Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 20

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 5:15pm

I can’t wait to hear this entire score once again. A few years ago, my father and I saw Dudamel conduct Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at Geffen Hall, and it just sounded fantastic. I trust him to keep the integrity of Bernstein’s masterful music intact.

[Globefan]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 8:34pm

The designs for the scrapped Somewhere Ballet from the original film looked great. Too bad it had to be cut. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 9:11pm

Globefan said: "The designs for the scrapped Somewhere Ballet from the original film looked great. Too bad it had to be cut."

Robbins had already been fired so he wasn’t able to choreograph it.  The Dance at the Gym was the last thing he was working on when he was let go.  His assistant Howard Jeffries and the other assistants had to take over when that was filmed.  Contractually, only he could do the choreography so as he was no longer part of the production, it couldn’t be included.  Robert Wise respected Robbins so he fought to keep Robbins credited as co-director as he felt WEST SIDE STORY wouldn’t be what it was without Robbins contribution to the film.  

[Globefan]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 9:22pm

I think Rita Moreno's version of Somewhere will be the one used during the Ballet. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 9:35pm

I'm hoping the entirety of the "Somewhere Ballet" is used in the final cut period. Like with the film adaptations of Oklahoma!, Carousel and The King and I that did keep their big and long dance sequences.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 10:16pm

Playing devil’s advocate, but being a movie that emphasizes realism as we have seen in the teaser, would they really add a ballet dream sequence?

I’m looking forward to seeing America and I Feel Pretty! 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/21 at 10:56pm

degrassifan said: "Playing devil’s advocate, but being a movie that emphasizes realism as we have seen in the teaser, would they really add a ballet dream sequence?

I’m looking forward to seeing America and I Feel Pretty!"

Maria is a wreck after the rumble so Anita gives her Valium.  The “Somewhere” ballet takes place in Maria’s head as she’s zoning in and out.  It’s a “fantasy” sequence.  

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/3/21 at 11:16am

^Exactly, I don't see why it wouldn't work on film. Also, wasn't it reported about 2 years ago that all the songs from the stage show would be in the new movie?

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/3/21 at 11:26am

That all the songs are going to be there (no big deal--all songs were present in the Robert Wise film, too) doesn't by definition mean the dream sequence will be there. But there have been enough comments that  the Somewhere Ballet is returning that, yeah, it'll be a dream sequence.

And, yeah, that likely won't work too well on film. But at least in some way, the movie won't look like a step-by-step reproduction of Wise's film. Without that inclusion, I can't see any reason for remaking the film at all; one could just watch the original film.

[Globefan]

Posted: 5/3/21 at 1:18pm

Today's Rachel's 20th birthday. 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 5/3/21 at 3:13pm

Musical Master said: "^Exactly, I don't see why it wouldn't work on film. Also, wasn't it reported about 2 years ago that all the songs from the stage show would be in the new movie?"

The fact that it wasn’t in the original film only gives them more incentive to include it. It doesn’t matter if they’re going for a more realistic approach, they can use that kind of break in reality, since it’s very easy to just show it’s in a character’s head, whether they’re imagining or on drugs like has been suggested.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/4/21 at 3:06pm

Right? Even dream/fantasy sequences happen in a lot of movies that aren't movie musicals so I don't see why the "Somewhere Ballet" won't fit in here.

[Globefan]

Posted: 5/4/21 at 6:09pm

The Somewhere Ballet also gives Justin Peck's choreography more exposure to shine. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/5/21 at 1:06pm

It would've been a waste for Justin Peck to not choreograph the "Somewhere Ballet" on film. I mean he is the current Resident Choreographer for the NYC Ballet for goodness sakes!

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 5/5/21 at 1:09pm

Musical Master said: "It would've been a waste for Justin Peckto not choreograph the "Somewhere Ballet" on film. I mean he is the current Resident Choreographer for the NYC Ballet for goodness sakes!"

I can't wait to see what he does with this film. His work in the Carousel revival was the best part of the production.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/6/21 at 1:19pm

Justin Peck did win the Tony Award for his amazing work on Carousel and I agree, it was one of the best parts about that revival that kept it from being a pointless disaster like that 2009 Guys and Dolls fiasco. I remember back in 2018 when the film was announced to give the go ahead and casting was something we were sort of worried about.

It makes me so happy that casting didn't go the Rock Of Ages or Paint Your Wagon route of movie musical casting. If the movie did that, then Rachel Zegler and the others would never have been cast and God knows that could've been horrible.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 5/6/21 at 2:15pm

Musical Master said: ". . . It makes me so happy that casting didn't go the Rock Of Agesor Paint Your Wagon route of movie musical casting. If the movie did that, then Rachel Zegler and the others would neverhave beencast and God knows that could've been horrible."

And yet how sad that we'll never get to experience James Corden and Meryl Streep's take on Tony and Maria.

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/6/21 at 2:32pm

More like, Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum's take on Tony and Maria.

[Globefan]

Posted: 5/6/21 at 3:11pm

Musical Master said: "More like, Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum's take on Tony and Maria."

CREEPY! 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/6/21 at 4:58pm

I know right? Emmy was 17 when that movie was filming, talk about really awkward. At least Rachel was 18 when shooting began on this movie.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/7/21 at 9:40am

Just saw the TCM interview with Chakiris,Moreno and Tamblyn. What surprised me was the diss from Moreno towards Wood. It centered on her not being hispanic. In all interviews like this none of them spoke ill of a cast member no longer alive. The fact that Wood died so young in the tragedy made it worse .

Wood was discussed basically as an afterthought. The interview was informative and fun .Sadly what I will remember is this sad part of it.Why she felt the need to do this I will never know.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/7/21 at 10:40am

Mr Roxy said: "Just saw the TCM interview with Chakiris,Moreno and Tamblyn. What surprised me was the diss from Moreno towards Wood. It centered on her not being hispanic. In all interviews like this none of them spoke ill of a cast member no longer alive. The fact that Wood died so young in the tragedy made it worse .

Wood was discussed basically as an afterthought. The interview was informative and fun .Sadly what I will remember is this sad part of it.Why she felt the need to do this I will never know."

This doesn't surprise me. Moreno has been doing this for years and Chakiris has always advocated on Wood's behalf. Her issues with Wood go way deeper than her being cast in a Hispanic role. I believe that Moreno was jealous of Wood, she certainly comes off that way and it was documented in Gavin Lambert's biography of Wood. 

It's extremely disrespectful to Wood's memory because viewers who may be seeing the film for the first time are going to be influenced by her negative remarks towards Natalie and her performance, especially when she isn't alive to defend herself and talk about her experience with the role and the making of the film. It's just plain wrong. 

No matter what Moreno says or thinks of Wood, Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise adored her, especially Robbins who choreographed Maria's rooftop dance, that was not in the original show for her. 

At least Moreno did acknowledge, albeit hesitantly at first that Wood was great in her final scene.

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/7/21 at 11:03am

It's also interesting to note that with all of her protests over Natalie's casting she voiced no similar objections to George Chakiris' casting as Bernardo. Chakiris isn't Puerto Rican either....he's Greek.

 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 5/7/21 at 11:05am

Moreno railing against Wood for not being Hispanic must’ve been uncomfortable for her friend Chakiris since he’s not either.

Personally I don’t think the performer should be blamed for this, instead the blame should be aimed at the overall community and hierarchy that gives POC roles to white actors.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 5/7/21 at 11:15am

^ I’m taking the same side. One reason I support this remake