At the end of the west side story tony gets killed by chino. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Should i just watch the movie, if so, where can i watch it. An analysis of west side story with the audio attached for some of the key features that bernstein uses. For west side story, choreographer joey mckneely has been charged with the difficult task of recreating jerome robbinss work for a new generation. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. Plus, west side story was the first broadway credit of someone who. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. It is really hard to imagine my side of the mountain taking place in a setting different from the one in which it occurs. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families.
West side story also featured a unified, symphonic score by leonard bernstein that was unprecedented in its ambition. When it opened on september 26, 1957, west side story received a mixed critical response. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. Jan 03, 2018 the genesis, impact, and influence of west side story has been explained and analyzed in countless histories and memoirs. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story is the soundtrack to the 1961 film west side story. Anche tonight non scherza e poi vi sono interessanti passaggi dorchestra. It is a workingclass neighborhood with a mixture of ethnic groups. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are. West side story 1961 is an energetic, widelyacclaimed, melodramatic musical a modernday, loose retelling of shakespeares romeo and juliet tragedy of feuding families, although the setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. Dec 23, 2016 although many readers may only be familiar with the sleek, incolor west side story, there was a time when the paper contained stories about beatlemania, nixon and student animosity toward iteds. While it seems only natural now, the idea of filming on actual city streets took some time in.
While the movie version of west side story is among the most faithful of hollywood adaptations, a number of changes were made in translating the work to film, some to suit the medium, others to suit the audience sensibilities, and one or two socalled artistic choices. Setting compare and contrast plot the book west side story takes place on the west side of new york city in the 1950s. When is the time period that west side story is based around. Il particolare che mi stava piu a cuore era larmonizzazione originale del brano. In the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood would be cleared to make room for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhood. Although many readers may only be familiar with the sleek, incolor west side story, there was a time when the paper contained stories about beatlemania, nixon and student animosity toward iteds. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. The wss first issue came out in 1969, and since then. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at no. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. The problem is that novelizations normally go out of print almost as soon as the secondrun theaters stop running the flick. The novel the picture of dorian gray by, oscar wilde is set in london england in the nineteenth century.
West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. Maria and the rest of the gang members and girls except anita from the sharks and jets run over and see why there was a gun shot. The creative team of west side story made their civil rights agenda quite clear. After all, if you change the setting, you largely change.
West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality. Debuting one day after the forced integration of central high school in little rock, the musicals story. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris.
What happens at the end of west side story answers. Once more, the clan of the montagues are at odds with the capulets. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side. The setting is also credible because dorian lives in the upper west side where he lives a life of wealth, luxury and pleasure. West side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. Nov 01, 2011 the opening prologue from the 10time academy award winning musical film west side story, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on november 15, 2011. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. Decades later, in the final volume of his memoir, arthur laurents recalled that the show was. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. Celebrating 60 years of west side story and the musical genius of leonard bernstein. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. Tonight is one of the most popular songs from this 1957 broadway musical smash hit. The setting is also credible because dorian lives in the upper west side where he lives a. East side story, set in the slums at the coincidence of easterpassover celebrations.
The title was changed to west side story when the creators realized that gang warfare in new york had moved from the east side to the west. They wrote about what they knew, and what they knew were those working class neighborhoods full of kids with not a lot of hope. It is a testament to the musical and theatrical brilliance of west side story that this teenage urban love story, set to shakespeares classic romeo and juliet, has survived its outmoded 50sstyle book arthur laurents replete with dead end kids posturings and corny, streetwise lingo i still cringe when i. From the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. West side story original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city sep 26, 1957 and played through jun 27, 1959. It was a required reading my freshman year in highschool. The picture of dorian gray setting and plot by oscar wilde.
As we approach the centennial of leonard bernsteins birth on august 25, 2018 cultural institutions around the world are beginning to celebrate the varied life of this decidedly american icon this composer, conductor, teacher, and activist. Stephen sondheim, who wrote west side story s lyrics, was a twentysomething when the show was being developed too young to have established a track. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. The story of west side story was based on romeo and juliet, a play by william shakespeare. This groundbreaking collaboration among bernstein, jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american society through its best and worst characteristics. The complete book and lyrics of the broadway musical. The jets and the sharks correspond to the capulets and the montagues and verona is changed to new york city. There is palpable tension in the air as two gangs vie for dominance of the area.
