Sixty years may have passed since West Side Story was first released, but the film about star-crossed lovers, gang violence, and racial prejudice remains one of the most beloved and relevant movie musicals ever produced. The soundtrack, including “Maria,” “Somewhere,” and “America,” has become part of the American songbook. The choreography, much of it danced on the streets of New York, still feels avant-garde. And the story, based on Romeo and Juliet, is both timeless and tragic. With stunning archival photography and new images from Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake, this LIFE special edition traces the evolution of the movie from its Broadway roots to its status as a Hollywood classic.