West Side Story (1961)

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⭐ 8.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

I watched this because I really want to see the new one, and I wanted to be able to appreciate that differences/similarities. It is also one of the most decorated films of all time, so what could be the harm?

The premise did take me a while to buy in to - rival gangs constantly getting in minor squabbles, and they act on them with dance battles? Not exactly for me. But it quickly becomes a story about race and clashing cultures in America, and the song America had me completely on board (can't wait to see how the remake of this one looks, because it is almost too relevant).

Probably a good time to note something that has been said before - its a great story about racism, in which all the major Puerto Ricans are played by white people in makeup. Not a great look, and it was pretty distracting.

Anyways, the story lost a bit of steam in the romance of it all. Some good songs around it, but 2 people falling so hopelessly in love after an hour together is just so hard to believe. I know I know, it can be explained away by saying its just a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but still, give this girl some character other than loving herself and this boy.

All that being said, I found the ending to be moving, and when the dance battles become actually violent it really paid off. Watching it again I would guess the early dance battles would feel a bit heavier knowing what is to come. I respect the movie for leaving us on such a sad note, and hating both sides (although the white side is truly awful, with a hard to watch scene where they torment a Puerto Rican girl).

Glad I watched this, and am looking forward to watching the remake. I've even had a couple of the songs stuck in my head, which is 100x more than I can say for the music of the previous musical I watched, In The Heights.

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