West Side Story (1961)
 This
dynamite musical remains fresh and vibrant many years after its
release. Wood and Beymer seem slightly mis-cast at times in this
story about rival gangs - The Jets and The Sharks - in a New York
ghetto, but Moreno, Chakiris, and Tamblyn are superb.
The excellent on-location photography enhances the Romeo
& Juliet theme, and the music from the 1957 Broadway
musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is the icing on
the cake.
West Side Story collected Academy Awards for Best
picture; Best director; Best supporting actor (Chakiris) and Best
supporting actress (Moreno).
Natalie Wood's onscreen singing voice was provided by Marni
Nixon (who also provided Audrey Hepburn's vocals in My Fair
Lady).
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