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by Athena De Groff
Editor-in-Chief
A distinct three-note whistle fills the air. The camera pans over the rubble-filled streets of the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Following this introduction are two and a half hours of music, dancing, romance, conflict, and heartbreak.
On Dec. 10, 2021, Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of “West Side Story” was released, shedding a fresh perspective on a classic story.
Originally a 1957 Broadway musical, “West Side Story” was made into a movie in 1961, co-directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. It received 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Based on the classic story of Romeo and Juliet, “West Side Story” is set in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It is centered around the rivalry of two gangs: The Sharks, who are Puerto Rican, and The Jets, who are white Americans. The Sharks are led by Bernardo, and The Jets are led by Riff.
Tony, Riff’s best friend, and Maria, Bernardo’s sister, meet at a dance and immediately fall madly in love. This creates even more tension between the feuding groups, as they plan their upcoming fight––the “rumble.”
The story takes place over the course of two days and causes a rollercoaster of emotions. Sixty years apart, both films show the futility of hate and rivalry and don’t follow the common form of a happy ending.
One major change the new version made was how the casting was approached. In the original movie, the Puerto Rican characters are played by white American actors in brownface makeup. Rita Moreno is the only Puerto Rican in the original cast, and even she was not exempt from putting on the brown makeup.
Director Steven Spielberg spent over a year searching for the cast of his 2021 adaptation of “West Side Story.” All of the Puerto Rican characters are played by Latino actors.
The new version of “West Side Story” expounds on characters’ backgrounds more than the original musical. In the new adaptation, Tony is on parole after spending a year in prison for almost killing someone––which explains why he needs to distance himself from the Jet’s antics, and why he feels the need to reform.
In the 1961 version, Maria and her brother Bernardo live in an apartment with their parents––but their parents are never seen or heard. In the new version, it is explained that their parents are still living in Puerto Rico.
Tony’s employer Doc is not in the new version of “West Side Story.” Instead, his character is replaced by his widow Valentina, played by Rita Moreno. Valentina runs the local drugstore and is a wonderful character who adds a voice of wisdom and depth to a pool of young characters. Valentina also sings the song “Somewhere,” which is sung by Tony and Maria in the original version.
The love at first sight concept is more believable in the new film since Maria and Tony spend time together on a date, and have more time for normal conversations.
Many other characters, including Anita, Bernardo, Riff, and Chino, are given more depth and personality. This makes the movie more intimate, enabling the viewer to feel empathy for these characters.
The new adaptation shows a more accurate portrayal of what life was like for Puerto Rican immigrants in mid-century America. It also gives more dimension to the lives of the white gang members, and the difficulties they’ve faced growing up in the slums of Manhattan.
Both versions of “West Side Story” feature delightful music. The song order is slightly shuffled in the 2021 version, more closely matching the order of the original Broadway Play. There is one new song, titled “La Borinqueña,” which is a rendition of the Puerto Rican anthem.
The choreography in both movies is visually stunning. The dances were recreated in the 2021 version, only keeping some of the original dance steps. One noticeable difference is that the fight scenes in the new movie feel more realistic and rough, although they still have some balletic elements. Two standout dance performances in both versions are “Cool” and “America.”
The duration of the 2021 version of “West Side Story” shows impressive cinematography, and also has more diverse scenery than the original. For instance, “Officer Krupke” is sung in a police precinct where members of the Jets have been brought for questioning about the upcoming rumble. In the original, this number is sung in the streets.
The 1961 version of “West Side Story” is a classic and was groundbreaking for its time. Although the original film has undeniable charm, additions and improvements make the 2021 adaptation delightful in its own right.
