''West Side Story'', 1961, movie poster painting by Robert Peak
by Movie World Posters
Title
''West Side Story'', 1961, movie poster painting by Robert Peak
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Painting - Movie Posters
Description
Base painting of the vintage movie poster for ''West Side Story'', a 1961 American musical film directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. The film is a highly acclaimed adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical of the same name, which was inspired by William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Natalie Wood stars in the film as Maria, one of the central characters.
The story of "West Side Story" is set in the 1950s and revolves around two rival gangs in New York City: the Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang. Amidst the tension and conflict between the two groups, Tony, a former Jet and best friend of the gang's leader, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader. Their love story faces obstacles and tragic consequences due to the ongoing feud between the gangs.
Natalie Wood portrays Maria Nunez, a role that required her to sing and act in the musical. Her performance as Maria is widely praised for its charm and emotional depth. Her chemistry with Richard Beymer, who plays Tony, adds to the film's impact.
"West Side Story" is celebrated for its groundbreaking choreography by Jerome Robbins, memorable music composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and its modern retelling of the classic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The film tackles themes of love, prejudice, and societal divisions, all set against a vibrant and energetic musical backdrop.
Upon its release, "West Side Story" received critical acclaim and won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It remains a beloved classic in the history of musical cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever made. The film's enduring popularity and cultural impact have cemented its place in cinematic history.
Base art is the poster artwork after the text has been digitally removed. It thereby closely recreates the original painting used for the poster. As practically all those original paintings have been lost, a recreation attempts to display the original art before the movie studios added descriptive text. See also our collection "Movie Poster Base Paintings."
About the artist:
Robert Peak (May 30, 1927 – August 1, 1992) was an American commercial illustrator who designed over 130 movie posters.
In 1953, living in New York City, he created art for advertising campaigns. Some of his work was used in national magazines. His illustrations have been used on over 40 "Time" magazine covers and seen in "TV Guide," "Sports Illustrated," "Ladies Home Journal," "Esquire," and others.
He also began designing movie posters in 1961, including for "West Side Story," "My Fair Lady," "Camelot," various "Star Trek" films, "Superman," and "Apocalypse Now."
He also won eight Awards of Excellence and four gold medals from the Society of Illustrators. In addition, he was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
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November 4th, 2022
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