Double Feature

Today we’ll be covering two films. The first of which so brilliantly adapts the most famous scene in all of Shakespeare that not even Steven Spielberg dared touch it in his remake.

Tyler Clark
June 13, 2023

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West Side Story

June 13th, 2023 - Written by Tyler Clark

Today we’ll be covering two films. The first of which so brilliantly adapts the most famous scene in all of Shakespeare that not even Steven Spielberg dared touch it in his remake.

Today we’ll be looking at both film renditions of West Side Story’s “Tonight”.

Contextualizing Situations

Maybe the most brilliant move playwright Arthur Laurents could’ve made was to set this scene on a fire escape.

This is a story that takes the blue-blooded veins of Romeo and Juliet and brings it down to the struggles of blue-collar workers trying to save their town from gentrification even if it’s for terrible reasons.

We often forget that Romeo and Juliet come from mass wealth in the original text. And the setting of the balcony is a reminder of that wealth as Romeo sneaks out to visit his love in her father’s mansion.

By setting it on the fire escape it keeps the original's spirit alive while also recontextualizing it for the “rough and tumble” streets of New York City in the mid 1950s.

Tonight Talk Now

Let’s talk about this classic number, written by Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim.

Originally, the iconic balcony scene was supposed to be set to One Hand, One Heart, but was found to be “too innocent”. Instead, they made the correct decision to move that scene to the dream sequence of our protagonist's fictional wedding, allowing the sweet and sugary nature of the song to fit the tone of the scene better.

That’s not to say there isn’t the same innocence in Tonight. It’s still a story of young love after all and it’s got a sweet naivety to it.

This idea of passionate never ending puppy love, with lines like:

“Only you, you’re the only thing I’ll see forever. In my eyes, in my words, and in everything I do, Nothing else but you. Ever!”

Or:

“And there’s nothing for me but Maria, Ev’ry sight that I see is Maria.”

It gets to the heart of Romeo and Juliet; not love, but fervent infatuation.

Quick Context for Today’s Clip

So, today's clip is actually a phenomenal supercut of both renditions. The clip was edited by Max Hechtman, so while you’re there give him some love. Shoot him a like and let him know who sent you!

Today’s Scene

Stream It

If you want to watch West Side Story at home, you can find it here.

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