Film Friday: «West Side Story» (1961)
To celebrate Natalie Wood's 78th birthday, which was on Wednesday, this week on "Film Friday" I bring one of the films that she is best remembered for. Theatrical release poster Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, West Side Story (1961) revolves aroun d the tensions between the Jets, a self-styled "Am erican " g ang , and the Sharks, a group of young Puerto Ricans. The leader of the J ets, R iff (Russ Tambl yn), swears to drive the Shar ks, led by Bernardo (George Chakiris) , from the streets of the Upper West Side of Ma nhattan. Despite warnings from L i eutenant Schrank (Simon Oakland) and Office Krupke (William B ram ley), Riff decides to challenge B ernardo to a rumble that night at a dance at t he g ym. F or supp ort, Riff turns to Tony (Rich ard Beymer), a young Polish-American boy and co-founder of the Jets who now works at a drugsto re ow ned by Doc (Ned Glass). Tony , who has lost interest in promoting violence, reluctantly agrees to ...