Film and discussion by Marc Strauss
"Fred & Gene & Michael & Jerry & Bob"

West Side Story (1961; 2 hours, 32 minutes)—In honor of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth (1918 – 1990), this update of the Romeo and Juliet story to the youth gangs of 1950s New York City stars Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, and numerous dancers in choreography by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a screenplay by Ernest Lehman. Ten Academy Awards, songs include “Somewhere,” “Something’s Coming,” “Maria,” “America,” “Cool.”