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Broadway vs. 1961 Movie - Why WSS Should Not Be Remade

posted 5 years ago by StrongRex (1287)
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I don't have much against remakes in general - I think for the most part, they are unnecessary and cheapen the experience of the movie that got it right the first time around. I believe if you insist on remaking a movie, remake a bad movie. A lot of bad movies had great ideas in them somewhere but they were executed poorly. But we all know Hollywood is more concerned about cashing in on the success of blockbuster movies than actually being creative and caring about telling a good story. But the one movie I had hoped they would never remake ever is my favorite movie of all time, West Side Story.

The main reason is that the stage show is just not that good! Even though it's the same story, the movie executes it FAR better. The movie is exactly what the play should have been, and I really wish stage directors had the option to make their productions more like the movie, while probably keeping some good ideas the show had like the Somewhere ballet. Even the music is better in the movie - I mean, having Tony sing so high he sounds like a pretty girl? His range AND his songs sound much better in the movie - he sounds very masculine while still being a tenor. It makes for a much more believable romantic lead, especially comparing his voice to Maria's very feminine soprano voice.

And just reading the play script...it is so full of awkward and rushed dialogue, character inconsistencies, and heavily misplaced songs/scenes. It's like they wrote their first rough draft and decided to make it their final product. Cool and Gee, Officer Krupke's placements in the show alone proves that the author's writing leaves a lot to be desired. Arthur Laurents, I am looking at you.

Yes, I have heard the argument that Gee, Officer Krupke is supposed to be an angry song. Yes, I have heard the argument that Cool was meant to show Riff as a powerful leader. But those arguments still don't work, and I'll tell you why.

The Jets may have been angry when singing Officer Krupke, but they were still laughing and having fun, and it's a very funny song regardless. After Riff's death, we are not supposed to laugh. The enjoyable moments were supposed to be before the rumble, and now that it's happened and lives have been lost now it is time to get serious. The movie did a wonderful job of making this clear but the play did not. There were no tension or emotional stakes. It didn't seem to me that the Jets were really that concerned about what just happened. They didn't seem to be reacting as urgently as they should have been. Unlike in the movie, where they were scared out of their minds and wanting to kill the Sharks, they weren't worried at all about what was going to happen to them. Singing Officer Krupke had nothing to do with making sure they got revenge on the Sharks, and then when Anybodys shows up that's when they decide to take their situation seriously. That seemed really forced and out of place. Time to get serious about the plot now!

Which brings me to my next point; of all the Jets they could have chosen to take Riff's place as leader, they chose Action. And they don't give any early hints or indications for any character development on Action's part, Oh No!! He goes out of character and immediately becomes the cool-headed, authoritative type for no reason. Throughout the entire story, he is consistently portrayed as hot-headed, always ready to fight, always yelling and using his fists, and he would NEVER make the good decisions the writers forced him to make. This is what I mean by character inconsistencies. Action didn't become the way he did in the second act because he had the character development for it, he did the things Ice ended up doing because the plot needed him to.

Here is where the movie got this right: They put Gee, Officer Krupke in Act I before the war council, and they put Cool after the rumble which made MUCH better sense. AND, they kept Action in character and chose a better, more realistic candidate to replace Riff: Ice. This character should have been in the play!

Another song in a different scene I take issue with is I Feel Pretty taking place after the rumble and before Maria finds out that Tony killed her brother Bernardo. The tone is still very inappropriate when it's surrounded by violent, tragic events back-to-back. In the back of our minds we know that Maria's happiness is going to be horribly shattered when she hears what Tony did, and it's just more torture on the audience. At least in the movie, when the song took place in the bridal shop, you still had hope that everything was going to work out well for our two lovers. Seeing her perform it after the rumble is just more torture. There's not supposed to be "more fun to be had" in Act 2. After the rumble, it's serious business.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

Apparently this site has a tighter character limit than IMDb had, which left me less room to talk about America.

America...OMG...what were Laurents, Bernstein, and Sondheim THINKING?!?! In the movie it's one of the BEST songs, but it's quite the opposite in the stage show. Yes, I'm going as far as to say America is the worst song in the stage show. Why? Because it's so boring and one-sided! I mean, the dialogue working up to that scene onstage is about the same as the movie, and then Bernardo and his Sharks just LEAVE, and it's the Shark girls alone onstage. The writers cheated us out of a really juicy scene with these boys and girls! Once again, the way it is written and performed in the movie is what America SHOULD have been onstage. It's a fun, exciting song and dance number that gave some women the chance to perform AND engage with the Shark boys who otherwise don't do much in the stage show except dance, look intimidating, and fight with the Jets. Bernardo also suffered the short end of the stick on character development too - he was given a much better chance to shine in the movie.

