60 years after its original release, West Side Story is back to tell Tony and Maria's story. The Jets and Sharks are still at each other's throats, but some things have changed. Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise's 1961 classic is alive and well. West Side Story (2021) features all of the original music and incorporates all the flair and wild choreography that fans have come to know and love over the decades. It is yet to be seen how the newcomer will fare among critics and fans, but the original was a smash-hit winning 10 Oscars that year, including Best Picture.
Not everything is the same, however. Anyone who's seen the original knows that it hasn't exactly aged gracefully. Some aspects of the film are not what anyone would call "PC" which is why some argue that a remake is exactly what the doctor ordered. In addition, Spielberg and Kushner took some liberties of their own to soften the edges a bit and make this blockbuster feel a bit more like a masterpiece.
Tony's Backstory
Every good character has an interesting backstory that keeps the audience engaged and invested. Although Tony is one of the leads, his motivation in the original was a bit hard to decipher.
Screenwriter Tony Kushner updated the Broadway adaptation. One part he definitely addressed is Tony's backstory. In the original, Tony feels like a fun-loving ex-member of the Jets. However, one thing that's never understood is why he's no longer part of the gang. In Spielberg's version, Tony was an active member of the Jets, just as is expected in the original, but the reason for his departure is because of a past fight where he got carried away and beat a rival gang member nearly to death and went to jail for it. This plot point not only addresses Tony's motivations for not wanting to fight and removing himself from the gang but also sets up his path for growth and redemption with Maria when he attempts to stop the big fight.
Bigger Female Roles
The original film did a lot of things right, but one part they could have done better is create bigger parts for some of the supporting female characters.
One example of a big change between then and now is Riff's girlfriend, Graziella. In the original, she didn't have any lines and only appeared in a handful of scenes. This time around, she, and some of the other girlfriends, have more of an impact. Most notably, they are present at the end when Anita shows up at Doc's and they even try to help her get away from the Jets as they attack her.
Fight Choreography
This was an interesting change and one that is likely to be a bit divisive. In the original, all the fighting was done through dance. Anyone who is not a fan of musicals would watch and likely scoff at the unrealistic nature of the fights, while real fans would applaud the ingenious direction by Jerome Robbins that was so unique of its time.
Now, there is something for everyone. Granted it's been 60 years since the original, choreography, especially on screen, has come a long way. The fight choreography in Spielberg's version is more akin to what moviegoers are used to seeing from today's big action movies.
Valentina
One of the biggest changes between the old and new is the replacement of the beloved Doc with his widow, Valentina. Played by Rita Moreno, who is the original Anita, Valentina not only adds a little extra feminist flair to the production but adds to the movie as a whole.
Although Doc is a character who was appreciated by all for being the Friar Laurence of this Romeo & Juliet retelling, Moreno's Valentina provides the warm-hearted, easily digestible wisdom that Doc has been lacking all these years. Not only did Moreno thrive in her new role, but it brought a much-needed update to the classic.
Ethnicity Of The Actors
As previously mentioned, not all parts of the original have aged as well as other films of this time. This one change is less of a change and more of a necessary fix that everyone can agree needed to happen.
Behind all the catchy music and eye-popping choreography from 1961 are the actors and singers doing it all. Although West Side Story is about two rival gangs of different ethnicities, most of the actors are white. Natalie Wood was great as Maria, but there aren't many Russian Maria's out there. Spielberg, rightfully, made sure to cast Latinx actors for their respective parts. A change that is obvious, but deserves a tip of the cap.
Story Background
Once again, screenwriter Tony Kushner made some subtle, but brilliant changes to the script that makes the whole story a bit more relatable. Considering this movie is set in the 1950s, Kushner added a bit of historic realism that helps the audience understand what the Sharks and the Jets are fighting about. The original merely offers "turf" as the sole reason for their bickering, but Kushner adds that the demolition of their neighborhood to make way for the famous Lincoln Center is what causes the tension to boil over. It's a clever rewrite that also explains all the debris seen in the original and can be embodied by the sign seen at the beginning that reads "Slum Clearance."
Kushner also changed Bernardo and Maria's living situation in order to give them a more relatable story. In the original, they live with their parents (though they're never seen), but this time they live on their own and even pay rent with Anita. This change gives them, and the Sharks, more of a motive for why they are fighting to stay where they are aside from the classic "America" number. It also further complicates Maria's attempt to flee her home with Tony.
Real Singing
The music and lyrics from this piece are timeless. One aspect that wasn't, however, is the dubbed singing over some of the actor's voices.
Understandably, not everyone can sing. It's a true talent that only some possess. When the original was filmed, they decided to dub the singing voices of some of the original actors instead of casting actors who could sing. This is something else Spielberg made sure to fix. Everyone's voices in the new version are their own, for better or worse.
Spanish Dialogue
Another big change is the addition of the Spanish dialogue among the Sharks members and their girlfriends.
The original features a few Spanish phrases like "buenas noches" and "gracias" but Spielberg and Kushner write some actual Spanish dialogue for the actors to make the interactions feel more real and respect the inclusivity of the Latinx cast. This change not only makes sense for respecting Puerto Rican culture but also as a device to further humanize the Sharks in a way that was not very well received the first time around.