West Side Story (2021 film)

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West Side Story
File:West Side Story 2021 Official Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Screenplay by Tony Kushner
Based on <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Cinematography Janusz Kamiński
Edited by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Production
company
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Distributed by 20th Century Studios[2]
Release dates
 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • November 29, 2021 (2021-11-29) (Jazz at Lincoln Center)
  • December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10) (United States)
Running time
 156 minutes[3]
Country United States
Language <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • English
  • Spanish
Budget $100 million[4]
Box office $14.9 million[5][6]

West Side Story is a 2021 American musical romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name.[7][8] It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (in her feature film debut) with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno in supporting roles. Moreno, who starred in the 1961 film adaptation, also served as an executive producer, alongside Kushner.[1]

The film entered development in 2014 at 20th Century Fox[9] and Kushner began writing the screenplay in 2017.[10] In January 2018, Spielberg was hired and casting began that September. Justin Peck choreographed the dance sequences. Filming began in July 2019 and wrapped up two months later. Principal photography occurred in New York and New Jersey.

West Side Story had its world premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater in New York City on November 29, 2021, and was theatrically released by 20th Century Studios in the United States on December 10, 2021, after being delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][11][12] The film received critical acclaim for Spielberg's direction, Kushner's screenplay, the performances of the cast, musical numbers, cinematography, production values, and its faithfulness to the source material. Some critics found it to be superior to the 1961 film.[13]

It is dedicated to Spielberg's father Arnold Spielberg with a simple "For Dad".

Plot

In the San Juan Hill neighborhood on the Upper West Side in the summer of 1957, a gang of white Americans, the Jets, fight for control of the neighborhood, defended by the Puerto Rican Sharks who are led by Bernardo (“Prologue”). A brief skirmish is broken up by Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Schrank, who starkly reminds them the conflict is pointless as the whole neighborhood is being demolished for construction of Lincoln Center, but both gangs are too proud to care (“La Borinqueña (Sharks Version)”). The leader of the Jets, Riff, proposes a rumble between the two gangs (“Jet Song”). He approaches his friend Tony, who is out on parole, for help. Tony refuses, wishing to turn over a new leaf with the help of Valentina, the Puerto Rican owner of Doc’s general store (“Something’s Coming”).

Maria, Bernardo’s sister, is betrothed to Chino but yearns for independence, against the chidings of Bernardo and his girlfriend Anita. At a local dance, Tony and Maria spot each other and instantly fall in love ("Dance at the Gym"). This angers Bernardo, who agrees to Riff’s terms for a rumble at the Salt Shed, so long as Tony attends. Tony voices his newfound love for Maria (“Maria”). The young couple meet on Maria’s fire escape and promise to see each other the next day (“Balcony Scene (Tonight)”).

Bernardo and Anita feud over life in New York compared to Puerto Rico, with Anita buying into the American dream over the pessimistic Bernardo (“America”). The police interrogate the Jets about the rumble, but they deny any knowledge, privately mocking Krupke (“Gee, Officer Krupke”). Tony takes Maria on a date to the Cloisters, where he reveals he was imprisoned for a year after he nearly beat a rival gang member to death, which scared him into reforming. Maria makes Tony promise to stop the rumble and they pledge their love to one another (“One Hand, One Heart”). Tony tries to convince Riff to call off the rumble by stealing his newly-bought gun, but the Jets steal it back (“Cool”). The Jets and Sharks prepare for the rumble as Anita waits for Bernardo to return home. Schrank orders Krupke and the police to stop the rumble while Tony and Maria hope to see each other after calling it off (“Tonight (Quintet)”). Despite Tony’s effort, the rumble continues and Riff is stabbed to death by Bernardo. In a rage, Tony takes Riff’s knife and kills Bernardo. The gangs flee when the police arrive as Chino finds and takes Riff’s gun ("The Rumble").

Maria gushes about her love for Tony at work (“I Feel Pretty”). Her glee is short-lived when Chino arrives and reveals Tony killed Bernardo. She is distraught, but still loves him and they plot to run away together. Valentina learns of Bernardo’s death and reflects on her own mixed-race relationship with the late Doc (“Somewhere”). Chino, still armed with the gun, plots to kill Tony against the Sharks’ protests. After identifying Bernardo's body at the morgue, Anita returns home to see Maria with Tony and argues about the relationship. Accepting they are in love, she warns they need to get out of the city (“A Boy Like That/I Have A Love”). Schrank interrogates Maria about Tony’s whereabouts. Maria sends Anita to warn Tony about Chino. However, Anita encounters the Jets who shout racial slurs, force her to dance, and ultimately try to rape her until Valentina intervenes. Traumatized, her dream of America is shattered by the night's events and she resolves to return to Puerto Rico and spitefully claims Chino killed Maria. Valentina condemns the Jets, who leave in shame.