I mean, all the Shark girls are in love with America except Rosalia, and she's the only one they're pitted against?? Really? We're supposed to find a dozen girls mocking one homesick girl entertaining? Seriously? This scene might have worked if there were at least several more girls on Rosalia's side and the girls who were on the side of America didn't have such an unfair advantage. This conflict goes nowhere else in the plot and it's just as well because we don't care as much about the Shark girls as we do the gang - it's their story, so why were they not originally written in this musical number? Movie America expands on why they hate the country they immigrated to, does an amazing job of showing and not telling, and onstage that’s non-existent. Plus, the lyrics, like the dialogue, were awkward, rushed, choppy, and pathetic. Not to mention that the Jets already dominate the story more than the Sharks even in the movie, and the way this scene is written in the stage show gives the Shark boys even less to do!

The lyrics in the movie's version of America were wittier and much more clever. It also makes much more sense because we know the Shark boys hate America in the stage show too. It doesn't force the situation by forcing Bernardo to leave before the song. It further develops the scene by having him stay, and actually letting him have a singing part. The show tells you that Bernardo is a lead role, and yet he doesn't sing once by himself. Not only that, but Bernardo is a much more one-dimensional character in the stage show - he doesn't even have the tenderness and love towards his sister, at least not at the same level. The part where they tease each other in the bridal shop and hug before the dance? Gone. In fact, he acts more possessive of Maria in the stage show rather than over-protective. The scene where he takes the time with her in her room to explain where he's coming from in a way he believes she will understand? Non-existent!

He didn't have that many lines at the beginning of the movie, but in the stage show's beginning he has even less lines, and none of them define his character. He doesn't mock Krupke by saying nothing is impossible in America, and he doesn't get to say his best line of all in that scene to Schrank (Would you mind translating that into Spanish?). Schrank just tells him and his gang to leave after one of his tirades against the Jets and calls them trash, making Schrank even more of a racist douche, this time more unprovoked because Bernardo doesn't act like a smart aleck to him. The character defining moments for Bernardo are even less throughout the whole stage show. The only line he was given in the stage show that outshines its parallel in the movie and really defines his character is what he says to Riff about shaking hands before the rumble. In the movie he just turns him down in a direct, no-nonsense way but in the stage show, he comes down HARD and just blows the whole issue out of the water. He should have had more moments like that.

Another reason I wish directors could have more freedom about what they could change in the show is because you may have one or two movies based on a stage play, but that play will be performed hundreds, thousands, millions of times over with many different casts and people will be seeing that far more often. That fact does shows like West Side Story a huge disservice - the movie makes much more sense in terms of story, three of the songs are much better placed in the show, and one of the songs was given a complete 180 in the right direction - the movie PERFECTED that song! (Among everything else.)

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

And that's why WSS shouldn't be remade. All the things the 1961 movie got right the remake is likely to mess it all up by making it like the inferior stage show. I don't care that Steven Spielberg is in charge. Even though he's known for making some real masterpieces, he's made some pretty bad movies too. I have no reason to believe that they won't go by the stage show this time - the one thing I might look forward to seeing is how they might do the Somewhere ballet onscreen.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Oh, boy, StrongRex! You've got it down pat! I couldn't have said it any better myself. To be truthful, I've always been against re-makes and reboots of older classic films, generally, because they generally come out dreadful, and they don't have the charm, personality, or believability of the original film(s). I have a feeling that this is going to be especially true of a film like West Side Story, which, imho, is far too iconic, too special, and way too much in a class by itself to justify a re-make by anybody, including Spielberg.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

Thank you, mplo! What are your feelings on the stage show?

In general, and how it measures up to the movie.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

You're welcome, StrongRex! Come to think of it, I've got a strong preference for the original 1961 film version of West Side Story that I've got for the stage versions. The fact that only the Shark girls sang America, and that the "Cool" scene was right before the pre-Rumble War Council between the Jets and Sharks, rather than afterwards, seems sort of out of place, as does the "Officer Krupke" scene coming after the Rumble, and after the deaths. The fact that the orders of those two numbers were changed in the movie version made the movie more story-like.

