AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 47


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

Maria: All of you! You all killed him! And my brother, and Riff. Not with bullets, or guns, with hate. Well now I can kill, too, because now I have hate!

Westside Story (1961)
Original List Position: 41
Starring: Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, and Richard Beymer
Director: Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise
About: We come now to a classic musical. On the original list it was slightly higher than where I have it. A decade later it dropped to No. 51, slightly lower. So, I guess this positioning feels about right. I enjoy the story and the iconic music and performances here. This is a great musical that's been often imitated in the decades since its release. It even saw a re-make 60 years after its original release from Steven Spielberg. It's a timeless story that continues to entertain audiences, and its musical numbers remain captivating. If you're a fan of musicals, this is essential. If you're not, it's still a great representation of the art form and one that I quite enjoyed.

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