West Side Story; The Classic That Never Grows Old:

[mplo42]

There are a number of older and newer films that I've liked well enough to see many more times than once, but there's one film that holds a very special place in my heart regarding movies, enough that I go to see a screening of it every time it comes to a movie theatre in our area, or on television, and I've even made special road trips to neighboring states for screenings of this particular film. This particular film is....would you all believe....West Side Story!

West Side Story, to me, is in a special class all by itself, for a number of reasons.

A) WSS is a film, that, imho, must be viewed from the very beginning to the very end, in order to experience the fullness of, and to totally appreciate, whether it's in a movie theatre or on TV. Therefore, when West Side Story comes to town, I always make sure that I get to the movie theatre in adequate time so I can get a decent seat (as well as anyone who accompanies me), and that I get a ticket for this movie in time, even if I end up going to the box office in person, or purchasing it onlline, sometimes.

B) West Side Story, although it's fiction, is about love and romance that attempts to grow and develop amid conflict between the warring Jets and Sharks, between Tony, an ex-Jet, who quit gang life and got a fulltime job at Doc's Candy Store, and Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the Shark gangleader.

The love that develops between Maria and Tony when they meet at a dance at a local gym one night after a playground melee between the white Ethnic American jets and the newly-arrived Puerto Rican Sharks, who are both vying for the same small piece of turf is very quickly destroyed by the hatred and hostility between the two gangs, culminating in the death of jet gangleader Riff, Shark gangleader Bernardo, and Tony.

After the rumble, a great sadness and anger over the killings sets in between the gangs, and after Maria is unable to fire Chino's gun in frustration and spits out a message of how hatred killed Riff, Tony and Bernardo, several Jets and Sharks come together to carry Tony's body off. The gangs go off into processions, leaving the adults alone and useless, while Chino, who's just gunned down Tony, is escorted to a waiting police car.

C) I have to admit that the very story behind West Side Story appeals to me, and the very story, combined with the great Bernstein musical score, the beautifully choreographed jerome Robbins dancing, the richly colored photography and costumes, the wonderful cast (except Richard Beymer), and the beautifully designed sets that look uncannily like a real rundown urban landscape, are all combined together to make a dynamic little package that's a feast for the mind, eyes, ears and heart.

D). West Side Story seems to take on a magical, almost three-dimensional quality to it when viewed on a great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre, with the lights down low. From the aerial shots of Manhattans West Side at the beginning, right after the colorful overture, to the warring Jets and Sharks and the romancing Tony and Maria, all the characters seem to move much more freely and fluidly, and in a much more open space, when WSS is viewed on the great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre, with the lights down low. The brilliant Bernstein musical score, the cinematograhy and color, and the overall scenery seem more expansive and intense, and one really notices everything.

E) West Side Story is proof that various emotions can be expressed through dance, that movies don't have to be awash in sexually explicit scenes and excessive use of "blue" language, or to have a happy ending in order to be good.

F) West Side Story is a film that always feels like I'm viewing it for the very first time, whether it be in the movie theatre or on TV. It always feels fresh and new to me., and I never get tired of watching it over and over again.

G) To be truthful, I've seen this movie more times than I can count, but it's well worth viewing it over and over and over again, imo. It's one film that still shines and is still relevant 50 years later, due to the fact that things that're played out in real life (i. e. urban gang warfare, racial/ethnic tensions, love crossing racial/ethnic/color barriers), are the themes covered in this film, as well as conflict with the law.

Hey...I know that in real life, gangs don't go dancing through the streets on their way to a rumble, nor do people actually fall in love at first sight, or if they do, it takes time for this love to develop into something substantial where real trust is involved. As a neighbor once put it very succinctly; West SIde Story is fiction, but closer to reality.

F) West Side Story has just the right amount of everything, for everybody; gang activity, dancing, love and romance, you name it. It's a beautiful film, which will live on in my memory, as well as many other people's, forever.

The MGM adage "Unlike Other Classics, West Side Story grows younger." is so true!