I think that the stage version had a lot of stuff missing.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

It really does, mplo. It's such a shame. While you can watch the movie in your own living room, thousands more people will be seeing it onstage for decades. And the fact that they took things out of the revival that added to the depth, beauty, and emotional impact of the story while not changing the major problems I listed pisses me off. (I also thought having Baby John jumped at the beginning rather than A-Rab was a much better idea.)

I'm still determined to play Tony onstage one day - despite how the stage show is written, Tony is still my number one dream role. I might be able to convince my director to change his musical range to where it sounds more like movie Tony - I'm not a tenor, I'm a bass but I can with confidence sing Tony's songs with the range he has in the movie - but I know we'd be taking a huge risk changing the script to where it's more like the movie. I remember someone on IMDb told me that the guardians to Laurents' and Bernstein's estates are real fanatics, and will randomly check in whenever one of their shows is being done. And if they see something not go according to the script as it's written, they'll cause all sorts of legal trouble.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Thanks again for your input, StrongRex. I prefer seeing great oldler classic films, especially something such as West Side Story, on a great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre, with the lights down low, and sharing the whole experience with a bunch of other people, whether one knows them or not.

Btw, who knows? Hopefully, you will get to play Tony on stage someday! Keep everybody here posted if and when you do!

Another thing that worries me about the upcoming reboot of West Side Story is the possibility that the original 1961 film version of WSS will either disappear into the dustbin(s) of history, or only be available for purchasing on DVD, Blu-Ray and/or video, or to watch on TV when it comes. Contrary to what many people say, think, or believe, seeing a great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical such as West Side Story on TV, video, DVD, or Blu-Ray, does not produce nearly the same kind of experience as viewing it on a great big, wide movie theatre screen, in a real movie theatre with the lights down low, as it's really and truly meant to be viewed.

I have to admit that I'd really, really hate to see that happen.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

Like you mplo, I hope this remake flops at the box office. But I'm not getting my hopes up because movies that I was sure were going to flop ended up selling out, even though they sucked horribly.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

I, too, hope that the upcoming remake/reboot of the 1961 film version of West Side Story flops in the box office. Who knows? Some people are claiming that it might help the original, by spiking more people's curiosity about the original and be motivated to go see the original. Anything's possible, I suppose. The remakes of Planet of the Apes, King Kong, and Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho all came out dreadful. They lasted in the theatres for less than a month.

I was banned on a Home Theatre Forum for expressing my opinion of a remake of the film West Side Story, because the moderators, as well s other regular posters on that forum thought that my opinions were too dangerous, and too narrow-minded. I'm happy to be accepted on here, however.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

Is there really such a thing as a "dangerous opinion"? And if yours was "too narrow-minded", so what? It's your opinion, you're entitled to it, and I know you respect others for having theirs too. It sounds like that forum was more interested in having people excited for the movie than against it - though IMO, they should have both sorts of people there to make for interesting discussions!

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Well, StrongRex; I think you're right about that Home theatre forum just interested in having people around who are excited and optimistic about the upcoming reboot of the film West Side Story. Thank you for your support, and your acceptance of what I have to say. The Home Theatre forum people are clearly not people who like having people with different opinions on their forum, so it's best to let it go

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

One of the characters is named Diesel in the cast list. This holds more water to my suspicion that they are planning to make this more like the stage version than the 1961 movie, since Diesel was replaced by Ice in the 1961 movie. Even though Ice was BY FAR the better character.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

My hunch is that your suspicions may well be correct, StrongRex. Diesel was replaced by Ice in the 1961 film version, and Ice was the better character, because, after Riff's death during the Rumble, he took over the Jet gang leadership and strongly advised the Jets, who were determined to wreak revenge upon the Sharks, to keep cool. Ice was the coolest of the Jets, and he even kept Action in check several times when he started to get out of hand, as well.

Rita Moreno mentioned that the plan for the reboot of the film version of West Side Story was to bypass and ignore the original 1961 film version entirely and make the new version of West Side Story more related to the Broadway stage show.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

So she's drinking the kool-aid too. Sad.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

It is kind of sad. Moreover, the role that Rita Moreno will be playing in Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the 1961 film version of West Side Story is a whole different version of Doc, the Candy Store owner--his supposed widow.

