'Tonight (Balcony Scene)' - West Side Story 1961/2021 Supercut

Making the one year anniversary a weekend event, so here's a supercut of the 1961 (Robert Wise/Jerome Robbins) and 2021 (Steven Spielberg) versions of "West Side Story"'s iconic Balcony Scene where Tony and Maria sing "Tonight," as performed by Natalie Wood (dubbed by Marni Nixon) & Richard Beymer (dubbed by Jimmy Bryant) in the '61 film and Rachel Zegler & Ansel Elgort in the '21 film.

Watch my other WSS supercuts here:

Edited by Max Hechtman
For entertainment purposes only.

#westsidestory #tonight #balconyscene #rachelzegler #nataliewood #richardbeymer #tonyandmaria #oscars #supercut #stevenspielberg

[sunflower-xict]

I love and appreciate both versions for different reasons.

What stands out to me about the 2021 version is how much more like teenagers Tony and Maria feel like then in the 1961 version. Everything from Tony enthusiastically climbing the fire escape to asking Maria to ‘run away with him’ before this song and Maria scared at them being caught it just screams TEENAGERS to me.

While their feelings are very real you get the sense that because neither knows what they are doing, Tonight comes off as two kids playing at romance like they saw in the movies, like “ this is what a guys does when he loves a girl he asks her to run away with him!” It’s very cute and has a enduring innocence about the whole scene.

Whereas the 1961 version feels very old Hollywood and I love that about that version, in someways it comes across as more classically romantic then the 2021 version which is much more ‘cute’ to me. Tony and Maria seem older then they are supposed to be in the 1961 version ( I think all the old stars did back in the day lol) so in a sense their romance seems more serious in this scene then in the 2021 version which doesn’t really get serious until One Hand One Heart.

All in All I think both versions fit their individual movies, and which is better is really just a matter of personal preference.

[definitelynotvj]

The "Tony, Tony" part is so sweet, it always gets me! <3
P.S. And of course, Rachel's eyes.

[lhzook]

Natalie Wood was so breathtakingly beautiful.

[timtrucksess]

60 years apart and they all look great!!

[Thomas_H._Smith]

Plot Twist: These were happening at the same time just on 2 different balconies.

[LilyMilos]

The only thing that makes me sad is realizing that one day you will run out of songs and...oh, nevermind, I'll just rewatch the ones you've done again!

[steventhorson]

The original is absolutely 💯 👌 awesome

[chc]

Oh my god it’s so beautiful when we listen them together ❤

[davidallen]

Marni Nixon’s gorgeous singing voice could never be surpassed.

[gpapa]

It’s one of the few scenes from WSS I can convincingly say the 2021 version did way way better in all aspects (singing, acting, lighting, camera movement, pacing everything). The rest of the film is open to debate but not this part. This was pure goosebumps-level magic, especially on the big screen.

[barrysmith]

HECK, MAN... maxxed-out anuthah wun! U da reel dude; anybody else doin dis?!

[miguelangelsoto]

Mi encanta el clásico película pero el nuevo versión es lindo me encanta.. es un diferente de clásico pero lindo...Buenas noches...

[MADHAUSMARKALLAN]

Wow. These super cuts are breathtaking! I haven’t seen the Spielberg version yet but I’m all too familiar with the Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise version. I know we’re great. Love you have for this film and I really appreciate this opportunity. I’m very romantical.

[alessandragregori]

Splendido, senza tempo, anche se preferisco la prima versione.

[baylinkdashyt]

Well, it's nice to see that *someone*, somewhere on Youtube, didn't *cut off the end of the Act One Closer*, thank you very much.

I would have stuck with the 61 music, there, as I think the dissonance counterpoint is dramatically important, but perhaps in this context, not so much.

[sssoooyyybooyyy]

I hope you do this with the mambo scene ! :) great work!!!

[naomihirsch]

This is so cool! I love this, the cuts blend together perfectly. Great job!

[octaviojuliofloresmontagne]

Las dos versiones son una belleza. Es un símil de Romeo y Julieta tan bien hecho que a veces supera la versión de Shakespeare. Uno no puede dejar de conmoverse con el amor tan bonito de Tony y María, por eso toca tanto al corazón.

[darthstarkiller]

Wonder what Richard Beymer thought of the new "West Side Story". Wonderful combo.

[jmromerogomez]

Max buen trabajo, maravilloso, Gracias