Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 32

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 4:56pm

The visual approach to this film seems to wink repeatedly to “The Outsiders,” which was certainly read as homoerotic as well.

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:16pm

darquegk said: "The visual approach to this film seems to wink repeatedly to “The Outsiders,” which was certainly read as homoerotic as well."

That's a great observation darquegk, I thought I was the only one! I went to see "Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" last weekend with some friends and the "West Side Story" trailer was shown and we all commented on how much the look of the gang members, especially The Jets reminded us of "The Outsiders"

[NameGreg]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:00pm

So has anybody noticed anything in the trailer that looked like “Gee, Officer Krupke” or “Cool”? I’m very interested to see how they handle those two. It’s likely they go with the stage version giving they’re trying to be closer to that one than the film, but I’m hoping it’s the movie version which I like more.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:16pm

NameGreg said: "So has anybody noticed anything in the trailer that looked like “Gee, Officer Krupke” or “Cool”? I’m very interested to see how they handle those two. It’s likely they go with the stage version giving they’re trying to be closer to that one than the film, but I’m hoping it’s the movie version which I like more."

Ok so you know those shots with Riff and Tony struggling for a gun and there's sand and dust around them? Idk why, but I have a feeling that scene is "Cool: with maybeeee Tony singing "Cool" to/with Riff and the Jets. I could be way off, but why else would Tony and Riff struggle for a gun? 

Did anyone else notice that in the trailer, Maria, Rosalia and some of the other Shark girls are housekeeping staff at the Gimbels department store? I think that's another interesting change, in addition to Bernardo being a boxer.

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:42pm

degrassifan said:
Ok so you know those shots with Riff and Tony struggling for a gun and there's sand and dust around them? Idk why, but I have a feeling that scene is "Cool: with maybeeee Tony singing "Cool" to/with Riff and the Jets. I could be way off, but why else would Tony and Riff struggle for a gun?

I don't know about that. I think that was a scene from the actual rumble. I could be wrong though.

 

 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:46pm

degrassifan said: 
Did anyone else notice that in the trailer, Maria, Rosalia and some of the other Shark girls are housekeeping staff at the Gimbels department store? I think that's another interesting change, in addition to Bernardo being a boxer."

I noticed that as well as all that new dialogue. I also noticed that in a shot from the "Dance at the Gym" - the character of "Maria" is actually dancing and not on the sidelines looking on as she was in the original show and film. 

 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 7:14pm

SpiritualGangster said: "degrassifan said:
Ok so you know those shots with Riff and Tony struggling for a gun and there's sand and dust around them? Idk why, but I have a feeling that scene is "Cool: with maybeeee Tony singing "Cool" to/with Riff and the Jets. I could be way off, but why else would Tony and Riff struggle for a gun?

I don't know about that. I think that was a scene from the actual rumble. I could be wrong though."

The rumble is a nighttime interior scene. The shot I was referring to happens outside in the daytime. 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 7:21pm

degrassifan said: "SpiritualGangster said: "degrassifan said:
Ok so you know those shots with Riff and Tony struggling for a gun and there's sand and dust around them? Idk why, but I have a feeling that scene is "Cool: with maybeeee Tony singing "Cool" to/with Riff and the Jets. I could be way off, but why else would Tony and Riff struggle for a gun?

I don't know about that. I think that was a scene from the actual rumble. I could be wrong though."

The rumble is a nighttime interior scene. The shot I was referring to happens outside in the daytime.



Ok. Great catch - I missed that. Some of those scenes were flying by….I am intrigued on what this scene could actually be, and it could very well be a re-interpreted version of “Cool” as you suggested. 

Sondheim did mention in his interview on Colbert that we would be surprised at how the songs are actually utilized in this new adaptation. 

I’m down for a new interpretation of an old classic so my excitement for this film is high. 

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 10:05am

It's good to know that Sondheim must have really liked the movie and what Spielberg and Kushner did to the musical numbers to give it "energy and freshness". Didn't he also approve of the film adaptation of Sweeney Todd back in 2007? I actually really like that movie, so that's a good sign of things to come.

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 1:12pm

Musical Master said: "It's good to know that Sondheim must have really liked the movie and what Spielberg and Kushner did to the musical numbers to give it "energy and freshness". Didn't he also approve of the film adaptation of Sweeney Todd back in 2007? I actually really like that movie, so that's a good sign of things to come."

I think the Somewhere Ballet was left out of the trailer because they want the spectacle to be a surprise. 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 2:11pm

Globefan said: "Musical Master said: "It's good to know that Sondheim must have really liked the movie and what Spielberg and Kushner did to the musical numbers to give it "energy and freshness". Didn't he also approve of the film adaptation of Sweeney Todd back in 2007? I actually really like that movie, so that's a good sign of things to come."

I think the Somewhere Ballet was left out of the trailer because they want the spectacle to be a surprise."

I don't know why, but I still get the feeling that the Somewhere Ballet will not be in this version either, but I could be wrong. If the movie were more whimsical like La La Land, then I could totally see it. I just don't see a ballet happening in the middle of a realistic piece. Again, I could be so wrong, and I'd happily be wrong! Would love to see a dream ballet in the middle of a modern day movie!

Also, I read a comment where someone said they know people who worked on the film and it is very different from the 1961 version. This film is set against the backdrop of Lincoln Center being built and how it affected the residents living in that area. Some of the songs are in totally different settings, and Tony Kushner has given it a sharp political edge.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 2:24pm

^ Something doesn’t feel right about retaining the 50’s setting.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 2:30pm

Someone on this board did say that the "Somewhere Ballet" is going to be in this version. Of course again, that could be speculation and it was ultimately cut for time (this movie could be over 2 hours and 30 minutes long), but I would love to see what this version of the ballet looks like under Justin Peck's choreography.