Given Rita Moreno's looks and overall personality, that is a role that seems totally inappropriate--and wrong for her.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

So instead of shampoo she's been brainwashed. :P

So why do you think this role is wrong for her? Do you believe Doc wouldn't have married a Hispanic woman? Do you know if they changed the time period in this movie?

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Rita Moreno played the role of Anita in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, a role that was perfect for her, because it seemed like she really gave that role all she got and really played her own person in her role of Anita, if one gets the drift.

I don't know whether or not Doc would've married a Hispanic woman, but I do think that the owner of a store, whether they be a male or female, isn't as active as some other main characters.

Imo, Rita Moreno does better in roles that really reveal her personality, and I think that her role as Anita in the 1961 film version of West Side Story is definitely one of them.

I also think that the 1961 film version of West Side Story was a bit more 1960s-ish than the original Broadway stage version.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

I know what you mean. I watched her in Singin' in the Rain and The King And I, and she didn't stand out to me as much in those roles.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 years ago

Thanks again for your input, and your support, StrongRex. Even though I never saw either "Singin' in the Rain" or "The King and I", you've made a very good point.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

OMG, you haven't seen Singin' in the Rain either? Definitely put THAT on your to-do list!

King and I is a classic, but it's kinda "meh" for me.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 5 years ago

So I came across this tidbit in the West Side Story trivia on IMDb:

"Robert Wise wanted the film to have a single rising line of tension, with no light moments after the rumble. Therefore, "I Feel Pretty" was moved earlier, and the positions of "Cool" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" were reversed. Those who feel that the sassy, lighthearted tone of "Gee, Officer Krupke" is out of place following the deaths that end the first act prefer the film's ordering of the numbers. The placement of "I Feel Pretty" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" after the rumble in the stage version was meant to help cheer people up after the deaths of Bernardo and Riff, as audiences were not used to death occurring in Broadway musicals. This issue is still heatedly debated among the film's fans. Stephen Sondheim himself had voiced concerns about the issue in the original production, and later confessed he felt partly responsible for the ongoing debate."

Um, tragic deaths in stage shows of any kind have been going on for thousands of years. They go all the way back to ancient Greece. Plays, operas, ballets, you name it had them! Shakespeare alone was notorious for having multiple characters die off throughout his tragedies (and hello, this musical is an adaptation of a famous Shakespeare play!). So I don't buy it for a second that audiences "weren't used" to deaths on Broadway - it's happened before I'm sure (Jud from Oklahoma comes to mind), and they've seen deaths in stage productions other than Broadway and in movies. And even if that was true, I care more about the story and characters making sense than the audience's fragile feelings. And Sondheim, give me a break. It's not my problem if you're not assertive enough to stand by your concerns.

All I can say is this - Robert Wise, you made the right call.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

"My hunch is that your suspicions may well be correct, StrongRex. Diesel was replaced by Ice in the 1961 film version, and Ice was the better character, because, after Riff's death during the Rumble, he took over the Jet gang leadership and strongly advised the Jets, who were determined to wreak revenge upon the Sharks, to keep cool. Ice was the coolest of the Jets, and he even kept Action in check several times when he started to get out of hand, as well."

Yeah. And what did Diesel do in the stage show?

NOTHING.

He had very few lines (most of which ended up going to Ice in the movie) and he was only there for Riff to choose him to fight Bernardo, and he didn't even do that. Otherwise, he was just another one of the Jets.

Ice was chosen to fight Bernardo in the movie, and even though that fight didn't happen either Ice ended up doing something even more important: he steps up to the plate and takes leadership of the Jets at the moment they desperately need it. We may not know what happens to Jets or the Sharks when the movie ends, but we do know that Ice has their best interests at heart, as a gang, and he will be an effective leader.

That's why whenever West Side Story is revised for a revival, I'm internally begging them to put Ice in the show. He desperately needs to be there.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

Hi, StrongRex. Thank you so much for your response to my post, and your input You are 100% correct in your analogy and opinion of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story and the original Broadway stage version of West Side Story. You're 100% correct about Ice having the Jets' best interest(s) at heart, and he proved that by admonishing the Jets to keep their cool, and not to continue to wreak revenge upon the Sharks like they wanted to do. Come to think of it, Ice and A-Rab will not be in Spielberg's remake of the film West Side Story, either.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

What?!?

I knew Ice wasn't going to be in the remake - surprise, surprise - but A-RAB??? He is like, one of the central characters, one of the most featured Jets! In both the movie AND the stage show! How can you NOT have him?

