MovieChat Forums > West Side Story (2021) Discussion > Can't help but compare to 1961 version

Can't help but compare to 1961 version

posted 2 years ago by KBiker (777)
33 replies | jump to latest

I was blown away by the 1961 version, the great songs, the great performances, and especially the ensemble dance numbers (America, Cool, Dance at the Gym being the standouts).

Watching the 2021 version (streaming on HBOMax now), I couldn't help comparing it to 1961, and to me it fell flat. The dancing wasn't as good, and it just seemed dull, with a few exceptions.

- Ansel Elgort was a better Tony than the wooden Richard Beymer.
- Rachel Zegler was a better Maria than Natalie Wood. For me, Rachel was the standout performer, and, unlike Beymer and Wood, she and Ansel did their own singing.

As for the rest of the cast, I'll take the original, with Rita Moreno and George Chakiris stealing the show as Maria and Bernardo (both won Oscars). Mike Faist as Riff lacked the charisma and athleticism of Russ Tamblyn's version. As for the rest of the Jets, especially Action, Ice, and A-Rab, they all shone in the original. In the remake, I couldn't even find them.

I could say a lot more, but I think that's enough, except to say I think this remake was unnecessary, and I wish it hadn't been made. Of course, this is just my opinion.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

I agree with you on Elgort and Zeigler. Elgort had an edge to him, while I never believed Beymer to be a tough street kid. The dancing in the original still was better than this new version. Not that I didn't enjoy the dancing here, but it just wasn't as electric as the original movie.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, modica. While I beg to differ with you regarding Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, I agree with you on everything else you've said regarding the fact that the old, original 1961 film version being much more electric, more colorful and having more charm than the 2021 film version of WSS. Without having seen the 2021 film version of WSS in its entirety, I've seen enough of the new West Side Story to form my opinions, and my intentions to take a hard pass on the new film version.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

Yeah I was not going to watch it, but it came on HBO Max and I couldn't resist seeing it. It's not that bad, but it doesn't come close to the original. Elgort is better than Beymer, but Wood is better than Zeigler(she's not that bad). The ending of the remake is not that emotional as the original. The ending fell flat with me. I was surprised that Tony sang the song Cool and that it came before the rumble. Again, the Cool segment isn't as good, because the dancing isn't as good. The fighting over the gun in Cool was interesting though. Things were expanded on in the remake and we learn some things about certain characters that weren't touched on in the original movie. Still, the original is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi there, modica! Thank you for your response to my message. I don't have HBO Max, so it looks like I won't see the whole reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story at all, but from what I did see of it, the new West Side Story seems too heavy, overdone, unnatural, and forced. The reboot remake of the film version of WSS feels all wrong to me, and not at all like West Side Story.

Just out of curiosity, I listened to the soundtrack of the new West Side Story film version on youtube. It was rather metallic-sounding and too bombastic, plus it west flat in many places.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

Yes, the singing isn't as good and the dancing is nowhere as great, but it is better than I thought it would be. There are some good moments if I am being honest. The original is still one of the greatest movies ever made. That hasn't changed.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, modica.

Your last two sentences cut right to the quick, and the point. Reboots/remakes simply don't have the charm, charisma and/or personality of the original films, and the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story is no exception.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

No, I get it, but for a remake, this one isn't bad. It's actually one of the better ones. I can't believe I am saying that, because I was so against a remake of West Side Story. I am just being honest.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi again, modica. Thank you for replying to my post, and for your honesty. I'm still resistant to the remake of the film version of West Side Story, and I've seen parts of it on TV, but i'm admittedly not enthusiastic about the 2021 film version of West Side Story to see it in its entirety.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

No I get what you are saying. I love the original. One of the best movies ever. But, this remake is pretty darn good. Nowhere near the original, but there are a few things in it that the remake does better. It expands on a few things that I appreciated.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Thanks, modica. I get what you're saying also.

From what I've seen of it, and from your description of the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, it sounds like the kind of movie that's better off being streamed on television than something that played in the movie theatres.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

I saw it on HBO Max. It was fine there. Probably wouldn't be any better in the theater.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Thank you again for your reply. You've made a good point. It really does seem like the kind of film that's best aired on television, rather than in the movie theatres.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi, KBiker

I saw three trailers of and parts of the reboot/remake of the film West Side Story, and, with the exception of Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood, I totally agree with you about the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, which I prefer over the 2021 film version of WSS. I beg to differ with you about Richard Beymer, however.

I believe that Richard Beymer was a far more believable ex-gang member than Ansel Elgort, in terms of looks, charisma and personality. Natalie Wood was also okay as Maria. Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood may have seemed to not have any chemistry as Tony and Maria at first, but their chemistry developed gradually, as the 1961 film version of West Side Story went along.

Spielberg's film version of West Side Story seemed way overdone and too bombastic, and the dancing in it was too hyped up. The backdrop scenes in the new "West Side Story" looked far more like the tonier, wealthier parts of the city, rather than the impoverished, rough-and-rundown parts of the city, the colors seemed rather dull for the most part.

