Hopes for Spielberg West Side Story

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/13/19 at 9:44pm

What do you want to see in the new film adaptation of West Side Story? 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 12:30pm

One thing I would like to see is the Somewhere ballet

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 4:30pm

BwayLB said: "One thing I would like to see is the Somewhere ballet"

I wonder whether they'll shift the order of any of the songs. 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 6:29pm

It'll be interesting to see if there are any similarities to the reimagine being done in the Broadway production, or if it'll be more similar to the original.  I'm super excited for Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose as Maria and Anita!

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 6:31pm

MollyJeanneMusic said: "It'll be interesting to see if there are any similarities to the reimagine being done in the Broadway production, or if it'll be more similar to the original. I'm super excited for Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose as Maria and Anita!"

Tony Kushner says his screenplay with be closer to the Arthur Laurents book than the 1961 film. I love that Rachel is playing Maria. It'll be set in 1957 like the original.  

Updated On: 12/14/19 at 06:31 PM

[AADA81]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 7:21pm

I'm just hoping Spielberg manages to get some grit into it that's believable.  He's become so slick and "Hollywood" in how he makes his films and if he gives in to those tendencies I worry that the tone may be way off.  

[Tony2600]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 8:30pm

I hate how slick and "Hollywood" he made Schindler's List.

 

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 8:32pm

AADA81 said: "I'm just hoping Spielberg manages to get some grit into it that's believable. He's become so slick and "Hollywood" in how he makes his films and if he gives in to those tendencies I worry that the tone may be way off."

He spent years trying to get the rights to WSS. This is a passion project for him. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 8:37pm

Globefan said: "BwayLB said: "One thing I would like to see is the Somewhere ballet"

I wonder whether they'll shift the order of any of the songs."

I think they will

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 10:29pm

What if Rita Moreno sings "A Boy Like That/I have a love" with Maria?

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/14/19 at 10:30pm

Dollypop said: "What if Rita Moreno sings "A Boy Like That/I have a love" with Maria?"

I'm glad they won't be dubbing singing voices this time. 

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 9:47am

Tony2600 said: "I hate how slick and "Hollywood" he made Schindler's List."

Schindler's List came out over 25 years ago, surely you realize how one's directorial style can change in that time. 

Updated On: 12/15/19 at 09:47 AM

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 7:16pm

Globefan said: "Dollypop said: "What if Rita Moreno sings "A Boy Like That/I have a love" with Maria?"

I'm glad they won't be dubbing singing voices this time."

And so am I

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 7:19pm

Ariana DeBose had very high praise for Spielberg. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/197152/west-side-story-movie-star-ariana-debose-on-why-theater-fans-will-fall-in-love-with-the-new-film/ She describes a more elaborate staging of America in the 2020 film than in the stage productions and the 1961 film. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:06pm

Globefan said: "Ariana DeBose had very high praise for Spielberg.https://www.broadway.com/buzz/197152/west-side-story-movie-star-ariana-debose-on-why-theater-fans-will-fall-in-love-with-the-new-film/She describes a more elaborate staging of America in the 2020 film than in the stage productions and the 1961 film."

Got me on the seeing the whole PR community in the America sequence!

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:10pm

BwayLB said: "Globefan said: "Ariana DeBose had very high praise for Spielberg.https://www.broadway.com/buzz/197152/west-side-story-movie-star-ariana-debose-on-why-theater-fans-will-fall-in-love-with-the-new-film/She describes a more elaborate staging of America in the 2020 film than in the stage productions and the 1961 film."

Got me on the seeing the whole PR community in the America sequence!"

And seeing Rita Moreno will be great. Andrea Burns is also in the film. 

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:28pm

I just hope it looks beautiful and the cast has excellent chemistry. I trust they won't touch the beautiful score. 

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:29pm

ModernMillie3 said: "I just hope it looks beautiful and the cast has excellent chemistry. I trust they won't touch the beautiful score."

David Newman is arranging the Bernstein score for the film. 

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:31pm

Is that a good thing?

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:32pm

ModernMillie3 said: "Is that a good thing?"

He's conducted live orchestra screenings of the 1961 film, so he has experience with WSS. 

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/15/19 at 10:37pm

Very cool, thank you. I saw the show when I was a child, but never again. However, I listen to the soaring San Francisco Symphony's score of the show on a monthly basis. 

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 2:51pm

I hope they do the original film’s version of America. The stage version completely pales in comparison. While the film’s America feels like an all out battle of squeals, the stage version feels like a bunch of bullies picking on someone for feeling differently than they do.
I also hope that this team doesn’t undo some of the original film’s changes to the story, as most of them worked better from a narrative standpoint, like switching the placements of Gee, Officer Krupke and Cool, and having I Feel Pretty take place before The Rumble.

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 2:53pm

Hot Pants said: "I hope they do the original film’s version of America. The stage version completely pales in comparison. While the film’s America feels like an all out battle of squeals, the stage version feels like a bunch of bullies picking on someone for feeling differently than they do.
I also hope that this team doesn’t undo some of the original film’s changes to the story, as most of them worked better from a narrative standpoint, like switching the placements of Gee, Officer Krupke and Cool, and having I Feel Pretty take place before The Rumble."

I'm not sure about the placing of songs, but I do know that America has a bigger scope and scale than the original. They go out into the Puerto Rican community during America 

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 3:07pm

Globefan said: "I'm not sure about the placing of songs, but I do know that America has a bigger scope and scale than the original. They go out into the Puerto Rican community during America"

Interesting. Do you know if this new version includes the guys along with the girls?

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 3:10pm

Hot Pants said: "Globefan said: "I'm not sure about the placing of songs, but I do know that America has a bigger scope and scale than the original. They go out into the Puerto Rican community during America"

Interesting. Do you know if this new version includes the guys along with the girls?"

America has the guys too. And I'd love for the first poster to be Rachel and Ansel recreating the Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert run down the street. 

Updated On: 12/16/19 at 03:10 PM