And he, who had been seeking something beyond the savagery of the streets, discovered it with her. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story the musical no works cited west side story is one of the most influential musicals of all time. The generational conflict that is present at times but takes a background role racism and the power struggle being two. For those who care about the how and why of the music is west side story this book is essential. He proposed that the plot focus on the conflict between an irish catholic family and a jewish family. When robbins opted to drop out, the three men went their separate ways, and the piece was shelved for almost five years. The east side of town represents poverty and dysfunction. Maria was young and innocent and had never known loveuntil tony. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. The film is set in the rough neighborhood of lincoln square on the west side of manhattan during the summer of 1957.
Two youngsters from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. The film version of 1961 was a smashing success, earning 10 oscars, including. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The genesis, impact, and influence of west side story has been explained and analyzed in countless histories and memoirs. It is a testament to the musical and theatrical brilliance of west side story that this teenage urban love story, set to shakespeares classic romeo and juliet, has survived its outmoded 50sstyle book arthur laurents replete with dead end kids posturings and corny, streetwise lingo i still cringe when i hear the word daddio. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. On a hot late1950s summer in new yorks upper west side, william shakespeares timeless story of romeo and juliet 1968 comes to life, as a fierce enmity between two antagonistic street gangs paves the way for heartbreak and tragedy. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a p.
This area is full of west side story has been a play that i have been wanting to read for quite a long time. West side story opened at new yorks winter garden theater on september 26, 1957, and has remained in the repertory ever since. West side story is groundbreaking in a lot of ways, but when it comes to delivering the information, it tends to rely on the triedandtrue technique of moving to the character we need to see when we need to see him or her, then moving back as the story demands. West side story is set in and around the 1950s on the west side of manhattan, new york city.
It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. West side story mass market paperback april 15, 1990. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. Arthur laurents, who wrote the book for west side story, had previously confronted racial injustice in home of the brave, a play and film from the 1940s that featured a mixedrace cast. Ive ordered it, but it will arrive too late and i need to do a book project on it. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. West side story plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. Its teamrobbins, bernstein, book by arthur laurents, lyrics by the. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. I need to read the book by friday, saturday at the latest and i cant find it anywhere.
The opening prologue from the 10time academy award winning musical film west side story, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on november 15, 2011. Who are the main characters and who played them in the movie and original broadway version. In 1960 on a cold morning in february, the makers of west side story began filming along manhattans west 68th street. West side story prologue official full number 50th. It is a duet sung by lovers tony and maria, and features one of bernsteins bestknown and loved melodies. Maybe theres a new edition if the networks run the film, usually. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its. Its integration of dance and song into the plot was very innovative, because even though it had been done before, it had never been done this well.
The sharks mostly recent puerto rican immigrants and the jets mostly second generation european immigrants circa 1960. Sep 26, 2007 50 years of west side story an hourlong documentary hosted by nprs scott simon, a place for us explores the creation and the cultural influence of a musical that changed the way broadway. Sep 24, 2019 when it opened on september 26, 1957, west side story received a mixed critical response. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west. With west side story, dance becomes the mode of communication for these streetwise but inarticulate characters and is absolutely essential to the story. Those familiar with leonard bernsteins west side story are generally aware that it is an updating of shakespeares tragic love story romeo and juliet. Throughout the story, the author uses the setting as an analogy. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a pattern. Ivo van hoves thrilling take on a musical theater masterpiece. West side story overview the best broadway source for west side story tickets and west side story information, photos and videos. When was west side story written jerome robbins proposed the idea for writing a musical based on romeo and juliet to leonard bernstein in january of 1949 working title. But marias brother was leader of the sharks and tony had once. In his personal copy of romeo and juliet, now housed at the library of congress, bernstein wrote that west side story was an out and out plea for racial tolerance.
After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. They came together through love but violence threatened to tear them apart. Although west side story was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 academy awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse singin in the rain is probably more seen and certainly better loved. The setting comes at least partially from the fact that everyone who created west side story was from new york. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. Jul 30, 20 west side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise.
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