The Jets and Sharks in the 2021 film version of West Side Story looked too much like the Newsy boys, and their girls looked far more like a bunch of wealthy suburban pre-school girls who were dressed to the nines for partying around town than a bunch of gangsters' girlfriends, and the same thing can be said about Rachel Zegler's Maria, as well. Moreover, Rachel Zegler's voice was not project forwardly enough (too nasal), and Ansel's singing voice was nothing to write home about, either.

I do agree with you about Ice, Riff, A-Rab and Action, but I also think that the other Jets, including Baby John, and Lt. Schrank and Officer Krupke looked and acted much rougher and tougher in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story as well. Simon Oakland and Bill Bramley were excellent as the two cops.

[–] KBiker (777) 2 years ago

We agree on some points and disagree on others: that's the essence of good movie discussions. Nice to see that.

A few comments about the dancing I recall about 1961 version. Most of the Jet characters were great individual dancers. If you have a DVD copy of 1961, watch them in Cool, especially Baby John and Action. Both great dancers. Baby John (Eliot Feld) was ballet trained as a boy and went on to choreograph over 100 ballets with top-notch companies like the American Ballet Company and the Joffrey. Action (Tony Mordente) became a Broadway choreographer. A-Rab (David Winters) had a dance troupe of his own and did choreography for several Elvis movies.

I would remiss if I didn't also mention the dancing of Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. Chakiris appeared in a number of movie musicals as a dancer. I can still recall my surprise at seeing him next to Marilyn Monroe in a musical number from "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend." And Rita Moreno. What more can I say about her. A rare performing member of the EGOT club and great all-around entertainer.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I do have a couple of DVD copies of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, but since I don't have a DVD player, and my computer doesn't have one, I'm not able to play my DVD copies of the 1961 film version of West Side Story any more. I thought that the dancing in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story was fantastic. The dancing in Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film West Side Story, however, seemed too hyped up for my tastes.

I know that many of the Jets and the Sharks, too, in the 1961 film version of West Side Story were fantastic dancers. Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, as well as Russ Tamblyn, were ultra-fabulous. Russ Tamblyn, too, should've won an Academy Award for his excellent playing the role of Riff. So should Tony Mordente for his role as the hot-tempered instigator-troublemaker Action, and for the fact that he was an assistant in helping to create the dancing in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story.

[–] StrongRex (1297) 2 years ago

I really don’t think Richard Beymer gets enough credit for playing Tony - he did a good job and he was believable. Seriously, you guys who are saying that he was bad never back it up, and I get tired of the attacks on him. Hasn’t he been through enough mistreatment on the set of West Side Story?

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I tend to agree that Richard Beymer did a good job playing Tony in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, especially when one stops to consider the directorial constraints that were put on him by the late Robert Wise, and the overt hostility that was directed at him by Natalie Wood, not to mention how both the scripts to the original 1957 Broadway stage version and the original 1961 film version of West Side Story had been written.

The dubbing of Beymer and Wood doesn't bother me, either. The chemistry between Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood, contrary to what people say about Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood having no chemistry to them as Tony and Maria is total bunk, because there was chemistry between them, but it just developed more gradually between them, if one gets the drift.

[–] KBiker (777) 2 years ago

We can agree to disagree. Richard Beymer was never a good actor - wooden is the word usually used - and, IMO, he was over the top in his overacting as Tony. Ansel Elgort isn't a great actor, but he's competent. Natalie Wood was pretty good throughout her career, but she was miscast as Maria. She was in it for her star power.

Also, unlike the rest of the cast of the original, neither Wood nor Beymer could sing or dance. It might not count for much, but I liked the fact that Ansel and Rachel Zegler did their own singing.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

To each their own, but, due to my intense love for the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and the fact that dubbing was very common during that period, I've always been more than willing to overlook the dubbing.

Imho, Ansel Elgort's singing voice was nothing to write home about, and Rachel Zegler's singing voice was not projected forward enough--and it was too nasal, to boot.

Yes, let's agree to disagree on these two points. Richard Beymer probably would've been a stronger Tony if not for certain stuff that cropped up during the film that I mentioned earlier.

[–] KBiker (777) 2 years ago

Ok, I'm pretty much with you in my love for the 1961 version, and the dubbing never bothered me back then either. It was common, as you said. I suppose I've changed my mind about that, after seeing the new version.

And true, Ansel's voice wasn't great. Neither was Russ Tamblyn's in '61 ("When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to you last dying day"). I disagree about Rachel's voice, though. I thought she was good, though I can't speak to the "projecting forward". You obviously know more about singing than I do.

Now, as for me, I've think I've said enough about these topics, and I'll say Sayonara to you and a few others in this thread. The polite discussions and differing opinions are what this board should be about.

Thanks,
KBiker (Steve)

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

Hi again,KBiker. Thank you very much for your nice post, and for politely disagreeing with me about Rachel Zegler's voice, and for pointing out the fact that polite discussions and differing opinions are what boards like this should be about. In a democratic society, overall, polite discussions and differing opinions should be what they're about, also. I've loved the original 1961 film version of West Side Story from the very first time I saw it, as a high school Senior, I still do, and, at my rate, I always will love the old, original 1961 film version.

Take care, all the best.

