West Side Story is a 1961 English-language Crime Drama movie written by Ernest Lehman, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins and William Shakespeare. The movie is directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise and produced by Robert Wise under the banner of The Mirisch Company in collaboration with Seven Arts Productions. Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. West side story stars Natalie Wood in the lead role along with an ensemble cast including Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn, Simon Oakland and Ned Glass. The screenplay is written by Ernest Lehman which is inspired from West Side Story by Jerome Robbins Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim Arthur Laurents Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The music was composed by Leonard Bernstein along with Lyrics By Stephen Sondheim. Cinematography was done by Daniel L. Fapp and editing by Thomas Stanford. The motion picture has a running time of 152 minutes. It was released on 23rd December 1961 and it received positive reviews from critics when it was released and became successful at box office. West Side Story was made on a budget of $6 million and it was a super hit at box office gross of $44 million. Distribution rights for the movie were acquired by United Artists. At the 1962 Oscar Awards It won 10 awards including: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George Chakiris), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rita Moreno), Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Color, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.