Upon learning Anita’s news from Valentina, Tony runs out into the streets yelling for Chino to kill him. He is interrupted by Maria’s arrival to his relief. Before they could reunite, Chino arrives and shoots Tony, mortally wounding him and he dies in Maria’s arms. Maria takes Chino’s gun and aims it at the gathered Jets and Sharks, threatening to kill them all for their actions, but she is unable to bring herself to fire the gun. As police arrive to arrest Chino, members from both gangs assemble to take Tony’s body, solemnly forming a procession into Doc’s with Maria following ("Finale").

Cast

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Source:[16][17][1]

Three of the Jets from the 1961 film of West Side Story, Harvey Evans, who portrayed Mouthpiece, Bert Michaels, who played Snowboy, and David Bean, who played Tiger, appear as extras. Andréa Burns, who played Maria in the 1992–1993 European Tour of the musical, appears as Fausta.[18][17]

Production

Development

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"I've always wanted to make a musical. Not like Moulin Rouge though – an old-fashioned, conservative musical. ... Like West Side Story or Singin' in the Rain. I've been looking for one for 20 years. I just need something that excites me."

– Steven Spielberg, 2004[19]

In March 2014, Steven Spielberg first expressed interest in directing an adaptation of West Side Story. This prompted 20th Century Fox to acquire the rights to the project.[9] Tony Kushner, who previously worked with Spielberg on Munich (2005) and Lincoln (2012), revealed in a July 2017 interview that he was writing the screenplay for the film, stating he would be leaving the musical numbers intact, and that the story would be closer to the original stage musical than to the 1961 film.[10][20] In a 2020 interview, Spielberg told Vanity Fair: "West Side Story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. I... fell completely in love with it as a kid."[21] Spielberg would ultimately dedicate the film to his father, Arnold, who died during production at age 103.[22]

The following year, he further explained why he felt the time had come for a new film adaptation of the musical, saying: "Divisions between un-likeminded people is as old as time itself. ... And the divisions between the Sharks and the Jets in 1957, which inspired the musical, were profound. But not as divided as we find ourselves today. It turned out in the middle of the development of the script, things widened, which I think in a sense, sadly, made the story of those racial divides – not just territorial divides – more relevant to today's audience than perhaps it even was in 1957."[23]

Pre-production

In January 2018, it was announced that Spielberg would likely direct the film following completion of filming for a fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.[24] This was followed a few days later with an open casting call issued for the characters María, Tony, Anita and Bernardo.[25] Additional open casting calls were hosted in New York City in April, and in Orlando, Florida in May.[26] In July, the fifth Indiana Jones film was pushed back, allowing Spielberg to begin pre-production on West Side Story.[27]

Justin Peck was hired to choreograph the film in September 2018, with Ansel Elgort cast in the film as Tony.[28][29] In November, Eiza González emerged as a contender for the role of Anita.[30] Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, plays Valentina and also serves as an executive producer for the film.[31] In January 2019, newcomer Rachel Zegler was cast in the lead role of María, with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Josh Andrés Rivera also cast as Anita, Bernardo, and Chino, respectively.[32] In March 2019, Corey Stoll and Brian d'Arcy James joined the cast.[33] A month later, the rest of the ensemble comprising the Jets and Sharks factions was announced.[34]

Filming

Filming took place in Harlem and other Manhattan locations and in Flatlands, Brooklyn in New York City in July 2019.[35] There were ten days of shooting in Paterson, New Jersey,[36] where an outdoor set was built, in August 2019.[37] Filming also took place in Newark and other parts of Essex County, New Jersey.[38][39] It wrapped on September 27, 2019 for a total of 79 days of shooting.[40][41] All of the sets were constructed at a warehouse at Steiner Studios.

