West Side Story

Bernstein and Sondheim’s evergreen musical, inspired by Romeo and Juliet.

  • Director

    Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

  • With

    Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno

  • USA 1961. 151min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    PG

The first film version of the celebrated Broadway musical – itself inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – dazzles with Robbins’ expert choreography, Boris Leven’s art direction and Daniel Fapp’s camerawork. The cast are terrific, too, but what really makes it all work are the songs, by composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, including such evergreen gems as Maria, America, Tonight and Somewhere.