West Side Story is a 1961 musical film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was adapted from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris and it was photographed by Daniel L. Fapp, A.S.C., in Super Panavision 70.
The film's opening sequence was shot on the streets of New York City, mainly in the area where the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts campus of Fordham University now stands. Veteran director Robert Wise was chosen as the director and producer because of his familiarity with urban New York dramas, such as Odds Against Tomorrow. Wise had never directed a musical before and when it was suggested that Jerome Robbins, who had directed the stage version, be brought in to handle all the music and dance sequences in the film, Wise agreed. After about one-third of the movie had been shot, the Mirisch Company, which had become increasingly concerned that the production was over-budget, fired Robbins, who, according to Saul Chaplin in his autobiography, nearly suffered a nervous breakdown during the time he worked on the film. The remaining dance numbers were handled by Robbins' assistants. However, because of his great creative contribution to the film, Wise agreed Robbins be given co-directing credit, even though Wise directed the majority of the film himself. The ending title sequence was created by Saul Bass, who is also credited as "visual consultant" on the film.
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
But her friends say she's too good for me
It's kinda like a West Side Story
She's the only one for me
She's the only girl I see
Can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya--Veronica
Everyday, I see her friends talkin' 'bout me
But I know there's somethin' there that no one can see
It reminds me of Romeo and Juliet
Like we're livin' on a movie set
Montague and Capulet
Make your daddy sweat cause he wishes we had never met
She says that I just make her world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love, I'm so in love
I'm so in love with you
Your brothers say it's over now, they're lookin' for me
But I know there's something there that no one can see
It reminds me of Romeo and Juliet
Like we're livin' on a movie set
I'm a shark and you're a jet
Make your mama sweat cause she wishes we had never met
She says that I just make her world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love with you
*rap*
Johnny Rocket, got her number in my pocket
We was on the run, daddy got a gun stop it
Playing with Veronica, she got me now
But her brother got a biscuit and it might go POW
I'm shakin' and bakin' and makin' the bacon, and doin'
what you and your'e crew ain't doin' and I'm
roughin' the mic and smackin' the mic and I'm still on beat
You can't stop the blood rush and you can't stop love
So it's time to knuckle up and pray to the Lord above
She said that I just make the world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love with you
(chorus)
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
but her friends say she's too good for me
it's kinda like a West Side Story
she's the only one for me
she's the only girl I see
can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya -
Veronica
Everyday, I see her friends talkin' 'bout me
but I know there's somethin' there tha no one can see
it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet
like we're livin' on a movie set
Montague and Capulet
make your daddy sweat cause he wishes we had never met
She says that I just make her world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love, I'm so in love
I'm so in love with you
(chorus)
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
but her friends say she's too good for me
it's kinda like a West Side Story
she's the only one for me
she's the only girl I see
can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya -
Veronica
Your brothers say it's over now,
they're lookin' for me
but I know there's something there that no one can see
it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet
like we're livin' on a movie set
I'm a shark and you're a jet
make your mama sweat cause she wishes we had never met
She says that I just make her world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love with you
(chorus)
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
but her friends say she's too good for me
it's kinda like a West Side Story
she's the only one for me
she's the only girl I see
can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya -
Veronica
(rap)
Johnny Rocket, got her number in my pocket
we was on the run, daddy got a gun
stop it
playing with Veronica, she got me now
but her brother got a biscuit and it might go POW
I'm shakin and bakin and makin the bacon and doin what
you and your crew ain't doin I'm grabbin the mic
and smackin the mic
and I'm still on beat!!
You can't stop the bum rush and you can't stop love,
so it's time to knuckle up and pray to the Lord above
She said that I just make the world go round
God knows I feel it too
I'm so in love
with you
(chorus)
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
but her friends say she's too good for me
it's kinda like a West Side Story
she's the only one for me
she's the only girl I see
can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya -
Veronica
Veronica's a song that's in my head
Veronica's a name I've often said
but her friends say she's too good for me
it's kinda like a West Side Story
she's the only one for me
she's the only girl I see
can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with ya -
Veronica
JETS
The Jets are gonna have their day
Tonight
The Jets are gonna have their way
Tonight
The Puerto Ricans grumble
'Fair fight'
But if they start a rumble
We'll rumble'em right
SHARKS
We're gonna hand'em a surprise
Tonight
We're gonna cut'em down to size
Tonight
We said 'OK no rumpus
No tricks'
But just in case they jump us
We're ready to mix
Tonight
JETS
We're gonna rock it tonight
We're gonna jazz it up
And have us a ball
SHARKS
They're gonna get it tonight
The more they turn it on
The harder they'll fall
JETS
Well they began it
SHARKS
Well they began it
JETS & SHARKS
And we're the ones to stop'em once and for all
Tonight
ANITA
Anita's gonna get her kicks
Tonight
We'll have our private little mix
Tonight
He'll walk in hot and tired
Poor dear!