The film does not attempt to recreate the Jerome Robbins choreography used in most productions of the stage show and in the 1961 film. However, Peck and the creative team were mindful of Robbins' integral role in the movement language of the show, and occasionally reused Robbins movements for nostalgia. Spielberg cites the Rumble as an example: the scene initially reuses some of the Jerome Robbins choreography but as it grows more intense more of Peck's original choreography is used.[42] Peck also highlighted the skirt flaring in "America" and Tony and Maria's dance at the gym as direct "quotes" of the Jerome Robbins choreography.[43] "America," which in the 1961 film take place on a rooftop at night, was restaged to take place on the streets of New York during the day. The shoot took 10 days at locations across Harlem, Queens, and Paterson. Ariana DeBose's dance shoes literally melted and had to be replaced multiple times throughout the shoot, due to a combination of hot weather and the intensity of the choreography.[43]

As one of the film's executive producers, Moreno was on-set for a large portion of production, often consulting with Peck on choreography.[43] Moreno described shooting the scene where Valentina saves Anita as particularly difficult, due to her own well-documented experiences with sexual assault in Hollywood, as well as the surreal challenge of saving a character she played six decades prior.[44]

Musical score and performance

Composer David Newman arranged and adapted Bernstein's original score for the film, incorporating a number of alterations originally made to Bernstein's Broadway score by Johnny Green for the 1961 film (e.g., interpolation of the "Cool" fugue motif into the "Prologue," the extended trumpet solo in "Mambo"). Gustavo Dudamel conducted the New York Philharmonic during the film's recording sessions in 2019, with additional recording by the Los Angeles Philharmonic done during the COVID-19 pandemic the following year.[17] Jeanine Tesori served as vocal coach, while frequent Spielberg collaborator John Williams served as music consultant.[45][17] All of the songs were pre-recorded and used as playback on set, with the exceptions of "One Hand, One Heart," "Somewhere" and "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love," which did not use the playback and were instead sung live on set.[46] Portions of "Maria" were also sung live on set without the playback, as per Elgort's request.[17]

Musical numbers

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

  • "Prologue" – Orchestra
  • "La Borinqueña (Sharks Version)" – Bernardo, Quique, Braulio & Sharks
  • "Jet Song" – Riff, Ice, Diesel, Big Deal, Baby John & Jets
  • "Something's Coming" – Tony
  • "The Dance at the Gym: Blues, Promenade" – Orchestra
  • "The Dance at the Gym: Mambo" – Orchestra
  • "The Dance at the Gym: Cha-Cha, Meeting Scene, Jump" – Maria & Tony, Orchestra
  • "Maria" – Tony
  • "Balcony Scene (Tonight)" – María & Tony
  • "Transition to Scherzo" / "Scherzo" - Orchestra
  • "America" – Anita, Bernardo, Rosalía, Luz, Sharks & Shark Girls
  • "Gee, Officer Krupke" – Diesel, Big Deal, A-Rab, Mouthpiece, Snowboy, Baby John & Balkan
  • "One Hand, One Heart" – Tony & María
  • "Cool" – Tony & Riff
  • "Tonight (Quintet)" – Riff, Bernardo, Anita, Tony, María, Jets & Sharks
  • "The Rumble" – Orchestra
  • "I Feel Pretty" – María, Luz, Rosalía, Fausta, Charita, Lluvia, Meche & Provi
  • "Somewhere" – Valentina
  • "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" – Anita & María
  • "Mambo (Reprise)" – Orchestra
  • "Finale" – María, Tony & Orchestra

Soundtrack

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Main article: West Side Story (2021 soundtrack)

The soundtrack album was released digitally in Dolby Atmos by Hollywood Records on December 3, 2021, and physically on December 10, 2021.[47]

Release

Theatrical

West Side Story was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on December 18, 2020 by 20th Century Studios.[2][48] In September 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century's parent company, delayed the release date to December 10, 2021, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the release of the 1961 film.[11] The film will have an exclusive 45-day theatrical run, including engagements in Dolby Cinema and IMAX.[49][50][51] An IMAX fan event, with a live Q&A with Spielberg and the cast, took place in IMAX theaters nationwide on December 6, 2021.[52]

Deadline Hollywood reported that Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures considered a limited release strategy for the film before expanding into wide release, but opted not to due to ramifications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the exhibition market.[53]

