Description
Vintage French Film Movie Poster
This image is a poster for the 1961 film adaptation of the musical West Side Story. The artwork for the original poster was designed by Joseph Caroff.
The Film
West Side Story is a musical romantic drama film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
It is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, setting the story amidst rival New York City street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks.
The film was a massive critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1961 and winning ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
It is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City, focusing on the rivalry between two street gangs: the white American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.
The plot follows two youngsters from the rival gangs who fall in love, leading to tragic consequences as tensions between their friends escalate.
The movie was a significant critical and public success upon its release on October 18, 1961.
The Poster Artwork
The vibrant blue poster with yellow typography and dynamic figures is an iconic piece of graphic design.
The main cast listed on the poster includes Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris.
The design, created by Joseph Caroff (with contributions to the logo/trademark from Saul Bass), uses bold visuals and stark typography to capture the energy and conflict of the story.
View AllClose
This image is a poster for the 1961 film adaptation of the musical West Side Story. The artwork for the original poster was designed by Joseph Caroff.
The Film
West Side Story is a musical romantic drama film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
It is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, setting the story amidst rival New York City street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks.
The film was a massive critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1961 and winning ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
It is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City, focusing on the rivalry between two street gangs: the white American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.
The plot follows two youngsters from the rival gangs who fall in love, leading to tragic consequences as tensions between their friends escalate.
The movie was a significant critical and public success upon its release on October 18, 1961.
The Poster Artwork
The vibrant blue poster with yellow typography and dynamic figures is an iconic piece of graphic design.
The main cast listed on the poster includes Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris.
The design, created by Joseph Caroff (with contributions to the logo/trademark from Saul Bass), uses bold visuals and stark typography to capture the energy and conflict of the story.