Don't matter if he's tired
As long as he's near
Tonight
TONY
Tonight, tonight
Won't be just any night
Tonight there will be no morning star
Tonight, tonight
I'll see my love tonight
And for us stars will stop
Where they are
MARIA
Today the minutes seem like hours
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light
Oh moon
Grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night
JETS
The Jets are coming out on top
Tonight
We're gonna watch Bernardo drop
Tonight
That Puerto Rican punk'll
Go down
And when he's hollered Uncle
We'll tear up the town
RIFF : We'll be backing you boy
ICE : Right
RIFF : You're gonna flat him good
ICE : Right
MARIA
Tonight, tonight
Won't be just any night
Tonight there will be no morning star
Tonight, tonight
I'll see my love tonight
And for us stars will stop
Where they are
SHARKS
We're gonna rock it tonight
We're gonna jazz it tonight
They're gonna get it tonight
Tonight
ANITA
Tonight,
Late tonight
We're gonna mix it tonight
JETS & SHARKS
But they began it
They began it
They began it
TONY & MARIA
Tonight the minutes seem like hours
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light
Oh moon
Grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night...
ANITA
Tonight
Anita's gonna have her day
Bernardo's gonna have his way...
JETS & SHARKS
And we're the ones to stop'em once and for all
The Jets/The Sharks are gonna have their way
The Jets/The Sharks are gonna have their day
We're gonna rock it tonight...
TONY
Make of our hands one hand
Make of our hearts one heart
Make of our vows one last vow
Only death will part us now
MARIA
Make of our lives one life
Day after day one life
TONY & MARIA
Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart
TIGER, IMITATING KRUPSKE
Hey you!
RIFF
Who me, Officer Krupske?
TIGER, IMITATING KRUPSKE
Yeah you, gimme one good reason for not draggin' ya down the station house, ya punk!
RIFF
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupske
You gotta understand
It's just our bringin' upke
That gets us out of hand
Our mothers all are junkies
Our fathers all are drunks
Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks
JETS
Gee, Officer Krupske
We're very upset
We never had the love
That every child oughta get
We ain't no deliquents
We're misunderstood
Deep down inside us there is good
RIFF
There is good!
JETS
There is good, there is good
There is untapped good
Like inside, the worst of us is good
TIGER, IMITATING KRUPSKE
That's a touching good story
RIFF
Lemme tell it to the world!
TIGER, IMITATING KRUPSKE
Just tell it to the judge
RIFF
Dear kindly Judge, your Honour
My parents treat me rough
With all their marijuana
They won't give me a puff
They didn't wanna have me
But somehow I was had
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad
SNOWBOY IMITATING JUDGE
Right! Officer Krupske
You're really a square
This boy don't need a judge
He needs an analyst's care
It's just his neurosis
That oughta be curbed
He's psychologically disturbed
RIFF
I'm disturbed
JETS
We're disturbed, we're disturbed
We're the most disturbed
Like we're psychologically disturbed
SNOWBOY IMITATING JUDGE
Hear ye, hear ye. In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved on account he ain't had a normal home.
RIFF
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!
SNOWBOY IMITATING JUDGE
So take him to a headshrinker. You!
ACTION
Who me?
RIFF
My daddy beats my mommy
My mommy clubbers me
My grand'pa is a commie
My grand'ma pushes tea
My sisters wears a moustache
My brother wears a dress
Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess
ACTION IMITATING HEADSHRINKER
Yes, Officer Krupske
He shouldn't be here
This boy don't need a couch
He needs a usefully career
Society's played him a terrible trick
And sociologically he's sick
RIFF
I am sick!
JETS
We are sick, we are sick
We are sick sick sick
Like we're sociologically sick
ACTION IMITATING HEADSHRINKER
In my opinion, this child does not need to have his head shrunk at all. Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease.
RIFF
Hey, I got a social disease!
ACTION IMITATING HEADSHRINKER
So take him to a social worker
RIFF
Dear kindly social worker
They tell me get a job
Like be a soda jerker
Which means I'd be a slob
It's not I'm antisocial
I'm only anti-work
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk
A-RAB
Eek, Officer Krupske
You've done it again
This boy don't need a job
He needs a year in the pen
It ain't just a question of misunderstood
Deep down inside he's no good
RIFF
I'm no good
JETS
We're no good, we're no good
We're no earthly good
Like the best of us is no damn good
The trouble is he's lazy
The trouble is he drinks
The trouble is he's crazy
The trouble is he stinks
The trouble is he's growing
The trouble is he's grown
Krupske, we've got troubles of our own
Officer Krupske
We're down on our knees
RIFF
'Cause no one wants a fella
With a social disease
JETS
Dear Officer Krupske
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupske
A boy like that will give you sorrow,
You'll meet another boy tomorrow,
One of your own kind,
Stick to your own kind!
A boy who kills cannot love,
A boy who kills has no heart.
And he's the boy who gets your love
And gets your heart.
Very smart, Maria, very smart!
A boy like that wants one thing only,
And when he's done, he'll leave you lonely.
