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The Original 1961 film version of West Side Story; It Still shines years later, and can't be beat:

posted 5 years ago by mplo (2356)
16 replies | jump to latest

Whatever anybody else says or thinks, or regardless of Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the film West Side Story, the original 1961 film version still shines, years later, and it always will shine. That is because the original 1961 film version of West Side Story has a very iconic and special sort of believability, charm, grit and personality that no rehash of this great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical, including Steven Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake, will never, ever have, or be able to develop.

Not only was the original 1961 film version of West Side Story preserved as a larger-than-lifesized piece of theatre when it was transferred from stage to screen, but the fact that the order of the "Officer Krupke" scene and the "Cool" scene were changed around gave the original 1961 film version even more believability, as well as a special kind of drama, tension and awesomeness that only the original 1961 film can and always will have. Moreover, the very story behind West Side Story was enhanced by the changing around of the order of the "Officer Krupke" and the "Cool" scenes.

The inclusion of the Bernardo and the Sharks themselves in the "America" scene was also a great addition to an already-dramatic scene in this great, golden oldie-but-keeper of an iconic classic movie-musical. and provided a more equal treatment of both the Sharks and their girls, if one gets the drift.

The colors in the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, which involved the use of cold and passionate colors such as blue, purples, and reds, were used just tastefully enough to give the film some additional flavor, and yet keep it subtle enough so that the original film version of West Side Story, as a movie, wasn't too garish-looking, either. The cinematography overall was beautifully done, and the special affects were fantastically done without the use of computers or expensive gadgetry that are all too often used in today's movies.

The seamlessly combined on-location scenes and stage sets by the late Boris Leven, have been made to look like a rough and rundown and gritty section of a large American city, which also contributed greatly to this iconic classic movie-musical.

Somebody (though I forget who) mentioned that in the stage version of West Side Story, Rosalia, one of the Shark's girls, seemed to be constantly bullied and made fun of by the other girls in her gang, due to not being very smart. In the film version, Rosalia is treated and accepted more as an equal by her girlfriends.

West Side Story is also a classic movie-musical whose various emotions that range from exuberance, arrogance, cockiness, anger, tension, hostility, humour, love, romance, tribal loyalty and friendships and cultural-racial-ethnic hatred, competition over turf, meanness, violence and even death, are fantastically told through the late Jerome Robbins' beautifully choreographed dance scenes, none of which can or will ever be topped by anybody, including any dance choreographers of today.

What's also great about the original 1961 film version of West Side Story is not only the opening aerial views of 1950's-1960's New York City's West Side, but it also shows the individual personalities of each of the Jets, the Sharks and their girls.

This great, golden oldie-but-keeper of an iconic classic movie-musical is the story of love, romance, urban gang warfare, conflict with the law (Lt. Schrank and Ofcr. Krupke hate both the Puerto Rican Sharks and the white European Ethnic American Jets, and they show their prejudices), racial/cultural/ethnic prejudices, competition over the small piece of turf that's been left for the Jets, the Sharks and their girls by society and the system, the adults (i. e. Doc the Candy store owner, Lt. Schrank, and Ofcr Krupke) who try, each in their own way (but to no avail), to steer the Jets and Sharks into a better and less destructive direction, and continued racial/ethnic tensions and skirmishing that ultimately lead to the Rumble, which claims the lives of Riff, Bernardo, and Tony.

Just as the Jets and Sharks are about to clash once again, Maria intervenes with an angry message of "You all killed him (meaning Tony), and my brother, and Riff! Not with bullets and guns! With hate! Well, I can kill too, because I have hate!" Maria's too overcome with emotion to fire Chino's gun at any of the Jets and Sharks, but the deaths of Riff, Bernardo and Tony (who is ultimately shot to death by Chino in retaliation for Bernardo's death), combined with Maria's angry message, prove to be what it takes for the Jets, the Sharks and their girls to come to some understanding in tragedy, and possibly become friends thereafter.

All of the above having been said, the original 1961 film version of West Side Story is a film that not only still shines years later, but it cannot be beat, no matter what.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

So true. I can't believe this movie has a 7.6 rating. IMDB should get rid of their rating system, due to the fact how flawed it is.

I am thinking that the reboot will be all hip-hoppy like Hamilton was. Bernstein would not be happy with what Spielberg is doing.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Hi, modica. Thank you for your compliment on my post. I, too think that a 7.6 rating is disgustingly low for such an iconic, great golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical such as the original 1961 film version of West Side Story. Imdb's rating base is rather flawed, and they should either get rid of it, or change it.

