11

Wikipedia describes the West Side Story main characters as

In New York City in 1957, two teenage gangs compete for control on the Upper West Side.

for the 1961 film and

In 1957, the Jets, a gang of white youths, brawl with the Sharks, a gang of Puerto Rican youths, for control of San Juan Hill on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

for the 2021 remake.

So "teenage" and "youths". In the film itself there are few references such as

"[...] down goes a teen-age hoodlum."

But do we have any way to know their ages?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
24

For the 1961 version there are indications that the ages range from 16-18.

From a script based on the book for the musical by Arthur Laurents

(”PROLOGUE” BEGINS:) ICE - 17, smart, disciplined, a natural leader - opens the doors of an alley cellar. Ice tosses a paint can up to A-RAB, 17, Italian. Then two more. A-Rab throws the extra cans to DIESEL, 16, a bruiser who’s decent and smart, and ACTION, 16, powerful, edgy, wound too tight. Then he hauls Ice out of the cellar with a can of his own.

.. A whistle from the group summons RIFF from inside the cab - 18, smart, tough, wild-eyed/manic. His hair’s tousled, lipstick smeared across his mouth.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.