The film was first screened for members of the cast, including Zegler, Faist, Andrés Rivera and some members of the ensemble, at the Daniel Koch Theater in Lincoln Center on November 17, 2021.[54] It then screened for industry and critics at its world premiere on November 29, 2021 at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater. Its Los Angeles premiere took place at the El Capitan Theatre on December 7, 2021.[55][12]

Marketing

On April 25, 2021, during the 93rd Academy Awards telecast, DeBose introduced the film's teaser trailer,[56] and Moreno later presented the Academy Award for Best Picture, commemorating the 1961 film's release and awards wins.[57] The film's official trailer premiered on September 15, 2021 on ABC's Good Morning America.[58] An exclusive look at the film, featuring extended sneak peeks at the "Dance at the Gym" and "America" scenes, was presented at the 49th Annual American Music Awards on November 22, 2021, introduced by Elgort and Zegler.[59]

A book by Laurent Bouzereau about the making of the film, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, was released by Abrams Books on November 16, 2021.[17] An ABC special, Something's Coming: West Side Story – A Special Edition of 20/20, aired on December 5, 2021.[60]

Censorship

The film was banned in multiple Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, due to the role of Anybodys being played as a transgender character by the non-binary actor Iris Menas. In some cases, Disney refused to make cuts requested by censors. An earlier Disney release, Eternals, was also banned from the same region. That film featured Marvel's first openly same-sex couple.[61] The cast and creative team responded, with co-producer Kevin McCollum telling The Hollywood Reporter, "I think we have to remember that during Shakespeare’s time, at the height, the Puritans came in and tore all of the theaters down. You couldn’t go to the theater, and yet Shakespeare survived. ... I believe that love will win, and this is a story about love, made with love, and what happens when you try to keep people from loving freely. ... I think we’ve done our jobs as artists to make this film, and the world will discover it even if certain cultures decide they don’t want it in their borders."[62]

Reception

Box-office

As of December 12, 2021, West Side Story has grossed $10.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $4.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $14.9 million.[5][6] The film is estimated to need to gross at least $300 million in order to break even.[63]

Worldwide, the film was initially projected to gross $22–31 million in its opening weekend, including $12–17 million from the United States and Canada.[64] Boxoffice Pro projected the film would earn $14–22 million in its opening weekend and around $55–85 million from its total domestic box office run.[65] It earned $800,000 domestically in Thursday previews, hinting that the film would flop on opening weekend with contributing factors such as the reluctance to go to theaters during the pandemic, the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID, poor ticket sales due to the anticipation for Spider-Man: No Way Home, and the trend of musical films disappointing at the box-office given the recent failures of In the Heights and Dear Evan Hansen. It made $4.1 million on opening day (including previews) and went on to debut to $10.5 million, topping the box-office but finishing below estimates, making it a box-office failure. Audiences were 57% female and 52% over the age of 35 as well as 30% Latino/Hispanic, 52% Caucasian, 6% Black, and 12% Asian/other. According to EntTelligence, around 800,000 people bought tickets to see the film during its opening weekend.[66]

Outside the U.S. and Canada, the film made $4.4 million in its opening weekend from 37 international markets, of which $1.3 million came from IMAX. The highest-grossing countries were the U.K. ($1.7 million), France ($1.1 million), Germany ($300,000), Russia, and the Netherlands (both $200,000).[67]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 247 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.30/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Steven Spielberg's West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear – and in some respects might even surpass it."[68] 86 was met with 55 reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of {{{3}}}, based on {{{4}}} reviews.[69] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 88% overall positive score, with 70% saying they would definitely recommend it.[66]

Chris Evangelista of /Film wrote, "Spielberg's West Side Story is a knock-out. A dynamite blend of old-school musical showmanship and modern sensibilities. It's one of the best movies of the year, and one of the best movies of the acclaimed filmmaker's career. Yes, really."[70] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote: "Spielberg quite rightly doesn't try hiding any of those stage origins. His mastery of technique is thrilling; I gave my heart to this poignant American fairytale of doomed love."[71] Helen O'Hara of Empire gave the film five stars and wrote, "Heartfelt and heart-breaking, this feels like Spielberg has made an adaptation faithful to its roots but also, always, alive to the modern world."[72] Jason Bailey of The Playlist wrote, "West Side Story moves like a freight train, its 156 minutes passing in barely a breath, and that breakneck pace, combined with the expressionist aesthetic and candy-colored imagery, reminds us that blockbusters don't have to be greyscaled dreck."[73] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair wrote that "Spielberg and Kushner have done justice to what Bernstein, Robbins, and the quite recently late Stephen Sondheim made all those years ago – not subverting its enduring value, but rather, with fire and grace, doing so much to earn it."[74] Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote that the film "has a brash effervescence. You can feel the joy he got out of making it, and the kick is infectious."[75]

