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"West Side Story" 50 years later replays on the big screen

  • Photo by Contributed Photo •
West Side Story
  • by camille m. doty/cdoty@vicad.com
  • Originally published November 2, 2011 at 4:18 p.m., updated November 2, 2011 at 4:18 p.m.

  • IF YOU GO

  • WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday

    WHERE: Cinemark Theaters, 7806 N. Navarro St., Victoria

    COST: $10.50, adults; $9.50, seniors and students; $8.50, children

    FOR MORE INFO: Visit cinemark.com

TWest Side Story" has resonated with the audience for 50 years. The film won 10 Academy Awards.

To honor the beloved musical's golden anniversary, NCM Fathom and Turner Classic Movies are bringing the movie back to big screens nationwide, for the "West Side Story" 50th Anniversary, on Wednesday.

Cinemark Theater will host the Crossroads showing Wednesday evening.

The movie is set in New York City in the 1950s, with rival gangs of different ethnicities.

The Jets are Caucasian and the Sharks are Puerto Rican. Tony, a member of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader, Bernando.

Friends and family warn the star-crossed lovers of the damage their relationship could cause. The movie climaxes at the fight scene, which ultimately ends in tragedy.

One Crossroads resident with ties to the epic tale shared her thoughts on the movie's anniversary.

"It's a classic story based on 'Romeo & Juliet' with timeless themes of love and tolerance," said Brenda Serrata Tally, Victoria Ballet's artistic director.

The Victoria native was one of the Sharks' girls at the Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre production of "West Side Story," in Utah in 1997.

Tally had a couple of speaking lines as the role of "Margarita." She also danced in several scenes in the outdoor theater.

The University of Utah graduate said the production was amazing and intense with rehearsals lasting eight hours a day and with shows running six days a week.

Tally said it's important for the movie to be shown, although it seems to still be a little controversial because of cultural differences.

But no matter which gang you are cheering for on the movie screen, it is hard to deny the music and choreography, which comes second to none.

With songs like "Somewhere" and "America," it is easy to understand why half a century later, "West Side Story" still resonates with fans.