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

I did see a list of the names of the Jets and the Sharks in Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film West Side Story, on a picture of the Sharks and Jets, and neither Ice nor A-Rab were among them.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

I wonder if it's because the name "A-Rab" is now considered offensive.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

Eh. Who knows why both Ice and A-Rab were omitted from Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story? It beats me.

The more I hear and learn about the upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, the more my resolve to vote my pocketbook and boycott Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of this great, golden oldie but keeper of a classic movie musical that won ten well deserved Academy Awards, including Best Picture when it came out in October 1961 is strengthened.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

I just saw Ice's name in the cast list. I found it while searching for Glad Hand.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

Btw, StrongRex, I tend to agree with you wholeheartedly about the original Broadway stage production of West Side Story. I like the fact that the order of the "Officer Krupke" and the "Cool" scenes were changed for the movie version of West Side Story, as well, and the fact that in the "America" scene, the Sharks themselves were added in the original film version, and that it wasn't just their girls who were singing it. The fact that Rosalia was treated more as an equal by her friends in the film version of West Side Story, rather than made fun of and bullied, as she was in the stage version, is great, too.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

Thanks mplo.

And yes...you brought up a very important point for "America." In the movie, the song was FUN as well as funny. It was DYNAMIC. It was DEBATE. It was BANTER. It further developed, established, and strengthened the relationship between Anita and Bernardo as well as the Sharks and their girls. Both sides of the debate were so well presented you could find yourself sympathizing or even agreeing with both sides - it was done in that efficient of a manner. It's not really surprising to hear fans say America is their favorite musical number from West Side Story or even people who don't care for West Side Story say this may be the one song they like.

But in the stage show, it's different. Not only are the lyrics stupid and fall flat, it's just not as fun to watch. It's not funny or entertaining to see multiple girls debate America vs. Puerto Rico against one girl and have the upper hand the entire time. And yes, Rosalia is being mocked and made to feel stupid for being homesick, which is bullying. And the script expects the audience to find it funny and side with Anita and the rest of the Shark girls (which for me, is NOT going to happen), because in the stage directions, when Rosalia is first introduced, they go out of their way to say she is "not very bright." But we don't see Rosalia enough in the show to get a good understanding of that aspect in her character and the only example we see is her line "Etcetera is a very pretty name," which is pretty weak. Her part in "America" is NOT an example of her "stupidity."

In the movie, yes - the Shark girls were treated like equals by each other AND they come across much more like regular people. Not so much in the stage show.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

Hi, StrongRex! You're welcome! Thanks again for a bunch of really, really good points that are well taken about the "America" scene/song in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, as opposed to the original stage version. Rita Moreno, herself, said that adding the Shark girls to the "America" scene really brought that particular scene to the Heavens.

Your defense of Modica's posts were really, really great, also.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

Thanks.

"Rita Moreno, herself, said that adding the Shark girls to the "America" scene really brought that particular scene to the Heavens."

You mean adding the Shark BOYS, right? Because the Shark girls were already in "America."

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

You're welcome StrongRex! Thanks for the correction. I did mean adding the Sharks' boys to the "America" scene in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

Addressing your words here:

"Rita Moreno mentioned that the plan for the reboot of the film version of West Side Story was to bypass and ignore the original 1961 film version entirely and make the new version of West Side Story more related to the Broadway stage show."

There's only one problem with that, Moreno. One reason not to remake a movie is if the original movie is so recognized and ingrained in our minds as the definitive version, that we can't separate any remake from it. And I believe West Side Story is definitely one of those movies where you can't. You'd have a slightly - SLIGHTLY - better shot by giving West Side Story a sequel, I think.

If the original was so unique and one-of-a-kind that no one could separate it, that's a big reason not to remake it. Some movies leave such an impact that it makes it harder to do a version that can survive on its own without constantly coming back to the original. If you don't have something super good or incredibly unique in mind when remaking an icon, you're not going to be the definitive version. You're just not.

When the 2020 remake of WSS comes out, there's no point in trying to convince people to "ignore" the 1961 film. That's how special and unique the movie is. You'd have better luck trying to ignore the original Mona Lisa while looking at a badly made repainting of one. Or not wishing you were watching The Lion King instead of Chicken Little in that scene where it reminds you that you're not watching that much better movie.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

Hi, StrongRex!