He'll murder your love;
He murdered mine.
Just wait and see,
Just wait, Maria,
Just wait and see!
MARIA
Oh no, Anita, no,
Anita, no!
It isn't true, not for me,
It's true for you, not for me.
I hear your words
And in my head
I know they're smart,
But my heart, Anita,
But my heart
Knows they're wrong
And my heart
Is too strong,
For I belong
To him alone, to him alone.
One thing I know:
I am his,
I don't care what he is.
I don't know why it's so,
I don't want to know.
ANITA
A boy like that, etc.
Very smart Maria, very smart!
MARIA
Oh no, Anita, no,
You should know better!
You were in love - or so you said.
You should know better . . .
I have a love, and it's all that I have.
Right or wrong, what else can I do?
I love him; I'm his,
And everything he is
I am, too.
I have a love, and it's all that I need,
Right or wrong, and he needs me, too.
I love him, we're one;
There's nothing to be done,
Not a thing I can do
But hold him, hold him forever,
Be with him now, tomorrow
And all of my life!
BOTH
When love comes so strong,
There is no right or wrong,
[Intro:]
[Dirty Red:] Yeah, this is how we do it y'all
[DJ Yella:] check it out, tell them where we from
[Dirty Red:] Westside, yeah, that's right
[DJ Yella:] Dirty Red is in the house, drop it for them
[Verse 1: Dirty Red]
It all started on a hot summer day
Creepin' through L.A. - in a 6 Tray Choverlet
Impala, turned it up, Crenshew
We hit the streets so I put the chrome grip on my lap y'all
That's how we do it on the West Side
Ain't nothin' nice when the nigga wanna who-ride
So I glide, the further I go, the thicker the hoe
The shit was on the deck for the gigolo
I moved slow to the liquor bang Parking Lot
My nigga Yella got a taste for some pimpin' knots
Since Little Burners, we're quick learners
So fuck stress, on a night like this
You got to give it your best
[Chorus: Michel'le]
We're on the West Side
Swear on the West Side
Started
Yeah, ooooohhhh
[Verse 2: Dirty Red]
Fresh out the sack, I'm feelin' kind of right
I'm pullin' down my Rag Top, high as a kite
Boom shinnin' of the streets' light
When my 17th Crowl sounds bump the concrete
This is how the Gs ball
Got the glock 10, sittin' smooth in the cut
Just incase some shit jumped, I ain't goin' out like no punk
In my trunk sittin' petty, a Chrome Desert Eagle
Ain't trippin' of no One Time cause all my shit is legal
I pulls to the right, some niggaz lookin' shady
Thinkin' cause I'm solo, that maybe they can fade me
A little bit crazy but I'm keepin' my composure
Think up on my head bein' puffin' on my Dojah
Cause we're on the West Side
[Chorus: Michel'le]
We're on the West Side
Swear on the West Side
Started
[Verse 3: Dirty Red]
I glanced to my right, these niggaz damn ain't trippin'
I put my shit on safety and continue with my dippin'
You'll see me when you spittin, like this clip to my left
I blow my smoke, clear my throat, put Indo in my chest
Peep my game, haters think, come on us to take a ride
Dippin' into a spot over on the West Side
You can get the drink, but bring your whole dank
Cause bitches nowadays, be all about that gank
I bust me a bitch, and pulls to the store
Cause a got a crave for a cold 40 O
And a philly, yeah, so I can get a little tipsy
See my nigga E in a Cold Eight fifty
We're on the West Side
[Chorus: Michel'le w/ Minor Variations]
We're on the West Side
West Side, stalkin'
Swear on the West Side
We're on the West Side ooooohhhh yeah
West Side, started
We're on the West Side
We're on the West Side
West Side, started, yeah
We're on the West Side
Inside the West Side, yeah
West Side, started
Dirty Red is on the West Side, yeah
West Side, started
TONY
Make of our hands one hand
Make of our hearts one heart
Make of our vows one last vow
Only death will part us now
MARIA
Make of our lives one life
Day after day one life
TONY & MARIA
Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart
Could be
Who knows?
There's something due any day
I will know right away
Soon as it shows
It may come cannonballin' down through the sky
Gleam in its eye
Bright as a rose!
Who knows?
It's only just out of reach
Down the block, on a beach
Under a tree
I got a feeling there's a miracle due
Gonna come true
Coming to me
Could it be?
Yes it could
Something's coming
Something good
If I can wait
Something's coming I don't know what it is
But it is
Gonna be great!
With a click
With a shock
Phone'll jingle
Door'll knock
Open the latch!
Something's coming, don't know when
But it's soon
Catch the moon
One handed catch
Around the corner
Or whistling down the river
Come on - deliver
To me
Will it be? Yes it will
Maybe just by holding still
It'll be there!
Come on, something, come on in
Don't be shy
Meet a guy
Pull up a chair
The air is hummin'
And something great is coming
Who knows
It's only just
Out of reach
Down the block, on a beach
Maybe tonight