West Side wonder Steven Spielberg creates a breathtaking reimagination of the original film Jessica Rosenberg Guest Writer 8LIVI¸W E ÁRI PMRI FIX[IIR PSZI ERH LEXI ERH HMVIGXSV 7XIZIR 7TMIPFIVK¸W µ;IWX 7MHI 7XSV]¸¸ ĀþĀÿ FIEYXMJYPP] ERH MRXIRWIP] MPPYWXVEXIW this dichotomy. This reimagination SJ XLI SVMKMREP ÿćĄÿ QSZMI WTEVOW GYVMSWMX] EFSYX LS[ PSZI GER GEYWI LEXVIH ERH IZIR VIWYPX MR HIEXL 8LI HVEWXMG GSRWIUYIRGIW SJ LEXVIH QEOI XLI ZMI[IV VIEPM^I XLEX PMJI MW XSS WLSVX XS LEXI TISTPI [LS HMJJIV JVSQ SYVWIPZIW µ;IWX 7MHI 7XSV]¶ JSPPS[W XLI KIRIVEP TPSX SJ 7LEOIWTIEVI¸W µ6SQIS ERH .YPMIX ¶ GSRWMWXMRK SJ X[S VMZEP KERKW SJ XIIREKIVW MR 2I[ =SVO XLI 7LEVOW ERH XLI .IXW 8LI Jets are white Americans and the 7LEVOW EVI MQQMKVERXW JVSQ 4YIVXS 6MGS 8LIMV LEXVIH JSV IEGL SXLIV SRP] IWGEPEXIW HYI XS E FPSWWSQMRK VSQERGI FIX[IIR 1EVME XLI WMWXIV SJ E 7LEVO ERH 8SR] E .IX 1EVME ERH 8SR] EVI WXEV GVSWWIH PSZIVW [LS EVI GEYKLX MR E XIVVMXSVMEP [EV FIX[IIR XLI 7LEVOW ERH XLI .IXW 8LIMV PSZI JSV SRI ERSXLIV FIGSQIW MRGVIEWMRKP] TEWWMSREXI ERH MRXIRWI HYI XS XLI REXYVI SJ XLIWI FPMWXIVMRK GMVGYQWXERGIW 8LMW romance begs the question: to what I\XIRX [MPP TISTPI KS JSV PSZI# 8LIMV VSQERGI MW YRVIEPMWXMG JIZIVMWL ÁIV] ERH GSQTPMGEXIH 2IZIVXLIPIWW XLMW GSQTPMGEXMSR HVE[W XLI ZMI[IVW
O]kl Ka\] @aklgjq Award winning The original Broadway show and film won two Tony Awards and 10 Academy Awards.
Jet or Jew? The original plot of the show was going to feature a feud between Catholic and Jewish gangs.
;]jlaÚ]\ ^j]k` The 2021 film earned a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the 1961 version earned a 93%.
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Left: Tension between the Sharks and the Jets is made apparent in the dance battle at the beginning of the film. Top Right: The Sharks are always seen wearing bright colors. These are especially highlighted during “America.” Bottom Right: Maria and Tony dance together in the moonlight. The star-crossed lovers are caught between the Shark versus Jet rivalry. Photos from 20th Century Studios
The Lion’s Tale Magazine 29
