I Like the Island Manhattan

When I was a little girl there was a movie that would periodically show up on my grandmother's black and white television. Mama never got cable so I would happily catch it whenever it would magically show up on her screen. I didn't know the name of the movie, I just knew it was my favorite and that it was both joyous and sad. Mama eventually got a colored set (remember when we called tv's that?) and I learned that movie was called West Side Story. And of course it was magical, it was a retelling of the ever so romantic Romeo and Juliet. Bestill my heart. The movie is packed with great musical numbers, but my absolute favorite has always been America, ironically the one that has nothing to do with Tony and Maria. But who can deny the amazing chemistry shared by Bernardo and Anita? The original number is fantastic but so too is the newest version. Do yourself a favor, watch it and fall in love with Anita, Bernardo and America, warts and all.