Criticism

Many Puerto Rican and other Latino critics have questioned the need to remake West Side Story, with Arlene Dávila writing in an op-ed in El Nuevo Día: "It's sad to realize once again the reality that Puerto Ricans and Latinos will be reduced to made-up themes and ideas taken from the playbook of what 'Puerto Rican' and 'Latino' are to the white imagination—because what's certain is that nowadays Hollywood is whiter and more exclusionary than ever."[76]

Frances Negrón-Muntaner wrote that the original musical "widely popularized racist and sexist stereotypes that continue to shape how the world sees Puerto Ricans and how they see themselves. For many, West Side Story has been nothing less than a founding trauma that plays incessantly, as if in an endless loop."[77] Carina del Valle Shorske of The New York Times wrote: "West Side Story might not be a Confederate monument, but it is a monument to the authority of white Americans to dominate the conversation about who Puerto Ricans are. And each revival renews that authority and co-signs the narrative for a new generation."[78] Blanca Vázquez in a collection of essays published by the Women's Media Center wrote, "The West Side Story across most of my lifetime represents a poverty of thought and feeling about Puerto Rico and our relationship to the United States."[79] The decision to broadly address the topic of immigration, rather than U.S. colonialism, has also been criticized. Negrón-Muntaner wrote: "Instead, Puerto Ricans, on whom Congress imposed U.S. citizenship in 1917 to appease widespread discontent with Washington rule, are colonial migrants who have moved in large numbers to the United States not to escape Latin American problems but U.S. colonial conditions."[80] This is especially relevant given the mass migration of Puerto Ricans that has taken place over the past decade and a half due in large part to the influence of U.S. colonial rule.[81]

Aurora Flores echoed this sentiment, while adding that Spielberg's adaptation erased the history of Puerto Rican garment workers, the backbone of the fashion industry during the time period in which the film is set, in favor of cleaners.[82] Flores was also critical of the accents by actors, which she found unnecessary.[83] Ultimately, some critics felt that the new adaptation reinforced the need to develop Latino talent to tell authentic stories, with Aurora Flores stating: "In the end, you need more than just an advisory board. You need writers, directors, and producers. We need our stories told, our way."[84] Arlene Dávila added: "It's high time to say enough with the half-baked remakes, imports, and adaptations, and to start demanding productions and original content that is written and produced by our diverse community."[85]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Results Ref.
African-American Film Critics Association December 8, 2021 Top Ten Films West Side Story Won [86]
Best Picture Nominated
American Film Institute Awards January 7, 2022 Top 10 Movies of the Year Won [87]
The Queerties December 3, 2021 Next Big Thing Nominated [88]
Detroit Film Critics Society December 6, 2021 Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose Won [89]
Rita Moreno Nominated
Best Use of Music/Sound West Side Story Nominated
National Board of Review December 2, 2021 Top Ten Films Won [90]
Best Actress Rachel Zegler Won
New York Film Critics Circle December 3, 2021 Best Cinematography Janusz Kamiński Won [91]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 6, 2021 Best Film West Side Story Nominated [92]
Best Director Steven Spielberg Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose Nominated
Best Youth Performance Rachel Zegler Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Tony Kushner Nominated
Best Production Design Adam Stockhausen
Rena DeAngelo		 Nominated
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 19, 2021 Best Film West Side Story Pending [93]
Best Director Steven Spielberg Pending
Best Supporting Actress Rita Moreno Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay West Side Story Pending
Best Cinematography Janusz Kamiński Pending
Best Editing Sarah Broshar

