Synopsis
West Side Story is based on Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet with the story brought up to date and set in the violent West side of New York.
The Jets, led by Riff, and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo, battle over ownership of the streets.
Riff tells his buddies he’s determined to drive the Sharks off their neighbourhood’s streets and that he’s sure he can get Tony, the founder of the Jets, to help him. Riff says he’ll challenge Bernardo that night at a dance in the gym.
Tony senses that something besides gang loyalty is about to enter his life but he isn’t sure what. At the dance Tony meets Maria, Bernardo’s younger sister, newly arrived from Puerto Rico. For both Tony and Maria, it’s love at first sight.
Later that night, Riff and Bernardo meet in a ‘War Council’ to agree on a place for a rumble (fight) the next day. Meanwhile, Tony meets Maria and promises to stop the rumble going ahead.
In a deserted place under a highway, the rumble is about to begin. Tony tries to get Riff and Bernardo to call it off, but Bernardo only insults Tony for being a chicken and pushes him away. Riff steps in and strikes Bernardo. In the fight that follow, switch blades suddenly appear and Riff is killed by Bernardo. A stunned Tony seizes Bernardo’s knife and kills him. As police sirens come nearer, the gangs escape into the night.
Maria has no sooner learned of her brother’s death from Chino, a member of the Sharks, when Tony arrives and begs her forgiveness for what’s happened. She tells him she cannot hate him despite her grief. They vow to find some way to stay together.
In a cruel twist to the story, Tony later hears that Maria has been killed by Chino. As Tony goes in search of Chino he sees Maria in the darkness – as he reaches out for her a figure appears and shoots him. Tony falls into Maria’s arms and as they express their love for one another, Tony dies.