MovieChat Forums > West Side Story (2021) Discussion > Much better than the 1961 version!

Much better than the 1961 version!

posted 2 years ago by Otter (24464)
35 replies | jump to latest

I've always thought that it was possible to make a better movie of "West Side Story" than was done in 1961, and Spielberg has proven me correct.

The singing and acting are better, the principals are better cast, the cinematography is better (in 1961 the cinematographer seemed mainly interested in putting colored lights everywhere possible), the gritty look of mid-century New York is better, and it's just more involving and exciting. Even the sound mixing is better, finally I could hear all four parts of the massive "Tonight" ensemble clearly! The dancing I'll call equal, because either you get a cast that can do the choreography justice or you don't do the show at all.

And I'm serious about the singing being better, even though it's flawed, with pop inflections, and short of the full semi-operatic style of the stage show. Full-blown semi-operatic singing doesn't really work in film, the singers have to take enough off the top to sound like human beings, as Elgort and Zegler do here. They are a massive improvement on Natalie Wood, and whoever that lumpen white guy was in 1961.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

The dancing is not equal to the original. The original still has the new version beat.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Perhaps the original does have a slight edge re the dance, as the Riff was a better dancer, and they used the original Robbins choreography for the opening. My one real criticism of the new film is that they got new choreography for the opening scene, and well! The Robbins opening was one of the great pieces of 20th century choreography, of course no new person is going to top it!

But the Spielberg film is better in every other way, and is better overall. I've never liked the 1961 film that much, I mean I adore the show and have for decades, but the miscast and badly shot film isn't nearly as good as it could have been.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

Richard Beymer was the weakest thing about the original movie. I did find the opening dance scene not great when it comes to the dancing. The movie gets better after the opening scene. Dance at The Gym and Mambo are nowhere near as great in the remake. I really liked what the remake did with Cool, but again the original number is really one of my favorite dance scenes in the original movie. Not sure how you feel the 61 movie was badly shot. I really love the colors and the almost otherworldly sets. I still liked the remake more than I thought I would.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Oh, I've always disliked the "the colors and the almost otherworldly sets" of the 1961 movie! I mean if you're going to set a story in the kind of mean streets that drive people to pointless gang warfare, make them look like actual means streets, not like some kind of pastel fantasy version of New York!

But yeah, the new opening definitely lacked in terms of dance, but it did set up a context for the conflict that was missing in the original show/film/Shakespeare play, so I'll cut it a tiny bit of slack. So yes, I prefer the opening scene of the 1961 film, because it put the amazing Robbins choreography on the real mean streets of New York, but that's the ONLY thing about the 1961 film that I prefer and it's probably 5% of the total movie time. IMHO the 2021 movie has the edge in every other respect - the casting, the vivid but completely realistic use of color, the acting... and yes, the dance at the high school. Spielberg used the original choreography and presented it with camera work that put you right in the melee, filled the screen with color and barely repressed anger, the whole sequence leapt off my TV screen. Thumbs up, Spielberg, except for the opening!

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

I understand why some would not like the original colors and sets, but for me it played into the idea of the original movie being a fantasy and not realistic. I don't know why, but something about the original just gets to me like no other musical/movie has before. I've thought about it long and hard and I just can't put my finger on why I was so taken in by the look of that movie. I do like how the new movie updates that and it does work for the remake.

Two other things that I find problematic with the new version is that none of the gang members really stand out like they did in the original. They all kind of have the same look and I don't always know who is who(and watching the original so long, I really know which member is which for the most part). Also, I think the ending is weak in the new version. It doesn't pack the emotional wallop the original did. I definitely want to watch the new version a few more times so I can really put my finger on why certain things work and other things don't.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Lots of people seem to be rewatching the movie on streaming, maybe it's found an audience after all.

Now it's true that few of the gang members really stood out, and I think that was because they got fewer close-ups than in the original movie, but I don't think they needed to stand out. And look, if you love the 1961 film then great, but I've always found it disappointing. I love the score and have listened to the original cast album for decades, I love every version of the stage show I've ever seen, and I do NOT love the miscast 1961 movie with its mean streets lit in pink and lavender. That's too subjective an issue to argue about, so if the new movie works for me and the old one works for you, that's that.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

I didn't know I was arguing. Not trying to be offensive. I just enjoy discussing movies.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Discussing, not arguing!

