West Side Story Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Blu-ray Release

The Oscar-winning 1950s take on Romeo and Juliet that pits rival groups the Sharks and the Jets against each other in a depiction of mid-century American gangs will be available on Blu-ray November 15. Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer, The Longest Day) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood, Splendor in the Grass), a sister of the Sharks leader, and the gangs in New York City’s Upper West Side heat up.

The Blu-ray release of West Side Story marks the movie’s semicentennial anniversary with a special 50th Anniversary Edition. Special features on the limited edition four-disc boxed set are numerous. The set features a two-disc Blu-ray, a newly-restored DVD, a Tribute CD, and collectible memorabilia. Among the special features are two multi-part featurettes: In “Pow! The Dances of West Side Story,” cast members, contemporary filmmakers, dancers, and choreographers analyze and illuminate the film’s famous dance sequences. “A Place for Us: West Side Story‘s Legacy” is a look back at the iconic film and the impact it has had all over the world.

The limited edition Blu-ray gift set and the 50th anniversary edition two-disc Blu-ray will both be presented in a 2.20:1 widescreen format with a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.