History Characters / WestSideStory

* ParentalSubstitute: Neither of Tony's parents are mentioned in the 2021, while Valentina takes on a motherly role in helping him get his life back together.

* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: His mother is mentioned in the stage version and 1961 film, as Riff says he stays with Tony's family because "his ma is hot for him." His dad is not mentioned in any version; in Irving Shulman's novelization, he's mentioned as having been killed at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, while Mrs. Wyzek does appear in one of the chapters. In the 2021 film, Tony's mother is not mentioned and he's living in the basement of Doc's because he has nowhere else to go, hinting that his parents are dead.

* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: His mother is mentioned in the stage version and 1961 film, as Riff says he stays with Tony's family because "his ma is hot for him." His dad is not mentioned in any version; in Irving Shulman's novelization, he's mentioned as having been killed at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. In the 2021 film, Tony's mother is not mentioned and he's living in the basement of Doc's because he has nowhere else to go, hinting that his parents are dead.

* PoliceAreUseless: No matter how hard he tries, he can't put a stop to the fighting between the Jets and the Sharks. Downplayed in the 2021 film, as Graziella berates Riff for trying to challenge Bernardo at the dance, and Krupke overhears the word "challenge," which gets the police to start investigating the gangs' plans for the following night.

* AmbiguouslyGay: In productions in which Anybodys is depicted as a cis woman, she may be hinted to be a lesbian. The 2021 film shows him trying to make a pass at some of the Jet girls, though since he is trans male, he would be straight.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: In the 2021 film, [[spoiler:after the Jets nearly rape Anita, Ice decides they're done and leaves.]]

!!!'''Doc's Drugstore'''

* TheNapoleon: In the film version, he is the shortest of the Jets as well as the most aggressive.

* AdaptationalWimp: In the 2021 film, he's a much more geeky, soft-spoken and awkward person. He isn't even a member of the Sharks as Bernardo refuses to let him join so he can focus on night school. [[spoiler:His murder of Tony is literally the first act of violence he commits]].

* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: His mother is mentioned in the stage version and 1961 film, as Riff says he stays with Tony's family because "his ma is hot for him." His dad is not mentioned in either version; in Irving Shulman's novelization, he's mentioned as having been killed at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. In the 2021 film, Tony's mother is not mentioned and he's living in the basement of Doc's because he has nowhere else to go, hinting that his parents are dead.

* AdaptationalIntelligence: In the 2021 film, she's much more aware that dating Tony is only going to cause problems between his friends and her brother, as well as the racism that the Puerto Rican community faces in America. She also shows some intellectual curiosity during her date with Tony at the Cloisters museum and mentions that she wants to take classes at City College during her argument with Bernardo.

* DemotedToExtra: Downplayed in the 2021 film. His character is split into two, Ice and Diesel, and his big solo number is given to Tony and Riff instead. Diesel, however, gets the lead solo in "Gee, Officer Krupke," and Ice is prominently featured in "Cool," along with being the first Jet who appears on-screen.

* AscendedExtra: In playing Doc's role, she gets the song "Somewhere."

* SmallNameBigEgo: The whole point of "Jet Song" is that they see themselves as the greatest gang in history, even though, in reality, they are just one of hundreds of nearly identical gangs strewn throughout New York City. This is hammered in during the 2021 film, where they finish the song while standing on top of a pile of construction rubble; they think they're the best, but are inevitably going to be pushed aside to make room for Lincoln Center. Justified in-universe as they are stated to have already beaten and displaced several other rival gangs.

* AscendedExtra: Maria's boss at the bridal shop is mentioned, but not seen, in the other versions. In the 2021 film, we see her boss at Gimbels, which is where she works in this version.

A racist police lieutenant. As the highest authority in the show, he's most analogous to Prince Escalus. However, unlike Escalus, who was a responsible authority figure despite having a part in the tragedy, Schrank is significantly more demeaning and unpleasant.

* {{Foil}}: Becomes this to Tony in the 2021 film. Both are the best friend of one of the gang leaders, both are in love with Maria, and both are initially distant from the gang conflict. However, Tony is deliberately separating himself from the gang war because of his past actions, while Chino wants to join the Sharks out of a genuine desire to protect his community. [[spoiler:While both witness the death of their best friend at the rumble, Tony realizes the seriousness of his actions and initially intends to turn himself in before Maria talks him out of it, while Chino becomes consumed by a desire for revenge even though it means throwing away his entire future.]]

** In the 1961 film, Tony seems to already know Chino, while the 2021 film implies that they don't know each other.

!!!'''Portrayed by:''' Michael Callan (1957 Broadway), George Chakiris (1958 West End), Creator/RussTamblyn (1961 film), Creator/MikeFaist (2021 film)

!!!'''Portrayed by:''' Ken [=LeRoy=] (1957 Broadway, 1958 West End), George Chakiris (1961 film), David Alvarez (2021 film)

* AdaptationalIntelligence: In the 2021 film, she's much more aware that dating Tony is only going to cause problems between his friends and her brother. She also shows some intellectual curiosity during her date with Tony at the Cloisters museum and mentions that she wants to take classes at City College during her argument with Bernardo.