Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 33

[NameGreg]

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

Yes and Doc is still technically a character here as Valentina is supposed to be his widow. Which I think was a very clever way of including her in this role.

I’m certain it’s not gonna happen, but I would absolutely adore it if they had Valentina keep a picture of her and Doc and it’s actually Rita and George Chakiris.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:48pm

Apparently there is a test sneak screening Monday night in Sherman Oaks.

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:58pm

SmokeyLady said: "Apparently there is a test sneak screening Monday night in Sherman Oaks."

I'd love to be in that test screening 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:01pm

SmokeyLady said: "Apparently there is a test sneak screening Monday night in Sherman Oaks."

Oohh that's cool. I hope we hear some reports from it! Thanks for the info. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:06pm

The other vibe I've gotten from the adults in West Side is "They didn't have to go to Korea or Japan in the war. What a charmed life these kids have being able to just run around."

Like there's a resentment for how easy the kids have it in their eyes.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:14pm

SmokeyLady said: "Apparently there is a test sneak screening Monday night in Sherman Oaks."

Thanks. Hopefully the people invited are allowed to report on the movie afterwards.

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:15pm

The people who go to the test screenings probably have to sign something 

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:16pm

Globefan said: "

Valentina is the name of Rita Moreno's character"

Thank you.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:17pm

I’m certain it’s not gonna happen, but I would absolutely adore it if they had Valentina keep a picture of her and Doc and it’s actually Rita and George Chakiris.

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:17pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The other vibe I've gotten from the adults in West Side is "They didn't have to go to Korea or Japan in the war. What a charmed life these kids have being able to just run around."

Like there's a resentment for how easy the kids have it in their eyes."

While I'm not sure of Laurents intended that, I think it's a good insight into the characters as they stand, and if I were playing one of the adults, I'd definitely have that in my head as part of my character's subtext.

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:25pm

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."

Ugh, you have reminded me not to take Sondheim's enthusiasm seriously. He also said the film version of Into the Woods was the best adaptation of any of his works. As I think he's wrong (the original film version of West Side Story is, to me, waaaaay better an adaptation than the movie version of Into the Woods), and as I thought the film version of Sweeney Todd was abysmal, Sondheim being excited about the new West Side Story adaptation now no longer makes me excited about it.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:27pm

Ok, I'll bite-- anyone know what theater in Sherman Oaks the screening is at? I happen to be free...

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 6:32pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "Ok, I'll bite-- anyone know what theater in Sherman Oaks the screening is at? I happen tobe free..."

I hope there's one in New York too 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 8:17pm

Someone in a Tree2 wrote: "Ok, I'll bite-- anyone know what theater in Sherman Oaks the screening is at? I happen tobe free..."

I would guess that it will be shown on one of Regal’s screens at the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 8:52pm

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.

"
 

If I had to guess this shot is most likely taken from Riffs section from the Quintet which probably also adds dialogue between each characters sections. 

 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 10:59pm

I really struggle to think of what moment in the show that should could be, but I really doubt that they’d include dialogue between the sections of the quintet, I feel like that would really mess up the song’s exhilarating pace. Also, the cold, angry look that Tony gives there is too at odds with how he is during the quintet. There he’s extremely hopeful and joyous believing he’ll be able to stop the violence with his love.

I’d previously been wondering what they’ll do with the overture. The original film played it in full but nowadays not even new stage shows typically use overtures. I’m gonna guess given Speilberg’s love of this music he’s not cutting any of it and he’ll find a way to include it. Though given just showing credits over that may take too long, I’ve wondered if maybe it could play over backstory and Tony grabbing that gun from Riff is when he leaves the gang? Adding onto that maybe we could see Maria arriving to America at which point the section of the song named after her plays? Maybe the fast Mambo section could be used to display Bernardo throwing punches as a boxer given his profession in this version.

I’m Probably reaching at straws with all that though, and while I could see it working, having action play out during the overture could be seen as overkill given the lengthy prologue would follow.

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 11:04pm

I suspect the overture is on the soundtrack release (what are we calling them now, when it's all sound files?), but no played in the movie, itself. Maybe over the closing credits, though?

[degrassifan]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 11:16pm

I don’t know why, but I feel like that scene is Cool. Why else would Tony and Riff struggle for a gun? I can see Riff wanting to bring it to the war council and Tony telling him to be cool and calm down. It’s not part of the quintet because Riff is wearing a black unbuttoned shirt during what I feel is the quintet. I’m using costumes to figure out the timeline of the story, and I *think* I’ve figured out most of it.
 

As for the overture, that would be so cool for this movie to have one, but movies these days barely have opening credits. The last new releases I can remember that had real opening credits were Mary Poppins Returns and live-action Aladdin. 
 

Much like live-action Aladdin and live-action Lion King, I wonder if certain established songs will have new lyrics by Sondheim, such as I Feel Pretty, and on both the soundtrack and in the end credits be listed as I Feel Pretty (2021)? 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 12:47am

Catch Me if You Can did have an opening main title sequence, so it's not impossible to think that Spielberg might do one here as well.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 1:03am

I mean I can see based on the picture that moment being “Cool”, though given that number is Riff calming down the Jets - while also hypocritically dancing in a pretty deranged fashion himself - I don’t think it truly fits with the image since it looks to be Riff himself needing to be calmed. And I find it doubtful they’d do the number with Riff around and not have him so the solo, or that they’d give Tony more to sing when he already had enough on that front.

[A Director]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 3:34am

degrassifan said: "


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."

The 1961 film was filmed in the area where Lincoln Center was built.

 

[A Director]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 3:47am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The other vibe I've gotten from the adults in West Side is "They didn't have to go to Korea or Japan in the war. What a charmed life these kids have being able to just run around."

Like there's a resentment for how easy the kids have it in their eyes."

You don't know history. The war with Japan ended in 1945. Most of the kids in West Side Story would have been too young to serve.  The Korean War ended in July 1953.  It is possible some of the older kids served. West Side Story, onstage, and both movie versions take place during the last days os Summer, 1957.  None of the kids in the show live a charmed life.

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 11:23am

Construction of Lincoln Center did start in 1955, so the timeline for it's mentioning in West Side Story 2021 checks out.

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 11:56am

Musical Master said: "Construction of Lincoln Center did start in 1955, so the timeline for it's mentioningin West Side Story 2021 checks out."

I believe they broke ground in 1959 but clearing residents out of the area took place before then

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 11:56am

And other than the cops, and Pops (now Valentina) what other adults are jpreseent in either the film or stage versions?  Am I forgetting a scene?