Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein. West side story and the american idea of getting along. West side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. An analysis of west side story with the audio attached for some of the key features that bernstein uses.
Includes complete cast list, vocal ranges, instrumentation list plus an introduction about the famous collaboration that worked together on this project. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a p. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. Reviewed in the united states on december 27, 2019. Summary read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. For those who care about the how and why of the music is west side story this book is essential. The camera zooms in on a group of jets, the white gang, snapping their fingers on a basketball court. West side story tells a story of how tony a polish america who used to lead the local gang, the jets and maria a puerto rican teen part of the rivaling gang find love despite their backgrounds and public opinions. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved.
The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always intrigued writers. When they first conceived the show in 1949, robbins, bernstein and laurents set their story on the east side of manhattan, and gave it the working title east side story. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. The musical piece in west side story entitled america is one of the most memorable from the film. In the film of west side story, it arguably portrays the ideas of race, immigration, and u. The 1957 musical west side story was a collaboration among composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, and choreographer jerome robbins. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. West side story and the american idea of getting along the new. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. West side story 1961 film part 1 summary and analysis.
The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side story in a single volume. The 1961 musical west side story utilizes the same theme as in shakespeares romeo and juliet, in which the relationship between two lovers is not accepted by others because of their different backgrounds. This is a great product for fans of west side story.
West side story chapter 4 instead bernardo is kind of. Cynthia zarin writes about the broadway musical west side story, which made its debut in 1957. A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning. Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 4 this is the party chapter.
The scherzo is a lighthearted, carefree movement that comes from the dream ballet of the musical, in which tony imagines a world. The film is set in the rough neighborhood of lincoln square on the west side of manhattan during the summer of 1957. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. West side story chapter 3 big trouble in this chapter. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise. An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side. The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved american musicals of all time. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise.
Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story. The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when maria falls for tony, the founder of the jets, at a local dance. Anita is marias friend and, so far, has nothing to do with the plot. The artistic devices, characterizations, and music all serve to explain the. You should analyse the way that characterization reflects context, fxplain how each character reflects the values.
West side story 1961 film summary and analysis of part 1. The infamous poison boot west side story story retold with award winning costumes and flawless acting. But does the composers analysis have any bearing on how we perceive the work. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story romeo and juliet. Four dances from west side story features some of the highlights of these dance sequences transcribed for band. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. In west side story, robbins choreographed some of historys most beautifully balletic gang fights, and took home an oscar as the films codirector. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. The setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. He is, without a doubt, a composer of musical theatre. Analysis of the film west side story 2095 words cram. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds.
West side story tells a story of how tony a polish america who used to lead the local gang, the jets and maria a puerto rican teen part of the rivaling gang find. Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces. Random house firm, the feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of the jets. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. They are getting ready for the party thats in a few hours. The differences between these characters is centered on the prejudices they had against each other. Richard rodgers, the composer of south pacific, wrote over 40 musicals throughout his career, all of which featured on broadway.
This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more in. The suite is included as bonus tracks on the 1957 original broadway cast recording. It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. About west side story west side story, which opened on september 26, 1957, is a landmark in american musical theatre history. Although it may seem at first glance to be a relatively light hearted and fun song, and its entertainment valuable is undeniable, there is also some level of satire in it. Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 3 in this chapter, anita is making the dress for maria. The jets meet the sharks there, with both sides bringing their girlfriends. West side story is groundbreaking in a lot of ways, but when it comes to delivering the information, it tends to rely on the triedandtrue technique of moving to the character we need to see when we need to see him or her, then moving back as the story demands. The girls who sing in this song are singing about how much they hate puerto rico and love america. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis whale rider. An analysis of tonight from the well known and tear jerking musical west side story. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more.
On the contrary, the boys are singing about wanting to go back to puerto rico. Get a free e book by joining our mailing list today. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. Therefore, the time period within the film illustrates new york with a large number of puerto ricans so the film can be historical source. Read a character analysis of juliet, plot summary, and important quotes.
In the sixteenth century, william shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the worlds great plays. So like south pacific, west side story can be considered an opera in parts, and musical theatre in others. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. Peter n the song america is sung by the puerto rican sharks. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. Meanwhile, laurents had written a new draft of the book changing the characters backgrounds. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. Leonard bernstein, stephen sondheim, arthur laurents, and jerome robbins. Directed and choreographed by jerome robbins, the show was written by composer leonard bernstein, librettist arthur laurents, and lyricist. There is palpable tension in the air as two gangs vie for dominance of the area. In particular, youll need at least a basic understanding of key areas, motives, and intervals.
174 996 496 632 504 803 687 113 864 1093 1010 534 295 945 1409 1226 1067 398 1622 1131 1272 1537 358 1374 366 1427 150 294 614 411 129 257 1244 1139 1042 23 563 940 1252 146 281 974