I have seen some of what they're doing with the reboot/remake of the film West Side Story, and I, too, have the feeling that it will be more hip-hop and rap-like. The colors already seem too jarring, and as a whole, the reboot/remake seems too garish-looking. So far, the characters, from the warring Jets and Sharks and their girls, to the romancing Tony and Maria, look more like suburban prep school kids dressed to the nines for partying all over town than two street gangs at war with each other.

In the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, both the Jets, the Sharks, their girls, and even Tony and Maria, look way rougher and tougher than they do in Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film West Side Story. The same can be said for Simon Oakland's Lt. Schrank and William Bramley's Officer Krupke.

I think you're correct in saying that Leonard Bernstein would not be happy with the upcoming reboot/remake of the film West Side Story. Thanks very much again for your input, modica. I enjoy corresponding with you.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

I doubt if I will go to see this. Seeing how this is my favorite musical, watching the reboot would be heartbreaking. I don't know why everything needs to be rebooted. Bernstein did the music the way he wanted it done, and to change it for modern audiences is a terrible idea. Spielberg is just doing it for the money and to stroke his own ego. The only thing that may be a positive here is that younger people will learn about the 1961 classic and may watch it. There will probably even be some who will like the older version better. But, that isn't enough of a reason to take a classic and change it to something that pales in comparison. I am glad you are here to talk some sense.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Thank you again for your input, modica. It is rather unfortunate that every older classic film needs to be rebooted/remade. The original 1961 film version of West Side Story is my all time favorite film, hands down, I never get tired of seeing it over and over again, I always notice at least one or two things about the 1961 film version of West Side Story that I failed to notice in a previous viewing, plus it always feels fresh and new to me, like I'm seeing it for the very first time.

It's agreed that there's no good reason to take such an iconically beautiful classic film such as the original 1961 film version of West Side Story and reboot/remake it, in order to ostensibly make it more accessible to today's younger generations. Frankly, since the original 1961 film version of West Side Story is my all time favorite movie, I've already planned to vote with my pocketbook and not go to see Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of this film when it hits the movie theaters at around Christmastime of 2020. I already have some idea of how it's going to come out, and don't like what I've seen so far. Thank your for your sensibilities, and understanding of where I'm coming from regarding a reboot/remake of the film West Side Story.

I'll also add, however, that I'm against a reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story by anybody, including Steven Spielberg.

[–] Roguemail (1614) 5 years ago

Why do people who like movies that are remade think the intention of the new version is to better, or 'beat' the original version, like there was something wrong with it?

It's just a new version for a new generation. It does not change the original, by definition it cannot.

Many of todays generation will not have seen nor be aware of the original. And why would they? It's not their generation. Yeah...you can argue they should watch it etc, but they don't have to and are not obliged to.

So tired of people getting butthurt over remakes, and treating the new version as though someone had stolen one of their children or something.

It's just a movie. You don't like the new version? Then dont watch it and stick to the original. Simple.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

The upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story will not change the original, but it may very well cause the original film version of West Side Story not to become available for playing in movie theatres even occasionally, but only on TV, DVD, Blu-Ray or video, and for purchasing for home viewing, which I would NOT want to see happen. Not everybody has or wants an elaborate, expensive home theatre system, or a Blu-Ray DVD player and DVD's to play at home, and I sure as hell don't.

To me, seeing a movie such as the original 1961 film version of West Side Story on a great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre with the lights down low, as it's really and truly meant to be viewed, and sharing the whole experience with other people, whether I know them or not, even if that only happens on occasion, is much, much more of a treat, and a feast for the mind, the ears, the eyes and the heart.

Our generation never, ever demanded that older classic films that the generation before ours be remade just to fit our fancies and tell the story the way in which WE wanted it just to satisfy their own selfish needs. Sure, we had and still have our own movies that we enjoy, and our generation respected the fact that the generation before us enjoyed certain movies, and that was that. Today's younger generations demand that these great, golden oldie but keeper classics such as West Side Story be tailored to them, which I don't particularly care for. That being said, Roguemail, if you're tired of people being down on the upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, that's your problem, not mine or anybody else's.

Let me also say this, Roguemail: I do plan to vote my pocketbook and not go to see Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story when it hits the movie theatres at around Christmastime of 2020.

[–] Roguemail (1614) 5 years ago

Utter nonsense.

Such movies rarely get screenings in cinemas these days, and that has nothing to do with remakes.

Its simple economics. As home viewing has been around in many formats for the last 40 years, very few people will pay to travel and see such a movie at a theatre.

Blu ray/DVD players are very cheap, as are the movies, especially older ones.

In fact, the same digital technology that applies to home viewing can also be used to show older movies on the big screen...but the simple fact is that the audience for such screenings is simply not there.

And why do you think that the modern audiences are demanding that older movies are changed too suit them? Thats rubbish. As I said, if you release the original in theatres today the audience would be tiny. It has nothing to do with how good or bad the movie is, I personally also like it. But it simply wont put bums on seats.

