Natalie Wood,
Richard Beymer,
Russ Tamblyn,
Rita Moreno,
George Chakiris
... see more 
Romeo and Juliet is updated to the tenements of New York City in this Oscar-winning musical landmark. Adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Broadway production, the movie opens with an overhead shot of Ma... read more
Directed by: Jerome Robbins, David Winters, Robert Wise, George Chakiris, Natalie Wood, Ned Glass, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, Simon Oakland, Tony Mordente, Tucker Smith, William Bramley
Release Date: October 18, 1961
Keywords:
musical,
natalie wood,
west side,
side story,
rita moreno,
West Side Story,
Natalie Wood ,
Rita Moreno ,
Puerto Rican
DVD Release Date: October 20, 1998
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Stats: 7,268 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (7,268)
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November 29, 2011If only we could solve all our problems through interpretive dance. In this modern day adaption of Shakespeare's classic tale Romeo & Juliet, which was adapted from Ernest Lehman's broadway production, it's a singing and dancing group of gangs. There are two gangs pitted against ... read more
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March 30, 2011Although one of the great classic musicals I like this one less than such films as Yankee Doodle Dandy and Singing in the Rain. It uses the modern style where the story progressed through song and not alongside it. It sounds funny when I say, "There was too much singing in this... read more
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March 7, 2011So perfect. A classic! Easily one of the best musicals, if not the best. A brilliant film.
One of the very first things that stands out about this film is colorful setting and scenery. The cinematography is fantastic in this film and it really sets it apart from so many other ... read more -
December 24, 2010Well, it's West Side Story. Anyone with even a slight interest in musicals has seen it, and probably more than once. It's a variation of Romeo and Juliet, only with Puerto Rican and white teenage gangs instead of Montigues and Capulets, and frequent dance numbers instead of flowe... read more
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November 22, 2010I love this movie, it's one of my favourite musicals, and Robert Wise movies. It has a great story, cast, and songs. If you haven't seen this movie, you should see it right away.
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October 19, 2010The most monumental, commercial, and historically significant films of this century. Besides the fact that it's based off the play Romeo and Juliet, so bonus points, it's lively costumes, racial tension, and scintillating song and dance numbers make it the pinnacle of MGM's music... read more
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September 10, 2010A film I adored from young, based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, WSS is an updated adaption of the original star crossed lovers theme.
Whilst this is a film made in 1961, the setup is still so relevant to gang rivalry in today's time, granted the style of storytelling in the... read more -
September 8, 2010i did not like the plot. this film was really weak but the singing was good.
Critic Reviews
February 18, 2009
TIME Magazine
February 9, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Decent 1961 adaptation of the Bernstein-Robbins musical, if you can handle Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood in the leads. Full Review
February 4, 2004
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
The marvel is that the film still works so well. Full Review
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
What they have done with West Side Story in knocking it down and moving it from stage to screen is to reconstruct its fine material into nothing short of a cinema masterpiece. Full Review
February 13, 2001
Dennis Harvey, Variety
West Side Story is a beautifully-mounted, impressive, emotion-ridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment Full Review
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It still represents a brave and effective fusion of serious and fantasy elements, and offers two and one-half hours of solid entertainment. Full Review
April 22, 2012
Michelle Alexandria, Eclipse Magazine
Even though I had to play it for my high school choir, I was never a fan of the music. Everything else - the cinematography, choreography and story are all pretty stellar. Full Review
December 29, 2011
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
West Side Story remains one of the best musicals of all-time. Full Review
December 21, 2011
Phil Hall, Film Threat
An extraordinary song and dance experience laced within a quotidian dramatic tale. Full Review
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West Side Story
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