Thank you for your excellent points regarding the reasons why the original 1961 film version of West Side Story should never, ever be re-made, and why Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of this great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical will never, ever top the original, regardless of what anybody says or thinks. Moreover, StrongRex, you're absolutely spot-on about the fact that when Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film West Side Story comes out at around Christmastime of this year, there's absolutely no way that the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story can or will be ignored, either.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 4 years ago

Thanks mplo.

I honestly don't think you have much to worry about. The definitive version of West Side story to me will always be the 1961 movie no matter what, and hopefully that will stay true in our culture and at least most everyone else. It is my hope and gut feeling that this "remake" won't make a blip on the radar and most likely won't have much, if any, impact. The fact that Steven Spielberg is involved with this project does carry weight, and so is a bit of a concern. Not to mention that they've most likely made more PC changes, they've gender-swapped Doc and made a totally different character in his place, and it's more than likely they're going to overlook the improved changes for the 1961 and keep "Cool," "Gee, Officer Krupke," and "I Feel Pretty," in their original spots. I highly doubt this will be a big hit and replace the 1961 movie in our culture's minds as the definitive version of West Side Story.

If it does happen though, I'll be thoroughly enraged on a number of levels. For me, it would be like High School Musical happening all over again, but worse because this is being done to my favorite movie.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 years ago

You're welcome, StrongRex. Thanks very much for your response to my post. I did see a number of the pics from Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, and I not only did not like what I saw, but Rita Moreno, who's playing the role of Valentina the Candy Store owner in the new film of West Side Story looks positively awful in it! I'm sorry to be so blunt, but that's how I feel, especially because she's an attractive woman.

I have a hunch that Steven Spielberg's getting way above himself on this one, because he's done a number of really good films. I, too, hope that Spielberg's film version of West Side Story doesn't replace the original 1961 film version in our culture and society, and that people don't start thinking that Spielberg's version of WSS is the cat's meow, if one gets the drift. I, too, will be quite sore about it. It sounds like it's going to be another high school musical or another American Idol. I don't like the idea of my all time favorite movie (i. e. the original 1961 film version of West Side Story) being ruined in the name of remakes/and total kowtowing to today's modern society. Some films are better not re-made. I am an ultra-conservative when it comes to remakes of good older classic films, especially something like the 1961 film version of West Side Story, which is my all time favorite movie, hands down. As I pointed out, I will vote my pocketbook and boycott Spielberg's West Side Story when it comes to the movie theatres at around Christmastime of this year.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

So I have not seen this movie yet, but I heard that the songs “Cool” and “Gee, Officer Krupke” both take place before the rumble. And Tony is the one who sings “Cool” to Riff. Which…okay?

“America” does still have both Shark girls and boys singing it, which is good, but “I Feel Pretty” still takes place after the rumble. It doesn’t work, and I’ve already gone into why so many times.

This movie bombed, as it should have. No one should have touched this movie to remake it, especially in today’s messed up culture. I know I will have to see this at some point to review it on YouTube.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, StrongRex! Good to see you posting here again. Thank you for your great response to my post. I've read/heard the same things that you have, about the orders of the "Cool" and the "I Feel Pretty" scenes/songs being re-changed from the original 1961 film version of West Side Story. The "I Feel Pretty" scene/song is best sung prior to the Rumble, and the "Cool" scene/song is best done after the rumble, as opposed to before. That's one reason that I won't see the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, among a number of other reasons that would take too long to post here.

Last night, just out of curiosity, I listened to some of the sound track of the new 'West Side Story film version, and did not like what I heard. Rachel Zegler often goes flat on the high notes, and her voice is too far back, and kind of sour in some areas, and she seems to not have any control over it. Ansel Elgort, from what I understand, isn't so great, either.

Having said all of the above, for me there's only one West Side Story: The old, original 1961 film version. I have not seen the new West Side Story film version, and I plan on voting my pocketbook and refusing to do so. It's not doing that great at the box office, either, from what I understand.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

Mplo, I made a different reply to my post for you to reply to because this thread has Gone on for so long that it’s squeezing in condensing against the side of the screen and making it very hard to read on my phone.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

Yes mplo, the more things I hear about this movie, the more resolve I have that it should never have been remade. And there are some things about it that, as someone trying to make his book series a public culture icon, that I have to hold off on saying for a while. But let me just say that it should especially have never been remade in the year 2021, if you get my drift.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, StrongRex. It's good to see you posting here again. It's agreed--The film version of West Side Story should NOT have been remade. What I've decided to do is to just simply vote my pocketbook and not go to see it at all. I listened to the entire soundtrack of the 2021 film version of West Side Story, and it sounded very metallic to me, and went flat in a lot of places. I also think that both Rachel Ziegler's and Ansel Elgort's singing voices are far overrated, as well. Rachel Ziegler's singing voice is way too nasal in many places, and Ansel Elgort's singing voice does not have a lot of expression in it, plus he's even blander and less interesting looking than Richard Beymer.

