There are many reasons why West Side Story is considered a classic. I knew parts of all the songs without having seen the movie. I've even had people snap their fingers and say "boy boy crazy boy, be cool boy" when they wanted me to calm down. Allusions to this movie are now to be expected as part of common vernacular. The camera work is classy professional and above all "cool". Each shot could literally be turned into a still frame and sold separately. Everybody dances like a fiend. There are dance movies and then there are "dance" movies. The only other time on film I've been so impressed with choreography was "Thriller". They actually dance to bebop. The actors are very good. I liked George Chakiris as Bernardo. I have critiques of the movie too. The movie is kind of slow. The opening credits are way way way way too long by today's standards; (perhaps, we the audience have grown impatient?). The song about "Officer Krupki" is wonderful but does not move the plot forward and probably would be left on the editing room floor today. So many movies from this era do not stand the test of time. West Side Story does. This movie is a gem.
Ratings:
Gangs of any sort: See it
Mambo lovers: See it
Just hate "dance" on principle: Skip it
Elitist Shakespeare snobs: Skip it
Shakespeare enthusiasts: See it
On a scale of Herman's Hermits to the Beatles, I give "West Side Story" 4.3 out of 5 stars.
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