When it's good, very good; when it's bad, a stinker. WEST SIDE STORY is the filmed version of the hit Broadway musical inspired by "Romeo and Juliet." Jerome Robbins, who conceived the stage version, gets co-director credit here. He was originally slated to direct the entire film, but his
perfectionism meant twice the budget. United Artists brought in Robert Wise after less than a month of rehearsals, assigning him direction of the non-musical sequences. Before long, Robbins was booted all together. The numbers he choreographed remain the most inventive, energetic sequences in the
film: the lengthy opening sequence (including "The Jet Song"), "America," "I Feel Pre...
Released:
1961
Rated:
NR
Length:
153 mins