| Released in 1961, the movie version of West Side Story is one of the most successful musical movies ever. It won an astounding 10 Academy Awards, even though three of the lead actors (Natalie Wood as Maria, Richard Beymer as Tony, and Rita Moreno as Anita) all had to have their singing voices dubbed.
The film is a very faithful adaptation of the stage show, due in part to the fact that much of the original crew was involved in the film. A lot of it (most especially the gang scenes) will seem dated compared to the reality of street violence today, but all things considered, it remains a very moving and compelling film. The new DVD collector’s set features a second disc of extra features, including a 1-hour documentary, which is fascinating for any fan of the show. |