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:09pm

Kad said: "Reading queerness into a depiction of a hyper-masculine homosocial dynamic like a midcentury street gang is hardly out there or controversial. Such things were foundational for queer culture for decades (think of what kind of men Tom of Finland drew, for a more explicit example). Joevitus isn't saying WSS is definitively a depiction of gay romance, but there's definitely subtext there that people can parse if they so choose."

Thank you. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:10pm

Plannietink08 said: "There’s always been homoerotic subtext between Romeo and Mercutio in ROMEO & JULIET. Scholars have said it’s evident in the script, I’m sure at one point Mercutio talks about his erection to Romeo, and contemporary adaptions lean quite heavily into the idea that Mercutio is queer so the gay vibes that Riff gives off make perfect sense and are completely in keeping with the origins of the character."

Indeed, and I appreciate your response as well.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:18pm

Musical Master said: "Someone on this board did say that the "Somewhere Ballet" is going to be in this version. Of course again, that could be speculation and it was ultimately cut for time (this movie could beover 2 hours and 30 minutes long), but I would love to see what this version of the ballet looks like under Justin Peck's choreography."

 

Even though I never seen WSS on stage, I would find the Somewhere Ballet entertaining.

 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:20pm

Here is my question or worry I have-and maybe needlessly so. 

But on speculation, it seems like Rita Moreno's take on Doc is more thoughtful and a warmer perspective.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

I hope I'm wrong cause I've always thought the theme of the adults in West Side is they are ineffective. They aren't warm or giving these kids enough sense to stop violent behavior. They just kinda shrug and are passively watching them go to war. 

So I think to make the character of Doc more a mentor feels like there would be more cause for these kids to not behave how they are. 

I dunno, just a thought. If you've seen the movie can you confirm if Rita Moreno's character is different in the way I'm describing?

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:44pm

If the Somewhere Ballet was cut, we would've heard the Tony/Maria duet version in the trailer 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:55pm

Globefan said: "If the Somewhere Ballet was cut, we would've heard the Tony/Maria duet version in the trailer"

I don't think that means anything. The song could be used anywhere in the plot and sung by anyone in the movie. Tony/Maria could sing it and it be a ballet or it could not. I don't think it necessarily matters. Who knows? You could end up being right! :) 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 4:59pm

^ In the first teaser, there was Valantina singing it

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:09pm

I hope the soundtrack comes out before the movie 

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:27pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "Here is my question or worry I have-and maybe needlessly so.

But on speculation, it seems like Rita Moreno's take on Doc is more thoughtful and a warmer perspective.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

I hope I'm wrong cause I've always thought the theme of the adults in West Side is they are ineffective. They aren't warm or giving these kids enough sense to stop violent behavior. They just kinda shrug and are passively watching them go to war.

So I think to make the character of Doc more a mentor feels like there would be more cause for these kids to not behave how they are.

I dunno, just a thought. If you've seen the movie can you confirm if Rita Moreno's character is different in the way I'm describing?"

I like your insight into the use of the adult characters, but I don't think Doc is supposed to be in the same category as the rest of the adults (which I agree are meant to be percieved the way you describe). I actually think Doc is the worst stereotype in the work, though he's not as common a stereotype, so I don't think he's often recognized as such. But I think he's the "harmless, adorable, warm-hearted Jewish character" and it drives me nuts every time I see one in old movies or plays. It comes from an era when antisemitism was still felt to be fairly strong, so even Jewish writers presented Jewish characters as meek and mild and docile so as to make them culturally acceptable or lovable. It was actually a kind of Uncle Tom-ism in its way. 

So, though I'm not much looking forward to this movie, I LOVE the idea of making Doc a stronger or at least more respectable character. That there would be a female drugstore owner known as Doc in the late 50's/early 60's is not terribly likely, but who knows? Maybe they've changed her name.

 

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:40pm

joevitus said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "Here is my question or worry I have-and maybe needlessly so.

But on speculation, it seems like Rita Moreno's take on Doc is more thoughtful and a warmer perspective.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

I hope I'm wrong cause I've always thought the theme of the adults in West Side is they are ineffective. They aren't warm or giving these kids enough sense to stop violent behavior. They just kinda shrug and are passively watching them go to war.

So I think to make the character of Doc more a mentor feels like there would be more cause for these kids to not behave how they are.

I dunno, just a thought. If you've seen the movie can you confirm if Rita Moreno's character is different in the way I'm describing?"

I like your insight into the use of the adult characters, but I don't think Doc is supposed to be in the same category as the rest of the adults (which I agree are meant to be percieved the way you describe). I actually think Doc is the worst stereotype in the work, though he's not as common a stereotype, so I don't think he's often recognized as such. But I think he's the "harmless, adorable, warm-hearted Jewish character" and it drives me nuts everytime I see one in old movies or plays. It comes from an era when antisemitism was still felt to be fairly strong, so even Jewish writers presented Jewish characters as meek and mild and docile so as to make them culturally acceptable or lovable. It was actually a kind of Uncle Tom-ism in its way.

So, though I'm not much looking forward to this movie, I LOVE the idea of making Doc a stronger or at least more respectable character. That there would be a female drugstore owner known as Doc in the late 50's/early 60's is not terribly likely, but who knows? Maybe they've changed her name.

"

Valentina is the name of Rita Moreno's character 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:41pm

That there would be a female drugstore owner known as Doc in the late 50's/early 60's is not terribly likely, but who knows? Maybe they've changed her name.

They did.  Her name is Valentina.  

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:44pm

It's really, really obvious in the trailer. Lolz.