This
dynamite musical remains fresh and vibrant many years after its
release. Wood and Beymer seem slightly miscast 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).
TRIVIA NOTE
Natalie Wood's onscreen singing voice was provided by Marni Nixon (who
also provided Audrey Hepburn's vocals in My Fair Lady).
Tony
Richard Beymer Riff
Russ Tamblyn Bernardo George Chakiris Ice
Tucker Smith Action
Tony Mordente Baby John Eliot Feld A-Rab David Winters Snowboy Bert Michaels
This
dynamite musical remains fresh and vibrant many years after its
release. Wood and Beymer seem slightly miscast 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. 
