he hides out in the cellar.
At Doc's Candy Store, Anita tries to warn Tony about Chino, but is prevented from doing so by Action and the Jets. They insult her and rough her up, fearful that she'll set up Tony for Chino, and because of her ethnicity and culture, and attempt to molest Anita as well. Just then, Doc comes in, ordering the Jets to stop. Enraged at being humiliated by the Jets, Anita gives a different message; that Chino learned about Tony and Maria's relationship and shot her dead.
After Anita leaves, Doc goes down to the cellar and tells Tony, who is devastated. Running out into the street, he calls Chino, telling him to "get me, too". Maria appears, and they embrace, briefly. Chino appears and shoots Tony dead. Maria, distraught over Tony's death, tries to sing him back to life. After taking Chino's gun, she cries out that they all killed Bernardo, Riff and Tony with their hatred. Schrank tries to run over, but Maria protectsTony's body.
Several Jets and Sharks, united, at least temporarily in an understanding in tragedy, and possible reconciliation, come to carry Tony's body off.
Set on the pulsating, finger-snapping West Side of 1950's-1960's Manhattan, West Side Story is about love and romance that proliferates amid conflict between two warring street gangs; the white Ethnic American Jets, led by Riff, and the newly-arrived Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. There's constant tension and hostility between the two gangs, and, after an afternoon playground melee, which is broken up by Lt. Schrank and Ofcr. Krupke, Riff debates with the rest of the Jets and decides to challenge Bernardo and the Sharks to a rumble once and for all.
Tony, the founder and ex-leader of the Jets, who's looking for something besides gang life and the streets, but doesn't know what he's looking for, is working full time at Doc's Candy Store. He is visited by his old buddy, Riff, who wants Tony to be his lieutenant for the rumble between the Jets and Sharks. Tony declines, but is persuaded by Riff to meet him and the Jets at a dance at the local gym that night, at around ten. Reluctantly, Tony agrees.
Maria, the younger sister of Shark gang leader Bernardo, and Anita, who's Bernardo's girlfriend, both work as seamstresses in a local Bridal Shop in their neighborhood. Anita is busy altering an old white communion dress for Maria to wear to the dance that night. She ignores Maria's complaints and arguments about the neck not being low enough and continues with her work. Maria reluctantly tries on the dress, loves it, and is excited about the real beginning as a "young lady of America". The Sharks come to take Anita and Maria to the dance.
At the dance, the kids are having a good time, dancing wildly. Glad Hand, the social worker, tries to get the Jets, Sharks and their girls into a get-together dance, which fails miserably. The gangs break up and go with their own, the girls following behind them. The dance becomes a competition between the Jets and the Sharks, leading up to what will be a deadly show-down; the rumble.
Tony comes in, and is embraced by his old friend, Riff, and his girlfriend, Graziella. Tony spots Maria from across the room. They meet, fall in love and begin dancing together. They're broken up by an enraged Bernardo, who orders Maria home. A scuffle seems eminent, but Glad Hand, and eventually Riff, intervene. Riff invites Bernardo to meet him and the Jets at Doc's Candy Store at midnight, for a pre-rumble War Council. Bernardo agrees.
Tony and Maria meet on the fire escape of her apartment, introduce themselves, and then agree to meet at the Bridal Shop the next evening, at six o'clock. After a short lecture from Bernardo to Maria about her having danced with Tony, Maria goes to bed. Meanwhile, Bernardo and the Sharks and their girls, including Anita, have a dispute on their tenement rooftop about the virtues of the American experience.
Bernardo, the Sharks and their girls, who are partying on their tenement rooftop, argue about the virtues/vices of the American experience, and about Maria's having danced with Tony.
Riff, the Jets and their girls assemble outside Doc's Candy Store, and await the Sharks' arrival. Officer Krupke stops by, warns the Jets against troublemaking, then departs. The Jets lampoon Ofcr. Krupke when he goes. The Jets and their girls go into the Candy Store, sit down, and wait for Bernardo and the Sharks. Anybodys, a tomboy and a Jets "wannabe", wants to be a Jet, but Riff won't let her and rejects her at every turn. Riff warns the girls to leave when the Sharks arrive, which Graziella and Velma do, but Anybodys, who's spotted by Riff despite efforts to make herself invisible, shoves the Sharks like a big, tough guy as she leaves.
