West Side Story

by Robert Wise

USA - 1961

Thursday, June 6th • 6PM
At Chaktomuk

Feature Film – 152mn

Color

English


Screenplay Ernest Lehman

Based on a book byArthur Laurents

CinematographyDaniel L. Fappani

Music Leonard Bernstein

CastNatalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris

Format 2,20:1

Genre Musical

First raleaseDecember 13, 1961

Awards Oscars 1962, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound

ProductionRobert E. Griffith and Harold Prince




Synopsis West Side Story is the award-winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet”. The feuding families become two warring New York City gangs - the white Jets led by Riff, and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. But when Riff’s best friend (and former Jet) Tony and Bernardo’s younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love. Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away. Then the Sharks and Jets plan a rumble under the highway - whoever wins gains control of the streets. Maria sends Tony to stop it, hoping it can end the violence. It goes terribly wrong, and before the lovers know what’s happened, tragedy strikes and doesn’t stop until the climactic and heartbreaking ending.

Filmography

1944 – Mademoiselle Fifi

1951 – The day the earth stood still

1962 – Two for the seesaw

1965 - The sound of music

1966 – The sand pebbles

1979 – Star Trek, the film

With the courtesy ofBFI and Park Circus