Whether you agree with it or not, a modern version will have more appeal to todays audiences...the studios know that, and they know how to market it to that audience...otherwise they would not spend millions making it.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Frankly, Roguemale, I could not care less about what you thought of my opinions, nor about the mindset of today's younger generations. Most of the movies that are coming out nowadays are sheer junk, with overly jarring, too intensely colored computer-created special affects, excessive amounts of gore, violence and "blue" language, and with overly explicit sexual relationships. A certain amount of all of that, which are integral parts of the story of a film are one thing, but there's much too much of the stuff these days. Frankly, I don't see the upcoming reboot/remake of the film West Side Story as being any exception to that. So what if Spielberg's at the helm, and he busted his hump for 15 years to secure the rights to this film? Neither of them make the upcoming reboot/remake of the film West Side Story a good thing, imho.

I don't know why I'm expected to care how today's younger audiences feel. They like junk, and that's what sells as a result. Why should a fantastically beautiful, iconic classic such as the original 1961 film version of West Side Story get rebooted/remade and turned into the kind of junk that today's younger audiences like? It shouldn't, imho. A modernized version of an older classic film such as West Side Story isn't necessarily going to be better. Being different is not necessarily better, either. I plan on voting my pocketbook and not going to see Spielberg's upcoming reboot/remake of the film West Side Story when it hits the movie theatres at around Christmastime of 2020, either, btw.

You're totally wrong about cheapness being decent, Roguemale! The fact is that a good, decent DVD player or a Blu-Ray DVD player is often prohibitively expensive. People want them cheap, so they're all too often made overseas, in these third-world countries that have neither the materials OR the technical know-how for putting out good, decent merchandise.

I'll also add that plenty of the older films, including the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, have had good audiences. West Side Story is still quite popular in New York, and screenings of the original film version of WSS often do tend to sell out in New York. Boston screenings of West Side Story, although they've never sold out, have had decent crowds, and have come pretty close to selling out, at times.

I attended both Tanglewood Boston Symphony Orchestra/West Side Story (the 1961 film version) concerts--one a year ago last month, and one back in July 2013, and a couple of them at Boston's Symphony Hall, and guess what? Both of those Tanglewood concerts sold out, despite the addition of several extra lawn benches!

Having said all of the above, I've attended plenty of Boston-area screenings of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and even screenings of it at the opposite end of the Bay State, and in neighboring states, as well, where, while they haven't sold out, they've had good decent crowds attending it. That being said, the original 1961 film version of West Side Story is still quite popular, even now. It may or may not be popular with younger generations, but one never knows. Whatever it is, they don't have the right to try to screw other people out of the treat of seeing older classic films that they love at the cinemas, even if it is on rare occasions. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it, Roguemale!

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

The thing is that the original was almost a perfect movie. This reboot will be far from perfect. The problem with reboots is that they never even come close to the original. I may have seen one or two remakes that are almost as good as the original, but for the most part the films just don't do the job.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Again, I'm in agreement with you here, modica. Reboots/remakes of older classic films not only fail to even come close to the original movies, but they tend to come out really badly. So far, I have not seen any remakes of older films that are nearly as good as the original films, and I doubt that the upcoming reboot/remake of the 1961 film version of West Side Story will be as good, or even close to the original film.

The original older films, including a film such as the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, just can't be beat. Again, hope to talk to you again soon.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

The reason Hollywood is doing so many reboots/remakes of older classic films, and so many sequels to newer ones is because they've run out of creative ideas, plus they're out to make money hands over fist by playing on people's nostalgia for older classic films, and remake them to fit the feelings and the emotions of today's generations. I don't see the upcoming reboot/remake of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story being any exception to this, either.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Obviously, Spielberg and his company think that there ARE things wrong with the original, which is why they're rebooting/remaking it. Frankly, Roguemail, I'm tired of people like YOU getting butthurt over the fact that people express different opinions than you do. Who give a hoot in Helsinki as to whether the original 1961 film version of West Side Story belongs to these younger generations or not? I sure as hell don't.

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

I love this film. I've seen it a dozen times and have the soundtrack on CD.

[–] mplo (2356) 5 years ago

Hi, slimone. Welcome to the club! I, too love the original 1961 film version of West Side Story and have seen it more times than I'm now able or willing to count. Then again, who's counting? I, too have both the soundtracks to the original 1961 film version and the original late-1950's Broadway stage production of West Side Story on CD.

[–] marktayloruk (2502) 3 years ago

Surely Schrank and Krupke are ethnic Eastern European names- Czech I'd guess?

[–] mplo (2356) 3 years ago

Possibly. Either Eastern European/Czech, or German, maybe.