And likewise, there are so many assholes on this forum it's nice to find someone who actually likes talking about movies. You've been great, sorry to give the wrong impression.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

No problem. I just didn't want to make you feel as if your opinion didn't have merit. I respect everything you said even if I didn't agree with it all. I will watch the movie again and see if I change any of my initial opinions I stated and didn't state. Enjoy the movies!

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

[Air kiss]

[–] luvthepros (562) 2 years ago

Did you not see Spielberg's film in the cinema? THAT was an experience I will never forget. The movie was a visual orgasm for me. Absolutely glorious in every way.......the lighting, the coloring, the set up of the shots that Spielberg is an absolute master at. That puddle shot in "Maria" is so gorgeous, I have no words to express the genius it takes to capture that on film.

I saw the film three times in the theater but wish I saw it more. I will purchase the Blu-ray when it becomes available but I know the experience of seeing it at home on my big screen TV will never be duplicated by the experience in the theater on the big screen with the professional sound system.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

No. Like many people my age, I wasn't going to a cinema during a fucking pandemic! My job had such a high risk of exposure that it wouldn't be ethical for me to be around crowds.

I'm sure the movie looks fantabulous on the big screen, but if I couldn't go I couldn't.

[–] luvthepros (562) 2 years ago

I'm hoping Spielberg's film will be re-released in theaters in a couple of years. That would give those folks who were reluctant to go to the theater the opportunity to see this gorgeous film in the cinema.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 5 months ago

So you’ll praise a remake that does not deserve to exist, you’ll call anyone a racist who disagrees with you, AND you’re buying into the fear-mongering over the fake virus and scamdemic.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 months ago

I saw the what the virus could do at first-hand, and I'd tell you about it if you were worth talking to.

But you aren't, so fuck of.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 5 months ago

It's a cold. Nothing more.

You are only at risk if you have an underlying illness, it tends to act as a final blow to people who are already very sick. Other than that, you have a 94% or better recovery rate.

Try and make me fuck off, you stupid uneducated fuck.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 months ago

Actually, StrongRex, I disagree with the notion that Covid-19 is just a cold. It's not. Sure, the risk is higher among people who already have compromised immune systems, or who are not in good physical or mental health, generally, but even younger, healthier people, including children and adolescents have become quite sick, and died from Covid-19. Moreover, even a milder case of Covid-19 can up one's risks of getting either a heart attack or a stroke by at least 20-30%, or suffering permanent neurological and/or pulmonary damage.

I'm well into my 70's, have gotten all my vaccines, and am glad of it, because it's saved me from hospitalization, being on a ventilator, being seriously ill, or dying from it. I'd rather have certain side affects from the vaccine(s), then to risk hospitalization, being on a ventilator, being permanently incapacitated, or dying from a horribly dangerous disease.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 4 months ago

It is just a cold, mplo. It is NOT "horribly dangrous" like you put it. It was not worth locking down people in their homes or shutting down businesses/society in general. I am not sure where you are getting those statistics, because covid doesn't pose a risk to children. Even the corrupt media has begrudgingly admitted that, but it didn't stop them from shutting down schools.

My heart goes out to you for falling for this narrative and taking the poison. How do you know you would have been worse off if you hadn't gotten vaccinated? "If I hadn't gotten the vaccine/numerous boosters covid would have been worse for me!" is a very popular talking point but there is NO way to prove it. I would be very careful what you wish for because those "side effects" you mention have the ability to risk hospitalization, permanently incapacitate you, and kill you. Deaths from the vaccine have been and still are being reported.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 months ago

I always enjoy conversing with you on here, StrongRax, but I think we can agree to disagree on this one. One of my nephews is an Emergency room physician at St. Luke's Hospital, down in New Bedford, MA, and it's the second largest hospital in that Bay State South Coastal City. Over 90% the people that he has seen become severely ill, need ventilators, and have died from Covid-19 itself were not vaccinated at all.

He did get Covid-19, but, since he was vaccinated, he got a considerably milder case of it, and recovered. Like other vaccines, there's no guarantee that one won't get Covid-19 itself, but the vaccine can and will keep a person out of the hospital, off of a ventilator, and from dying of Covid-19 itself.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I saw parts of the remake of West Side Story not that long ago on a TV program that emphasized the comparisons between the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and the 2021 film version of
WSS. I preferred the dancing in the old, original 1961 film version. The dancing in the 2021 film version of WSS, however, is too hyped up for my tastes.

