History Awesome / WestSideStory

* The very end, when Maria manages to shame the Sharks and Jets into putting aside their differences. [[TearJerker Alas]], [[ItWasHisSled it's too late for Tony]].

* Valentina’s TheReasonYouSuck speech to the Jets after Anita’s AttemptedRape.
-->'''Valentina''': I have known you all since you were boys. Now look at you! You have grown up into ''rapists''. You dishonor yourselves. You dishonor your dead!

!! 1961 Film
* How the Sharks lead the Jets into a few traps when their fight starts in the prologue. The Sharks split up and goad the Jets into chasing them. If not for Office Krupke forcing the dance battle to end in a draw, the Sharks would have won.
** A brave Shark shouts, "Andale, chicos!" and puts them in the prime position to receive a paint dumping.
** Another lures a group of Jets into a dark alley. Cue about six Sharks coming out and curbstomping them.
** One taunt, "Come on, boys!" and runs onto the top of a dump. The Jets quickly get deluged by rubbish courtesy of a few Sharks waiting in an ambush.
* How Office Krupke breaks up the fight, just by blowing his whistle. He doesn't want to arrest any of the kids, knowing that they're using the gang wars as an excuse to vent about their lives. He gives them a stern warning that they're better than this, and next time he won't hold back. Bernardo asks snarkily if he can translate that to Spanish, but backs off.

* Creator/RitaMoreno being brought back for the Spielberg film. The fans' celebrations at the news could be heard across the country.

* The 2021 film had Spielberg bring in his frequent collaborator, John Williams, to act as music consultant. The film's orchestral score is richer and fuller and sounds better for it.

* Anita is a badass in "America," telling off Rosalia in the play and Bernardo in the movie for dissing the titular country in which she feels free and liberated with flawless [[DeadpanSnarker sass]], while dancing like a mofo with her girlfriends. Said friends get awesome points in this song too, for backing up Anita and sassing right alongside her. And that's got even getting started on the song's dance sequence.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Sondheim [[CreatorBacklash doesn't think very highly]] of the lyrics he wrote for this, but we disagree with him. The best example is probably the "Tonight" reprise, particularly when all five parts come together at the end. On paper, it's incredibly chaotic. In practice, it's positively GLORIOUS.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Sondheim [[CreatorBacklash doesn't think very highly]] of the lyrics he wrote for this, but we disagree with him.
** Best example is probably the "Tonight" reprise, particularly when all five parts come together at the end. On paper, it's incredibly chaotic. In practise (as this troper can attest, having been in it last year), it's positively GLORIOUS.

* In that same scene when she screams at Shrank not to touch Tony. And for once, the bigoted jerk keeps his mouth shut and steps back. The grudging shred of respect he has for her in that moment is evident.

* The very end, when Maria manages to shame the Sharks and Jets into putting aside their differences. [[TearJerker Alas]], [[ItWasHisSled it's too late for Tony]].

** Best example is probably the "Tonight" reprise, particularly when all five parts come together at the end. On paper, it's incredibly chaotic. In practise (as this troper can attest, having been in it last year), it's positively GLORIOUS.