Doc tries, to no avail, to get the boys to talk it out, instead of rumbling, but the War council proceeds. After a small dispute that culminates in the exchange of racial and ethnic insults between the two gangs. the War Council goes on. They agree to meet the next night, under the highway for the rumble. To seal the deal, the two leaders, Riff and Bernardo, shake on it. Just as they're calling weapons, in comes Tony, who stands his ground despite Riff's entreaties to come over to the Jets' side, and suggests a "fair" fight between the best men in each gang. It's agreed upon, despite Bernardo's disappointment that he won't be fighting Tony, but will fight Ice, instead, when Riff picks him. Lt. Schrank comes in, banishes the Sharks from the Candy Store, and asks the Jets about the rumble the next night. The Jets won't answer, and Lt. Schrank begins insulting them about their familial and ethnic backgrounds.
The next night is intense. Anita and Bernardo plan on spending a big evening together after the rumble.
Tony and Maria meet at the Bridal Shop as planned, despite Anita's clear disapproval of their relationship. The Jets and Sharks meet at a designated spot under the highway for the rumble.
After Anita admonishes Maria to "be home in fifteen minutes", she leaves and Maria and Tony pledge their love by a mock wedding, using the various mannequins in the Bridal Shop. Despite Tony's not planning to to go the rumble, Maria makes him promise to go and stop it, which Tony agrees .
Just as the rumble is getting underway, Tony arrives, gets between Bernardo and Ice, and tries to shake hands with Bernardo. This tactic backfires. Bernardo, enraged by Tony's interested in his sister, begins roughing Tony up and insulting him for his trouble. Angered and puzzled, Riff intervenes and warns Bernardo to cease and desist, which he refuses to do.
Losing patience, Riff hits Bernardo. The two leaders then begin to fight with switchblades. Tony breaks free of Tiger and Ice's grasp, and tries to stop Riff from stabbing Bernardo. Riff is knifed to death,handing Tony his knife as he falls to the ground. Tony, in retaliation for Riff's death, stabs Bernardo. The Jets and Sharks engage in a melee, then flee the police and go into hiding. Tony, in a state of bewilderment and grief at what he's done, calls Maria's name, until Anybody's, who's been hiding out in the shadows, drags Tony away from danger.
The Jets, who're now led by Ice and hiding out in a garage, are advised to keep cool. They're stunned and upset by the killings, and Baby John, who's moved to tears. is comforted by his buddy, A-Rab. Graziella weeps over the death of Riff, and is comforted by Velma and several Jets. Action, noticing that Baby John's tears, is about to descend on him, but A-Rab comes to Baby-John's defense. Action and A-Rab begin fighting, and Ice orders everyone inside the garage (after an irate tenant residing in an apartment above the garage, throws a glass dish at them to scare them). Action threatens the tenant with a rock. The Jets and their girls all dance away their tensions and get 'cooil".
Maria, who's been waiting for Tony on her rooftop, learns of her brother's death through Chino, who happens to come by. Maria refuses to believe it, calling Chino a liar, but Chino runs downstairs and reported it to the rest of the family. Hoping that it's not true, Maria kneels and says a hail mary, and Tony, climbs into her bedroom window. Maria starts beating Tony and calling him a killer, but she can't hate him for what he's done.
Maria and Anita are visited by Schrank, and questioned about the night before. Under questioning from Lt. Schrank, Maria states that she danced with Jose, who's from Puerto Rico. Anita figures out that Maria's hiding Tony in her bedroom, knocks frantically on Maria's door, and scolds Maria for allowing Tony to approach her. Tony escapes through Maria's bedroom window, upon advising Maria to meet him at Doc's so they can elope together. Under the excuse that she has a headache, Maria asks Anita to go to Doc's store to warn Tony that Chino's gunning for him. Reluctantly, Anita agrees.
Out on the street, Anybodys spies around, learns that Chino is gunning for Tony to avenge Bernardo's death, and reports what she's just learned back to the Jets. Determined to protect Tony from Chino, the Jets look for Tony. Anybodys finds Tony and sends him over to Doc's, where he hides out in the cellar.
At Doc's Candy Store, Anita tries to warn Tony about Chino, but is prevented from doing so by Action and the Jets. They insult her and rough her up, fearful that she'll set up Tony for Chino, and because of her ethnicity and culture, and attempt to molest Anita as well. Just then, Doc comes in, ordering the Jets to stop. Enraged at being humiliated by the Jets, Anita gives a different message; that Chino learned about Tony and Maria's relationship and shot her dead.
After Anita leaves, Doc goes down to the cellar and tells Tony, who is devastated. Running out into the street, he calls Chino, telling him to "get me, too". Maria appears, and they embrace, briefly. Chino appears and shoots Tony dead. Maria, distraught over Tony's death, tries to sing him back to life. After taking Chino's gun, she cries out that they all killed Bernardo, Riff and Tony with their hatred. Schrank tries to run over, but Maria protectsTony's body.
Several Jets and Sharks, united, at least temporarily in an understanding in tragedy, and possible reconciliation, come to carry Tony's body off.
