Dr. Phyllis on "West Side Story"

As far as ratings go I'd give this one an A for its score, characters and overall take on Shakespeare's romantic tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". For those of you who may not be familiar with the film, it is loosely based on "Romeo and Juliet". The movie takes place in Manhattan in the 1960s. I'd recommend it to all those who have to study the play, because it helps to see the story in a more modern setting and I must say its a lot more interesting to watch characters speaking regular English then in the English of Shakespeare's time.

I was first acquainted with this film this past October and I am still obsessed. The music left me spell bound, the tragic ending sent chills down my spine. Trust me after seeing this film you'll never look at Shakespeare the same way again. The songs of "America", "Tonight", and one of my personal favorites "Gee Officer Krupke" will be in your head for days after you experience this classic.

In the movies there are two gangs that are fighting for control of the neighborhood, the Puerto Rican Sharks, and the white Jets. The Sharks represent the Capulet family, and the Jets represent the Montague family. Throughout the film there is a great amount of conflict between them.

The entire movie starts out with a run between the Jet and the Sharks. Soon the confrontation becomes somewhat violent alerting Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Shrank.

After the run in with the sharks, the Jets decide that in order to protect their "turf" they need to fight for it ("Jet Song"). They agree to set up a rumble with the sharks after the upcoming school dance.

Riff, the leader of the Jets, tries to convince his friend and co founder of the Jet, Tony to come to the dance. After much convincing Tony agrees to go ("Something's Coming"). Now one thing you need to realize about Tony is while he may have had a hand in forming the Jets he's been becoming more and more distant with the rest of the gang. He even took a job at Doc's candy store. He also doesn't share Riff's enthusiasm for the Jets.

Meanwhile, Bernardo's (leader of the Sharks) sister Maria and her friend Anita are preparing for the dance. Their dates happen to be Bernardo and Shark member Chino. It turns out the reason why Bernardo brought Maria to Manhattan to marry Chino. In respect Chino represent Paris the man who Lord Capulet planned to have Juliet to marry.

The dance quickly becomes a competition between the two gangs ("Dance at the Gym"). And cue prancing gangsters! I must say the gang members of "West Side" Story maybe just as violent as their real life counter parts, but I bet you'll never find a gangster from Manhattan dead prancing around on a dance floor like these gangster. Seriously have you ever heard of a prancing gangster?

Now Tony once told Riff, he could sense that something wonderful was about to happen and soon. He was right. While at the dance Tony meets the beautiful Maria. When they see each other from across the dance floor the world seems to stop and it was just the two of them and eternity. You can kind of guess who represents the romantic couple. The school dance is representation of the formal dance in "Romeo and Juliet".

They begin to dance together, but when Bernardo sees them kissing he immediately comes between the two, like a father looking out for his little girl. He says to Maria "Can't you see he's one of them?"

Maria responds "No I saw only him." That is how we should see others, not just their race, gender, sexuality, or religion, but them exactly as they are just as Maria saw Tony.

As Chino firmly leads Maria out of the gym Tony hears the sweet sound of name Maria. Tony finds himself walking through the streets searching for the girl whose name makes him burst out in song ("Maria").

When they get home Bernardo tells Maria that he doesn't wish for Maria to see Tony again claiming that he knows this country far better then she. He is convinced that Tony is like the rest of the Jets, harmful and dangerous. Bernardo seems to be more father then brother to Maria. In some ways Bernardo not only represents Juliet's cousin, but also Lord Capulet. Anita points this out to Bernardo that Maria has a mother and father. Bernardo tells Anita that he knows the ropes in America better then his parents. They then get into an argument about life in America ("America"). The girls just love it in their new home while the guys hate it. They'd instantly take the next boat back to Puerto Rico. It is interesting, because I can see both sides of the argument. It is true that there is still discrimination in America, and it is also true that we have certain freedoms that those in other countries may not. It seems to me that America has a case of split personalities, if you want to think of it that way.

Once she is alone Maria hears Tony outside and walks onto the fire escape. This is similar to the scene on the baloney, except it takes place on a fire escape. Tony and Maria then plan to meet in secret at the bridal shop where Maria works after her shift the next day.

Just before their meeting with the Sharks, the Jets just wait on the sidewalk. Officer Krupke comes and tells them to clear out before he comes back. After he's gone the boys complain amongst themselves, eventually breaking into song, singing about how psychologically disturbed they (Gee Officer Krepke). This song reminded of Irish music with it's upbeat melody and temp, and sad lyrics. It is actually quite entertaining.

The Sharks and Jets meet to plan the rumble. When Tony hears that they want to use weapons he uses reverse psychology to turn it into a "fair" fist fight between only two people. The Sharks agree to it. Yet Bernardo is surprised when he's told that he won't be fighting Tony. He will be fighting Ice, Riff's right hand man, instead.

All day Maria remains unusually chipper. Everyone at the shop can't help, but notice. She even bursts into song on the job.

At closing time Anita mentions the rumble to Maria. This isn't very good news. Remembering that Tony will arrive any minuet Maria tells Anita that she will lock up, but she wasn't quick enough. Tony arrives just as Anita is about leave. Anita quickly figures out for herself what is going on. Maria begs her to keep her secret. Reluctantly Anita leaves promising not to tell anyone.

