Watch the Full ‘America’ Number from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story

Though the film was critically acclaimed, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story was considered to have flopped at the box office. What’s great is, the film is set to be available for a wider audience with its Disney+ release, and we have a look at one of the larger musical numbers in the film, America.

Watch this:

For context, this scene puts the spotlight on the Sharks leader Bernardo (David Alvarez) and his girlfriend Anita (Ariana DeBose). While Anita talks about all of the great things about living in America, she is constantly being cut short by Bernardo who is more cynical and mentions the inequality brought about by the system.

The original America number in the 60s West Side Story only happens on a rooftop, but the dancing is not any less impressive. For the Spielberg movie, we actually get to have Anita and Bernardo interact with the entire community, and besides being more colorful, we also have other ethnicities join in on the song like African-Americans and even Caucasians.

As it stands, both versions of West Side Story have their own pros and cons. While the new Spielberg version actually improves on Tony’s character, the original still shines when it comes to choreography—at least, that’s my opinion.

Manhattan, Upper West Side, 1957. Against the backdrop of the decaying tenements in the San Juan Hill neighbourhood and the constant threat of the wrecking ball, two warring gangs–tough Riff’s Jets and swaggering Bernardo’s Puerto Rican Sharks–fight for supremacy. Now, with a once-and-for-all, winner-takes-all rumble on the cards, an unexpected whirlwind romance at the high-school dance between former Jet brawler Tony and Bernardo’s delicate little sister María sets the stage for an all-out turf war. But what’s a gang without its territory? Above all, when the future is uncertain, what’s hope without love?

West Side Story is now available on Disney+.