Spielberg's West Side Story

[Steve Klare]

Interesting point, Mitchell!

Is The Wiz a remake of the Wizard of Oz (1939)or a reinterpretation of the same story? I don't think the Wiz has any songs in common with the Wizard of Oz, for example. To me, when you make the new one that different it becomes its own entity. It's kind of the difference between any movie about Don Quixote and Man of LaMancha. (-or Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story)

One of the things that gripes a lot of people about all these remakes is the lack of originality. This makes a reinterpretation more palatable.

[Mitchell Dvoskin]

> the idea of a modern Wizard of Oz is almost unthinkable.

And here I thought that you owned a copy of The Wiz in every known home format…

[Steve Klare]

I think maybe where this starts to make sense is you've had a couple of generations where West Side Story, even though it is a true classic, has faded into the background. My son is 19, and without those Derann extracts I have, he might never have heard of West Side Story. Maybe this one is more for his generation. I'll give you odds if you had a new release of the 1961 West Side Story, the people in the seats would average more than 50 years old. Just maybe this new one will pull in a younger crowd. (Great date movie, although maybe not for the first date...)

True Story: maybe ten years ago I'm sitting watching the 'tube. Onscreen are Shatner and Nimoy. Shatner's in the Big Chair, Nimoy's got his ears on. My kid walks through the room and says "They look like Kirk and Spock." ("Look like"?!!) Maybe at least at that point, the 2009 version was his Star Trek. (We fixed this later on...).

I do feel a little funny about this remake though. There are just certain movies that we've all seen dozens of times that just sheer repetition makes somehow self-perfect. For example the idea of a modern Wizard of Oz is almost unthinkable. When people remake one of these they risk ruining a movie just by making it different, even if that different is really better if you looked at it with an unbiased eye.

Whether or not I secretly wish they didn't do it, I'm going to the theater to go see it!

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes just look at the number of Robin Hood remakes we've had. Only the one's with side stories like in TV series, not full to the finish with the sheriff have been to my taste, with one exception due to casting, though that borrowed from the "Robin of Sherwin" TV series.

[Oliver Feld]

I honestly try to understand the sense of modern remakes but I don’t get it…! Why can’t Hollywood try to bring back the famous classics to the movies to impress the next generation? Digitally enhanced chariot races in the new „Ben Hur“ version didn’t make this the better picture.
„West Side Story“ is a masterpiece in every aspect. Okay, Natalie Wood & Richard Beymer had been re-dubbed but the whole picture is stunning, touching and breathtaking. The Widescreen filming was epic! And it’s such an important and true reflection of the 50s!
I am sure, that Spielbergs version will be brillant. But do we really need a remake?
Are there no new ideas to be filmed?
I hope this will not be the era of new versions of „My Fair Lady“, „Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang“ or Lionel Bart’s „Oliver!!!“…!

[Burton Sundquist]

Thanks Larry for providing the first review! I had no idea about the the troubled leading man. The link provided explains it all. The film itself seems like a brilliant piece of film-making with great performances except one! This will be a hard pill to swallow but should not take anything away from the talent that has been realized in this new production. I can wait for the Bluray on this one where it will be available quite soon I think.

[Larry Arpin]

Here's a review and expresses the same as I felt about the actor playing Tony. When I posted this I didn't see all the hate tweets about Ansel Elgort and his abuse from a past relationship, keep this in mind when reading:

https://www.themarysue.com/steven-sp...K03fubdlnk4r6o

[Burton Sundquist]

That would be great Ken! I would look forward to a Cinematic review as I am not sure when I will get the opportunity to screen it.

[Ken Finch]

I have the original on DVD and hope to be seeing the new version at our local cinema next week so "watch this space" for my own personal comments. Ken Finch.

[Steve Klare]

OK! (-understood!)

-I seriously doubt they'd have the nerve to dub Maria and Tony again!

A review of the 1961 West Side Story described them "mouthing like fishes" during their duets.

Sometimes it's fun to read the reviews of classic movies done at their premier. Quite often you learn they've become beloved with time, but weren't always.

If my life was a movie, I'd have several people dubbed, in many cases bring in a writer too!

[Ali Hipperson]

Must have been great to see it in 70mm Larry - so who needs Digital HD? 😉

Steve - I saw a great documentary on the BBC a few years ago on Marni Nixon - she certainly was a well kept secret for a number of years, hope she got well paid for all of her work....but probably didn't ☹️

[Larry Arpin]

Yes I meant the NEW Maria. I saw West Side Story when it was first released probably only in 35mm as it was at a 2nd run theater. I saw it in 70mm much later in the 90's and about 6 or 7 years ago. The image is so clear it's like you're there on the streets of New York. I also saw the play during High School and the film switched 2 songs around.

[Burton Sundquist]

Excellent comments from all! Steve, I think Larry is referring to the voice of the NEW Maria. I share his opinion of the NEW Tony as well. I have never seen the film in the cinema, let alone 70mm. That would be something! The Super 8 Kempski scope feature is a stunning print though!

[Steve Klare]

If I had to pick out five movies never to be re-made, this one would be in that list. It's such a standard it's as if trying a remake is sacrilege! (-even if it really isn't)

-doesn't mean I won't go see it!

(Do you think Derann will re-form and make a new set of extracts?)

Larry, Maria's singing voice came from Marni Nixon. There's a story that on the day they were going to shoot "A Boy like That", Rita Moreno had a head cold and Marni Nixon sang for BOTH Rita Moreno and Natalie Wood. All by herself she was a duet!

[Ed Gordon]

IMDB's review of the 1961 version of West Side Story notes:

Crazy credits
There are no opening credits; a stylized, tinted aerial still of Manhattan is shown as the overture plays. The background changes color as the themes change throughout the overture. As the overture ends, the tinting is blue, the title appears, and the shot segues to aerial photography of Manhattan streets and landmarks.

Attached is a copy of the original note created to aid the 70mm projection staff in setting up, and how the presentation should begin.

Technical Information bulletin for West Side Story.pdf

The cheat sheet for the 2021 version will read, "Press the green 'start' button' and turn off the auditorium lights"