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More on Why I believe that a Re-Make of the the film West Side Story wouldn't not work out very well:

posted 6 years ago by mplo (2305)
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Because the 1961 film version of West Side Story is in such a special class by itself, it's hard for me to imagine anybody re-making it, and having it work out very well, despite the fact that it's still very relevant today, socially and otherwise....

Due to the fact that it is so special, West Side Story would have to be done by an extremely carefully chosen, top-notch cast, orchestra, scenery, and real pros regarding cinematography, as well as well-designed costumes, and the use of color.

Sure, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner are doing the planned re-make of the 1961 film version of West Side Story, but, there are some other things that I'd like to add:

A) Steve Spielberg has done a number of terrific films, but no matter who re-makes it, I couldn't see it working out at all, especially because it would be too contemporary regarding the scenery, the language, the photography, the place where it was set, and the music, which would undoubtedly be either a hip=hop or a rap version of the movie's musical score. In both the original Broadway stage play and the original 1961 stage version of West Side Story, the people who wrote the original script for both the original stage productions and the movie did not choose sides, despite the pointing out of the racism on the part of the Jets towards the Sharks.

C). In reality, there are no good guys or bad guys in the original 1961 film version, or the original Broadway stage version. The people who created both of the original versions of West Side Story pointed out that the feuds, the violence, the racial/ethnic hostilities and the hatred on both sides (i. e. the European-American Jets and the newly-arrived Puerto Rican Sharks alike), was leading nowhere for both sides, except for conflict with the law, constant feuding, and death by violence on both sides. The idea of choosing sides, which would invariably happen, due to the changing atmosphere and the changing demographics here in the United States, I believe, would help destroy all that's really great about the original West Side Story. Both Steve Spielberg and Tony Kushner may have also done some good work, but Tony Kushner has too parsimonious (an "I'm holier than thou") attitude for my liking, and Steve Spielberg's too eager to recreate this winner of 10 well-earned Academy Awards, including the Best Picture on the year that it came out, for his own agenda, like most movie moguls are.

As a devout fan of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, the thing that's also worrisome to me is the possibility that when the re-make of this classic movie-musical does come out, that it will result in either the complete throwing the original 1961 film version of West Side Story into the dustbin of history, to be available on only DVD, Blu-Ray, or occasional TV showings, and not shown at all, even in any revival movie theatres, or the possibility of the total suppression of the 1961 film version of West Side Story altogether, in order to presumably have a West Side Story that's more accessible to younger viewers.

That being said, the best way to introduce the film West Side Story to today's younger generations is through more frequent periodic re-releases of the original 1961 film version in selected movie theatres, nation-wide, the way they did this past June, for two nights. If it played a little more often in the revival movie theatres throughout the United States, that would be great.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] mplo (2305) 6 years ago

Your post is absolutely spot-on, MichiganJFrogg. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Steven Spielberg has never, ever done a musical before--not that I know of, anyway. The original 1961 film version of West Side Story is most definitely a classic movie-musical that is one of the few musicals that has been successful both on stage and on screen, due to the subject matter, the resources that they had at hand, and the creativity of the people who came up with West Side Story.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] mplo (2305) 6 years ago

Thank you again for a spot-on post, MichiganJFrogg. While there was a certain innocence and naivete in the 1950's, the 1960's, and even throughout the 1970's that is now lost, it is also true, and quite obvious, that stab wounds, too, can and do kill, but, at least with switchblade knives, one can't kill as many people as quickly as one can with guns, especially automatic assault rifles, which are so prevalent here in the United States now. That being said, while I agree with most of what you're saying, the use of switchblade knives wasn't exactly kid stuff, either.

I do agree, however, that a re-make of the 1961 film "West Side Story" would definitely have to be set in modern times, thereby rendering it into a very, very different movie. Guns, rather than fisticuffs or switchblade knives, would certainly be resorted to during the Rumble, the body count on both sides would go up quite rapidly, and the verbal insults exchanged on both sides would be much harsher and expressed in an even stronger fashion.

Given the fact that many, if not most police departments here in the United States have become much more militarized, the police in West Side Story would more than likely reflect that, and their treatment of both of the gangs, especially the Puerto Rican Sharks, would be even more overtly hostile and intense. Much "blue" language would be used, as well, not only by the gangs, but by the police, and other adults as well.

As for the romances between Tony and Maria, as well as Bernardo and Anita, the romances would be much more explicitly sexual, way steamier, and more graphic. It would not be fitting at all.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] mplo (2305) 6 years ago

Again, MichiganJFrogg, you are absolutely spot-on here. As somebody who saw the original movie "Music Man" when it first came out, but has never seen Matthew Broderick's re-make of this film, this is precisely what worries me about the planned Steve Spielberg-Tony Kushner re-make of the 1961 film version of West Side Story.

I worry that the same thing will happen with West Side Story regarding people who've only seen the re-make of it will think of it as having seen the movie, and thereby result in the destruction of or the suppression of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story.

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 5 years ago

In this day and age wouldn't it be considered non-PC to depict Tony & Maria's reason as wrong. You'd bring the rage of the PC Police down on the remake. There goes the remake.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Well, I'll say this: It wouldn't bother me one little bit to see the re-make of the film West Side Story just flop in the box office the minute it came out. Maybe that would help the original film.

[–] gcarras (2727) 5 years ago

AGREED!

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

The re-boot/remake of the 1961 film version of West Side Story is shaping up to be rather PC, as far as I'm concerned. People are getting uptight regarding the smallest, most petty things about the original 1961 film version of West Side Story. It's positively sickening, imho.