MIki

[–] KBiker (777) 2 years ago

Well, I had to hop in here one more time (exercising the privilege of the OP of this thread) to say something about my previous comment on Russ Tamblyn's singing of "When you're a Jet...". The trivia for the '61 version states that it was actually the actor who played Ice who dubbed the song for Russ, who, I guess, didn't have a very good voice. LOL at myself.

[–] StrongRex (1297) 2 years ago

Wooden? How?

Over the top? Overacting? How?

Give me specific examples instead of generalizations.

[–] luvthepros (562) 2 years ago

Ansel Elgort was ballet trained and danced in the Spielberg adaptation of WSS in the Cool number. He can really move so fluidly and he looked so damn good on that big screen. I never heard of him before WSS but I'm a big fan of his talent now. When I went down that Ansel Elgort YouTube rabbit hole, I saw him on a late night talk show and he did some tap dancing. Holy cow......for such a tall man, he was so light on his feet and his taps were so crisp and clear and FAST. Just WOW. That man can dance!!!

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

Yes, I am a fan of Elgort's also. He really did a good job here. Mike Faist was also really great. Their fighting over the gun in the Cool number was great. Not as good as the original Cool scene. That is one of the best dance segments of all time. It would have been hard for the new movie to beat that, but it is still excellent none the less.

[–] luvthepros (562) 2 years ago

Natalie Wood did not like Richard Beymer and she was angry he was given the role instead of her then boyfriend, Warren Beatty. I have always found Richard Beymer to be devoid of sexiness, especially in WSS. The role requires a sexiness which Ansel has in spades in this role in Spielberg's adaptation. I was never happy with the Tony character because of Beymer and I did not believe the attraction he was supposed to have with Wood.......at all. At the time when the 1961 movie came out, I did not know Wood did not like Beymer and she resented the fact that he was given the role over Beatty.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

The fact that Natalie Wood had an intense dislike for Richard Beymer is well-known by many people, including myself. However, I think that Beymer did the best that he could do, given the circumstances that he had to deal with: i. e. certain directorial constraints put on him by the late Robert Wise, Natalie Wood's overt hostility and resentment towards him, not to mention the fact that she tried to get Beymer kicked off the set on several occasions, plus the fact that Warren Beatty, who was then Natalie Wood's then-boyfriend, was preferable over Beymer.

Despite all that, however, I did see chemistry between Beymer's Tony and Natalie Wood's Maria; it developed gradually as the 1961 film version of West Side Story went along.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

Agreed. Richard was not a good Tony. One of the worst casting decisions ever and what makes it worse is that the movie is so damn good, but Beymer brings it all down a notch.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

I agree with you on a lot of what you said, but I really liked Mike Faist as Riff. He is not as good as Tamblyn, but he might be my favorite out of all of them in the remake. The opening dance number was not really even close to the original. It was really disappointing, but the movie got better from then on. All the dance numbers weren't as good as the original. I did enjoy the fight over the gun in Cool, but it still was not as great as the original number.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I admittedly do not like the fact that, in the new film version of West Side Story, Tony was made into a thug who was on parole from prison, where he was serving a term for assault and attempted murder, nor did I care for the fact that the Sharks were made into wonderful, upstanding young men who were making something of their lives, while the Jets were simply a bunch of lost, angry, and stubborn bigots, because life is more complicated than that, and so are people, for that matter. Nor did I like the fact that Anybodys was made into a transgendered person rather than just a straight tomboy who proved she was able to take care of herself, got accepted as an equal by the Jets, and ended up obviously falling in love with Ice (which one could see when Anybodys got all dreamy-eyed when she said "thanks,Daddy-o!" to his "Hey! Ya done good, buddy-boy!" compliment to her.

[–] mplo (2305) 2 years ago

I think you've got lots of company, KBiker! A lot of people, including myself, think that the reboot/remake of the film version was unnecessary. I tend to agree with most everything that you've said here. My only difference is that I think that had it not been for the fact that Richard Beymer had directorial constraints put on him by the late Robert Wise, however, and for Natalie Wood's overt hostility towards him, Richard Beymer would've played a much stronger Tony. I thought Natalie Wood was okay as Maria. Due to my intense love and devotion to the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and the fact that dubbing was quite common during that general period, I'm more than willing to overlook the dubbing of Richard Beymer's and Natalie Wood's singing.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 months ago

Frankly, Rachel Zegler's singing voice was not projected forward enough. It was too far back, too thin, and too nasal, and it went flat in many places. Ansel Elgort's singing voice was nothing to write home about, either.

I agree that the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story is the real deal--and is king, all around. Moreover, the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story is my all time favorite movie, hands down.

[–] mplo (2305) 4 months ago

Hi, KBiker.

While I totally agree with you about the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story being a lot better than the 2021 film version of West Side Story, I believe that Rachel Zegler's singing voice was far too thin and nasal, and not projected forward enough. Ansel Elgort's singing voice was nothing to write home about, either.

I also agree with you about the rest of the cast in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story being far better than the cast in the 2021 film version of West Side Story.

It's also agreed that the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story is the real deal, and that the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story was totally unnecessary.