Maria asks Tony about the rumble. Tony tells her about how it's going to be a fair fist fight. Yet Maria asks Tony to stop the fighting that was to take place later that night. Whilst alone Tony and Maria begin to day dream and reenact the day when they will tell their parents about them, and even their wedding day. This represents Romeo and Juliet's wedding.

That night both the Jets and Sharks prepare for the fight. Each break their agreement by bringing knives and guns setting themselves for disaster.

Before the fist fight even begins Tony arrives on the scene trying to break it up. Bernardo just calls him a coward, trying to get him to fight. Tony take a fighting stance, but stops and puts down his fists. Bernardo pushes him back. Riff jumps in front of him. Simultaneously Riff and Bernardo take out their knives. After circling each for several long moments Bernardo stabs Riff. Riff's eyes widened, he reaches back to hand Tony the knife as he falls to the ground. Tony stared at the knife in his hand and Riff's body. He then stabs Bernardo in pure rage. Bernardo falls to the ground. Everyone begins fighting until a cop drives by.

At the sound of the police car everyone present scatters like roaches, except for Tony. He bends down to examine Bernardo's body as if to make sure he's really dead. Realizing what he had just done he cries out one word "Maria!" He then runs away.

After the rumble Chino, a close friend of Maria, recounts the night's events. At first Maria doesn't believe him saying: "There was no fight", confident that Tony kept his promise to her. Maria runs into her room, and prays desperately: "Lord, please make it not be true. Let me die, but please make it not be true." She then sees Tony coming up the fire escape in the mirror, his close torn, a grave expression covering his visage. Knowing that what Chino had to her was true, Maria begins to weep shouting "Killer! Killer!" Yet through it all Maria somehow finds it her heart to forgive him.

When I first saw "Romeo and Juliet" I never thought about how hard it must have been for Juliette to forgive Romeo for killing her cousin. I cannot imagine how difficult that must have been for her. While Tony and Maria are together the Jets are mourning the death of Riff. All are frightened and at a lose as to what to do. Many want to get even with the Sharks. Right then Riff's right hand man takes control. He decides that it would best to not get even, that it would be better to "play it cool". If only they could have learned that lesson earlier, it could have saved them so much pain. They begin to walk away. Word reaches their ears that Chino is looking for Tony, and has gun. All set out to find Tony before Chino does.

Later a distrait Anita starts knocking at the door of Maria's room. Tony sneaks out by way of the fire escape, asking Maria to meet him at the store where he works. They then would leave Manhattan by bus and start their life together in peace.

Once Tony is gone, Maria lets Anita into her room. Anita glances out the window to see Tony walking away, hardly believing that after what had he had done that Maria was still seeing him. She then tires to convince Maria to stay clear of Tony, but Maria wouldn't change her mind. If only everyone could forgive so easily. Maria loved him so unconditionally that she forgave him for killing her brother. If only everyone could love so unconditionally.

One part of the film that sticks out in my mind is the song "A Boy Like That". This lyric summarizes it up perfectly: "When love comes so strong, there is no right or wrong". The severity of Tony's crime didn't matter to Maria, she still continued to love him. That must be how God feels toward us. Though we sin, his love remains ever constant.

Unfortunately a policeman comes to question Maria about the rumble. She then asks, in not so many words, Anita to tell Doc, the owner of the store, that she wouldn't be able to "pick it up" herself. Reluctantly Anita leaves to convey the message.

She doesn't receive a warm welcome from the Jets at Doc's candy store. They try to block her from getting the message to Tony. For intents and purposes lets say that they begin tantalizing her with vial racist comments. Luckily Doc arrives on the scene. Hurt by the murder of Bernardo and their actions, Anita tells Doc that Maria is dead. Once the terrible news reaches Tony he falls into despair. Driven by his own grief he goes out into the street shouting: "Chino! I'm here Chino come and get me too Chino!"

Maria then comes outside on her way to meet him. Tony sees her, relieved he runs toward her. Unseen by the two lovers Chino pulls out his gun, aims and fires, and unfortunately hits his mark. Tony falls into Maria arms and drew his last breath. The two gangs gather at the sound of the gun shot to see Maria leaning over Tony's body.

Furious Maria shouts to both gangs: "Stay back!" She then stands up and motions for Chino's gun. Dazed, Chino gives her the deadly weapon. "How do you fire this gun Chino? By pulling this little trigger!? How many bullets are left Chino? Enough for YOU? Or YOU? All of you!! You ALL killed him! And my brother! And Riff! Not with bullets and knives! With HATE! Well, I can kill now too, because now I have hate!!! How many can I kill Chino? How many -- and still have one bullet left for me? Don't touch him!!" Maria kneels down next to Tony's body and whispers "Te adoro Anton."

Wordlessly one of the Jets walks toward Tony's body and tries to lift him up, one of the Shark comes to help, and another, and another, the barriers of race and gang broken at last. The hatred between the two gangs was so great that it took the deaths of three young high school boys to conquer it.

Isn't it interesting that in "Romeo and Juliet" it is said that to both families "You killed your children with love", while Maria shouts for all the world to hear: "You ALL killed him! And my brother! And Riff! Not with bullets and knives! With HATE!" Where hate, anger, fear, selfishness, intolerance, predigest, and discrimination dwell there is a trail of blood. Where love, compassion, understanding, selflessness, empathy, grace and mercy dwell there is peace.