Michael Kahn

 Pending
Best Production Design Adam Stockhausen Pending
Best Scene "America" Pending
Best Soundtrack West Side Story Pending
Hollywood Critics Association January 8, 2022 Best Comedy/Musical Film Pending [94]
Best Director Steven Spielberg Pending
Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose Pending
Best Cinematography Janusz Kamiński Pending
Golden Globe Awards January 9, 2022 Best Picture – Musical/Comedy West Side Story Pending [95]
Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Rachel Zegler Pending
Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture Ariana DeBose Pending
Best Director Motion Picture Steven Spielberg Pending
Critics' Choice Awards January 9, 2022 Best Picture West Side Story Pending [96]
Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose Pending
Rita Moreno Pending
Best Young Performer Rachel Zegler Pending
Best Acting Ensemble Cast of West Side Story Pending
Best Director Steven Spielberg Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay Tony Kushner Pending
Best Cinematography Janusz Kaminski Pending
Best Production Design Adam Stockhausen

Rena DeAngelo

 Pending
Best Editing Sarah Broshar

Michael Kahn

 Pending
Best Costume Design Paul Tazewell Pending

Differences between film and stage versions

The film's screenplay hews more closely to the Broadway script of West Side Story than to the 1961 film adaptation written by Ernest Lehman.[20] Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, plays Valentina, a reconceived and expanded version of the original character Doc, who serves as a mentor to the teenage characters.[31] A new Black character, Abe, makes the cast "more representative of ... 1950s New York".[15] Siblings María and Bernardo are given a surname: Vasquez.[14] Anybodys, who is portrayed as a tomboy desperate to become a Jet in the stage show and 1961 film, is portrayed as transgender in this version.[17] Peck's choreography is original and does not attempt to replicate Jerome Robbins' choreography.[97] Some scenes are played out in Spanish or a mix of Spanish and English with no subtitles providing translation.[98] Spielberg further explained that the decision to not subtitle the Spanish dialogue was done "out of respect for the inclusivity of our intentions to hire a totally Latinx cast to play the Sharks' boys and girls ... If I subtitled the Spanish I’d simply be doubling down on the English and giving English the power over the Spanish. This was not going to happen in this film, I needed to respect the language enough not to subtitle it."[99]

The film follows the song order of the Broadway script, except that both "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool" are performed in the first half, with "One Hand, One Heart" appearing in between. Tony sings "Cool" to Riff to convince the Jets not to fight at the rumble that evening, instead of Riff singing it to encourage the Jets to stay cool during the war council at Doc's Drug Store.[17]

The locations where some of the songs take place, as well as some of their contexts, are also changed for this version. "America" now takes place the day after the neighborhood dance, on the streets of the Sharks' community in New York City, rather than on the rooftop of María and Bernardo's apartment on the same night of the dance, as seen in the stage show and 1961 film.[17] "I Feel Pretty" takes place at the Gimbels department store in this version, instead of María's bedroom in the stage show and the bridal shop in the 1961 film. In addition, the song appears after the rumble, like in the stage show, whereas in the 1961 film, it is sung before the rumble. In this version the rumble itself takes place in a salt warehouse instead of under a highway.[17]

Whereas the stage show and 1961 film both located "Gee, Officer Krupke" outdoors in an alley, this version moves the hijinks to the 21st Precinct of the New York City Police Department, allowing the Jets to wreck the place during the song. Instead of the bridal shop, María and Tony sing "One Hand, One Heart" in the Church of the Intercession, as part of their date, which also involves visiting The Cloisters.[17] The context of "Something's Coming" is slightly changed to reflect the character background change for Tony. In the stage show and 1961 film, Tony has the feeling that "something great" is just around the corner, like he tells Riff. In the 2021 film, however, Valentina tries to get Tony to pick himself up and start again despite his past difficulties. She gives him the confidence that launches him into singing the song.[17] The dream ballet associated with "Somewhere" is omitted, as in the 1961 film. Still, the orchestration of its music, called "Scherzo," follows the balcony scene inside Maria's bedroom where she reacts to the joy of her romance.[100] Later, "Somewhere" is sung by Valentina. As Tony dies in the finale, María sings a brief reprise of "Tonight" in this version, instead of "Somewhere."[17]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Goldsmith, Annie. "West Side Story's Rachel Zegler on the Meaning Behind "I Feel Pretty" Archived September 21, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Town & Country, August 25, 2021
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Hough, Q. V. "West Side Story 2020 Cast & Character Guide" Archived September 24, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Screen Rant, September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021
  17. ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  76. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  77. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  78. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  79. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  80. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  81. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  82. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  83. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  84. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  85. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  86. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  87. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  88. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  89. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  90. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  91. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  92. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  93. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  94. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  95. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  96. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  97. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  98. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  99. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  100. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

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