WEST SIDE STORY

West Side Story Mirisch / Seven Arts / Beta / United Artists, 1961, Color, 153min, **** General Release (USA) December, 1961 Winner of ten Academy Awards, this electrifying musical sets the ageless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet against the backdrop of gang warfare in the slums of New York in the late 1950s. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's unforgettable score ("Maria," "In America," "Tonight") and Jerome Robbins' exuberant choreography are woven with a mix of realism and fantasy to capture the tale with heart-breaking richness. Natalie Wood plays Maria, whose first taste of love is fated for tragedy amidst the vicious rivalry of two street gangs - the Jets and the Sharks - one Anglo, one Puerto Rican. Along with Richard Beymer as her devoted lover, the gifted young cast also features Rita Moreno and George Chakiris - both of whom won Oscars for their supporting roles. West Side Story clearly set a standard that remains to this day unsurpassed in movie musicals.  [from back of VHS sleeve] Is this the best movie musical ever made? It is certainly one of the very best! A modern-day "Romeo and Juliet;" a modern-day American tragedy that would be great even without the music. But with the music, it packs an incredible punch! All of the music is wonderful, but the big hits were "Maria," "America," "Tonight," "I Feel Pretty," and "One Hand, One Heart."  Business Without Really Trying, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Produced by: Robert Wise Associate Producer: Saul Chaplin Directed by: Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins Assistant Director: Robert E. Relyea Screenplay by: Ernest Lehman Based upon the Stage Play Produced by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens; Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Play Conceived, Directed and Choreographed by Jerome Robbins Music by: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim Orchestrations: Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal Musical Supervision: Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal Musical Assistant: Betty Walberg Choreography by: Jerome Robbins Music Conducted by: Johnny Green Production Designed by: Boris Leven Set Decorator: Victor Gangelin Costumes Designed by: Irene Sharaff Make-up: Emile La Vigne Hairdresser: Alice Monte Sound by: Murray Spivack, Fred Lau, Vinton Vernon Director of Photography: Daniel L. Fapp Photographic Effects: Linwood Dunn Filmed in Technicolor, Panavision 70 Film Editing: Thomas Stanford Awards:  Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (George Chakiris), Best Supporting Actress (Rita Moreno), Best Director, Best Color Cinematography (Daniel L. Fapp), Best Film Editing (Thomas Stanford), Best Score - Musical (Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal), Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Color (Boris Leven and Victor A. Gangelin), Best Costume Design - Color (Irene Sharaff) and Best Sound (Fred Hynes and Gordon E. Sawyer); Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (Ernest Lehman) Ranked #41 in the AFI 100 Ranked #2 in the AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals Cast: Natalie Wood [Maria], Richard Beymer [Tony], Russ Tamblyn [Riff], Rita Moreno [Anita], George Chakiris [Bernardo ('Nardo)], Simon Oakland [Schrank], Ned Glass [Doc], William Bramley [Krupke], Jets: Tucker Smith [Ice], Tony Mordente[Action], David Winters [A-Rab], Eliot Feld [Baby John], Burt Michaels [Snowboy],David Bean [Tiger], Robert Banas [Joyboy], Scooter Teague [Big Deal], Harvey Hohnecker [Mouthpiece], Tommy Abbott [Gee-Tar], Their Girls: Susan Oakes[Anybodys], Gina Trikonis [Graziella], Carole D'Andrea [Velma], Sharks: Jose De Vega [Chino], Jay Norman [Pepe], Gus Trikonis [Indio], Eddie Verso [Juano], Jaime Rogers [Loco], Larry Roquemore [Rocco], Robert Thompson [Luis], Nick Covacevich[Toro], Rudy Del Campo [Del Campo], Andre Tayir [Chile], Their Girls: Yvonne Othon[Consuelo], Suzie Kaye [Rosalia], Joanne Miya [Francisca], Additional Cast: John Astin [Glad Hand], Penny Santon [Mme. Lucia], Tucker Smith [singing voice for Russ Tamblyn], Jim Bryant [singing voice for Richard Beymer], Marni Nixon [singing voice for Natalie Wood], Betty Wand [singing voice for Rita Moreno in one scene] Musical Program: [0:00] Prologue (played by Orchestra before movie starts); [0:05] Overture (played by Orchestra behind opening scene, danced by The Jets and The Sharks); [0:20] The Jet Song (sung by Tucker Smith dubbing for Russ Tamblyn and The Jets); [0:26] Something's Coming (sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer); [0:31] Dance at the Gym / Maria (played by Orchestra, danced by the kids); [0:44] Maria (sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer); [0:49] America (sung and danced by Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, The Sharks and Girls); [0:57] Tonight(sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer and Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood); [1:06] Gee Officer Krupke (performed by Russ Tamblyn and The Jets); [1:20] Intermission ("I Feel Pretty" played by Orchestra); [1:23] I Feel Pretty (sung and danced by Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood, Yvonne Othon, Suzie Kaye and Jo Anne Miya); [1:32] One Hand, One Heart (sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer and Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood); [1:34] Quintet (sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer, Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno [partially dubbed by Marni Nixon], The Jets and The Sharks); [1:42] The Rumble (played by Orchestra); [1:46] Maria (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra, danced by Natalie Wood); [1:50] Somewhere (sung by Jim Bryant dubbing for Richard Beymer and Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood); [1:57] Cool (sung and danced by Tucker Smith dubbing for Russ Tamblyn and The Jets); [2:06] A Boy Like That / I Have a Love (sung by Betty Wand dubbing for Rita Moreno and Marni Nixon dubbing for Natalie Wood); [2:24] Somewhere (played by Orchestra in final scene); [2:27] Medley of song score (played by Orchestra behind end credits)