the 1961 west side story film was part of a world where big budget musicals rules the land. they made a lot of money and won oscar trophies. then, in the 1970s and 80s, the cinema musical seemed to slip away, but could steven spielberg s west side story herald a rebirth? emma jones reports. emma: the road to steven spielberg s west side story started with a 1950s stage musical starring carol as maria and larry kurtz as tony. the broadway version of the musical west side story first appeared here in new york in 1957 in this theatre behind me and the film adaptation followed soon afterwards, not the first time that hollywood has sought to capitalise on broadway success. that multi oscar winning original west side story was part of a decade
it is not the west side story many people remember. it is so much different in a sense that there is so much more context and if you re not going to come for the music, you should come for the characters, come for the dynamics, you should come for the dance in general. you should come for the colours. actor ansel elgort, known for his role in edgar wright s film baby driver, among others, plays the main lead in west side story, tony. what s forever? like, i want to be with you forever? you don t want to start maybe with i would like to take you out for coffee? one of the best performances in the movie comes from rita moreno who was in the original 1961 west side story, then in the role of anita. maria s close confidant. in steven spielberg s movie, moreno plays a newly created character, valentina, the widow of corner store owner, doc. of course, west side story is not