MovieChat Forums > West Side Story (1961) Discussion > Will Spielberg's reboot/remake of the 19...

Will Spielberg's reboot/remake of the 1961 film version of West Side Story re-awaken the popularity of the original?

posted 5 years ago by mplo (2370)
9 replies | jump to latest

A curious, inquiring mind wants to know what other people here on this board think. I'd love some feedback here, especially since I've come across people who think that the original 1961 film version of West Side Story will be popularized once again by Spielberg's reboot/remake of this great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical.

As much as I'm against Spielberg or anybody else rebooting/remaking this great classic movie-musical I'm beginning to ask myself that question, and would love some feedback about it on here.

[–] liscarkat (19385) 4 years ago

Spielberg's will get a whole lot of hype and attention for months leading up to the Oscars. It will be the BFD of the moment, especially among the woke. Then it will fade away and be mostly forgotten. The 1961 version is still well-known and well-regarded sixty years after its release, and will still be a classic in another sixty years. By that time, film scholars will have to do research to even find any mention of Spielberg's version.

[–] mplo (2370) 4 years ago

Thank you very much for your input on this topic, liscarkat! FathomEvents.com and tcm.com, together, are bringing the 60th Anniversary screening of the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, which I'm looking forward to seeing, sometime in November 2021, although no date has been set at this present time. Something to look forward, to, anyhow. I'm praying that it'll pan out!

[–] Goliard (1449) 4 years ago

AMAZING!!! You know all that, even without knowing Anything about Spielberg's film, or (of course) having seen it!!!

You should start buying lottery tickets Immediately. What are you doing on a movie message board, with Those kinds of powers & abilities???

[–] mplo (2370) 4 years ago

I saw the trailer of Steven Spielberg's film version of West Side Story, and will vote my pocketbook and not go to see it, because I don't care for what I've seen.

The original 1961 film version of West Side Story, however, will be in select movie theatres, nationwide here in the United States, courtesy of fathomevents.com and Turner classic movies, on Sunday, November 28th, and Wednesday, December 1st. Tickets are not yet on sale, and no theatre locations have been posted, but I've been keeping my eyes peeled, however, by regularly checking the fathomevents.com website.

[–] cyguration (3951) 4 years ago

I was never a fan of West Side Story (musical dance fights were always so goofy to me), but it had its charm as a modern day Romeo/Juliet tale.

I dread to even watch the trailer for the new one. Will one of the leads be transmuted into one of those transtrenders? Will they race-swap enough of the characters to make the general gist unrecognizable? Will it will be turned into yet another "ebil nazis!" tale that Hollywood has been obsessed with to push their agenda?

I just can't bring myself to even read more about the new remake and hopefully I can keep it that way for some time to come... (if I can help it).

[–] mplo (2370) 3 years ago

Hi, cyguration. I've seen the trailer of Spielberg's upcoming film version of West Side Story, and I did not like what I saw, and will vote my pocketbook and not to go see it at all. I don't think you're missing much if you don't watch the trailer to Steven Spielberg's film version of WSS.

Spielberg's made a number of really good movies, but it was a major humdinger, imho, to remake what's already a great goldlen oldie-but-keeper of a classic movie-musical that won ten well-deserved and well-earned Academy Awards, including Best Picture when it came out into the movie theatres in October 1961. I'm a devout fan of the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story, which is my all time favorite movie, hands down. It's coming to select movies here in the United States for a 60th-anniversary screening, including Boston, which is closest to where I live, I've already purchased tickets, and I'm excitedly looking forward to going to see it! Whoo-hoo!

[–] chilidoggg (14565) 4 years ago

He'll screw it up.

The original is great.

[–] chilidoggg (14565) 4 years ago

Why don't they just do one of those "live tv" plays like they did for Sound of Music, Grease, etc. Then we can see the new hot young things, it'll be good enough, no one needs to get embarrassed. I don't see zoomers putting their asses in the seats to watch West Side Story.

[–] mplo (2370) 3 years ago

I'll say one thing: I prefer the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story. Not only was I unimpressed by the trailer to Spielberg's film version of West Side Story, but what I've heard/read about Ansel Elgort, who's playing the lead character of Tony in Spielberg's film version of WSS has stiffened my resolve to vote my pocketbook and not go to see the new film version of West Side Story when it hits the movie theatres this December.