As I've pointed out on a number of occasions here on moviechat.org and elsewhere, I have always had a gut reaction against remakes/reboots of great older classic films, especially something such as West Side Story. The fact that the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story is not doing so well in the box office, generally, says something right there, and I don't think it has anything to do with the pandemic, either. The audience that the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story is/was meant to appeal to ( i. e. middle school and high school students, as well as older people), has not shown an interest in seeing it. The fact that the new Spiderman movie has made so much more money in the box office (i. e. in the billions) indicates where many people's interests lie, if one gets the drift.

I'm so glad that I and my friends got to see the 60th Anniversary screening of the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story on a great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre, with the lights down low, and to share the whole experience with people I both knew and didn't know. The print was absolutely stellar--no scratches on it anywhere, and the soundtrack was absolutely pristine, to boot..

I agree with you about the order of "Cool" and "I Feel Pretty" in the new version. Not a good idea.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

I think we are both going to get our wish, mplo. This movie bombed and people seem to be moving on and forgetting about this movie. The real West Side Story movie will still maintain its classic status.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, STrongRex. How're you doing today? I'm doing well--hope you are, too. Here's hoping that you're right about both of us getting our wish and even having the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story regain at least some of its popularity, as well as maintaining its classic status.

I've looked on some moths theatre websites, just out of curiosity, to see how the new film version of West Side Story is doing in the box office. I'm not sure about other parts of the United States, but the new film version of West Side Story does not seem to be doing well here in the Boston area. In fact, it even stopped playing at some theatres here in the Boston, MA area, as well.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

Glad to hear things are good for you, mplo. Things have been extremely stressful for me these past few weeks but they’ve improved and I’m still working on getting where I want to be.

Woke Side Story is not playing in my area anymore either, and hasn’t for at least over a month. I’m kind of kicking myself for not making my YouTube video regarding the points I made in this topic and posted it in the weeks/months leading up to this movie’s release. I just kept putting it off thinking I had plenty of time, that tends to be my problem with a lot of things.

I could still do it, but I’m not sure people would care this much by this point, though I could also make another video pointing out the various issues I have with this new version. Because trust me, there are a ton. I don’t have to see this movie to know what’s in it, and I do have disdain for the view that it should be nominated for an Oscar.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi again, StrongRex.

Thank you for responding to my post. The new film of West Side Story is playing in a number of movie theatres in my general area, but not in Boston proper, anymore. It's mostly playing in places that are somewhat farther out of the city. So, I've got other reasons to not go and see it.

I agree with you about not seeing the entire movie. I did see parts of the new West Side Story film version on a TV program not that long ago that emphasized the comparisons between the new film version of West Side Story and the old, original film version of WSS.
I'd also seen at least three trailers, including the official trailer of the new WSS film version, as well as afew photographs, was not impressed by what I saw, and decided that I did not have to see the whole new West Side Story film version to make a decision not to see the new WSS film version at all.

It would be interesting to see a video of yours on the issues that you have with the new film version of West Side Story. My curiosity has been aroused. Thank you for your response to my post.

.

[–] StrongRex (1287) 2 years ago

I remember when I saw an onstage production of West Side Story at an outdoor community theatre, instead of doing the Somewhere ballet they had Tony and Maria sing it just like in the movie, then Doc sang the last part of it. I remember even then, our high school director at the time was complaining about how that didn’t make sense. And now Woke Side Story does that with Valentina?

I’m actually surprised that Steven Spielberg didn’t take the opportunity to do the Somewhere ballet this time, since they didn’t do it in the original classic movie. I used to look at Somewhere as I could take either the duet or the ballet, but I think I prefer the duet just because it is solely about the relationship between Tony and Maria.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

StrongRex--you've made some very good points here. Keep up the great work! I enjoy reading your posts.