[–] luvthepros (562) 2 years ago

I really like that we are able to discuss our differences of opinion about these two films. The dancing styles are completely different even though the choreographer of Spielberg's adaptation of the stage play is a trained ballet dancer and choreographer. Justin Peck chose a grittier style of choreography for these gang members rather than the balletic style of Jerome Robbins. I was ecstatic to see these gang members dance like guys rather than the "light" ballet style of Robbins. I was so pleasantly surprised and I really love the original 1961 film.........until I saw Spielberg's adaptation and realized how much better I preferred the new film.

It is a matter of personal taste which choreography one prefers. I much prefer Justin Peck's take on the choreography. I like that Spielberg did not sugar coat these characters and gave us realistic grittier characters. With that grit goes the choreography which must fit the characters and Justin Peck fit that bill.

The talent of the dancers is pretty much on par in both films. I know David Winter (1961 film) was famous and made a name for himself as a choreographer. Robert (Bobby) Banas also in the 1961 film, made a name for himself as a choreographer and is famous for "The Nitty Gritty". David Alvarez (Bernardo in Spielberg's film) earned a Tony award for playing Billy Elliot on Broadway. Ariana DuBose (2021 film) is by far, a better dancer than Rita Moreno. In an interview, Rita Moreno said she was not a Jazz dancer which is what was called for for her role in the 1961 film. Moreno said she was a Flaminco dancer and she had to be trained very hard to perform the dancing she did as Anita in the 1961 film. Moreno claimed that DuBose is a much better dancer than she ever was and that is so evident on the screen when you see Ariana DuBose in the role of Anita. Her dancing with Alvarez is stunning and their chemistry together jumps off the screen. They are magic together.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I don't know. From what I've seen of Spielberg's film version of West Side Story, it seems way too heavy, overdone, far too biombastic, and intense. A musical is supposed to also have some lightness to it, which Spielberg's film version of wEst Side Story doesn't seem to have. The dancing in Spielberg's film version of WSS seems way too hyped up, for my tastes, anyhow. At any rate, the new film version of West Side Story feels forced, unnatural, all wrong, and not at all like West Side Story.

[–] mplo (2305) 6 months ago

Good point, modica. I totally agree with you here! Thanks.

[–] MrMovie (845) 2 years ago

Shut the fuck up you dumb uneducated fuck

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Imagine there's a middle finger emoji right here...

[–] ak47wong (476) 5 months ago

Just type it 🖕

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Who are you talking to, MrMovie? Just curious. If you're talking to me, fuck you, too.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 5 months ago

Pretty sure Mr. Movie was talking to the OP. Because Otter really is a stupid, uneducated fuck.

[–] mplo (2305) 5 months ago

Thank you, StrongRex.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 2 years ago

Disagree. This one is fun, but I prefer the 1961 adaptation.

It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the stage play. Spielberg made some interesting changes, but I liked the changes made in the 1961 version more.

For example, both film versions change the circumstances/reasoning for the song "Cool". In the 1961 version, it was changed to be a motivation to keep it cool when the cops sweat them after the rumble. This change made sense (IMO) and was better than the way it was used in the play. In the 2021 version, it's co-opted to showcase the history of the gun used in the end of the movie. It's forced, odd, and just not as good.

They also oddly change some of the dialogue that, in the original (and the play), led up to the musical numbers. In some instances, it feels like the song just comes out of nowhere because the dialogue that led up to it is no longer there. I feel like the biggest offender on this front is "Something's Coming." The whole conversation between Riff and Tony is altered and completely ditches Tony telling Riff he feels like something big is coming. So the song just feels like it comes out of nowhere in this version.

One other advantage the original had was being filmed so close to the time the story is set. The city looks so artificial and staged in this version whereas it looked real in the original.

I still feel like it was a respectful adaptation. You can see the love Spielberg has for the material. That said, I still prefer the 1961 version overall.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Good points! The old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story is my all time favorite movie, hands down.

One thing I noticed is that the backdrop scenes in the 1961 film version of West Side Story look uncannily like the impoverished, rough and rundown parts of the city, whereas the backdrop scenes of the 2021 film version of West Side Story look much more like the tonier, wealthier parts of the city.

I liked the opening of the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story, which started with aerial viewpoints of the 1950's-1960's West Side of Manhattan, and the fact that it gradually zeroed in on the finger-snapping Jets.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 5 months ago

Respectul adaptation it was NOT.

[–] StrongRex (1290) 2 years ago

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[–] liscarkat (16592) 4 months ago

Nope. This one is already nearly forgotten, but the original is still a classic.

[–] mplo (2305) 3 months ago

Good point well taken, liscarkat! Thank you.