Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread — Page 36

Looks stunning! The art direction, set design, costumes, colors, and cinematography.... wow, wow, WOW!!! If the screenplay, acting, and singing is equally as brilliant, it's going to sweep the Oscars! Can't wait to see this on the biggest screen possible!

degrassifan said: "Globefan said: "Andrea Burns is in the film as Maria's boss"

I picked up on that in the trailer. Looks like Maria is part of the department store’s cleaning staff and Andrea Burns looks like the head of the cleaners."

Per the 1957 play and 1961 film, Maria and Anita work at a bridal shop. From that snippet, it clearly looks like an after hours moment in the bridal shop, hence the broom, etc. Judging from Maria’s movements, this looks to be the “I Feel Pretty” number.

SpiritualGangster said: "Globefan said: "I pre-ordered the making of book"



Is it the one by Laurent Bouzereau?"

Yep

I found a really interesting article on the development of Lincoln Square in the late 50s and early 60s, where Lincoln Center now stands. The neighborhood was then known as San Juan Hill, and the displacement of the residents of the neighborhood will be depicted in this new version of "West Side Story".

What is ironic (or maybe intentional?) is that the opening Prologue for the 1961 film version was shot at this very location amongst its empty tenements before they met the wrecking ball. Sections of the Prologue (the basketball court) were also filmed in Spanish Harlem.

Here is an excerpt from the article for context on what is going to be depicted in the new "West Side Story":

The redevelopment of Lincoln Square, however, led to the eviction of its majority black and Hispanic tenants, who then found themselves in Harlem or the Bronx and not in new housing units proposed by the Committee on Slum Clearance. The New York Times estimated that 7,000 lower-class families and 800 businesses were driven out of their former community.

“You cannot rebuild a city without moving people any more than you can make an omelet without breaking eggs,” said Moses during the 1959 ground-breaking ceremony. “We do, indeed, sympathize with tenants and do everything possible to help them. But we cannot give everybody and his lawyer what they want,” he said.

While San Juan Hill was characterized by city officials as a dirty, run-down slum, the neighborhood’s cultural significance should not be neglected. It was the birthplace of the Charleston and a haven for New Orleans jazz music, the place pioneering jazz pianist Thelonious Monk called home.



The complete article can be found here:

The story behind the lost neighborhood where ‘West Side Story’ is sethttps://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/02/25/story-behind-lost-neighborhood-where-west-side-story-set

Oh, you can safely assume EVERYONE living will be invited to the World Premiere. That’s a given. Not just principal actors but dancers as well. Everyone involved with either the Broadway production or the 1961 film adaptation.

I'm excited to see the new added scenes

“It’s always nerve-wracking to do a remake of something, especially something so iconic, but [Spielberg] really stayed true to the 1960s, which is amazing,” Ziegler, 18, told Variety.

Um, no. This here just shows how involved she was in this production. Everyone involved was clearly aware (from their scripts) that the film was taking place in 1957. I know 4 people who worked production and even THEY were aware of the film’s timeline and the word “remake” was never used at any time. She definitely was just a dancer in the film and a day-player when used anywhere else. Definitely second page on the Call Sheet talent.

Maybe she will, maybe she won't. Also, I have a feeling this will be a surprise late entry at the NYFF, some of Spielberg's other movies have been late entries as well.

BrodyFosse123 said: "“It’s always nerve-wracking to do a remake of something, especially something so iconic, but [Spielberg] really stayed true to the 1960s, which is amazing,” Ziegler, 18, told Variety.

Um, no. This here just shows how involved she was in this production. Everyone involved was clearly aware (from their scripts) that the film was taking place in 1957. I know 4 people who worked production and even THEY were aware of the film’s timeline and the word “remake” was never used at any time. She definitely was just a dancer in the film and a day-player when used anywhere else. Definitely second page on the Call Sheet talent. "

'

It's a remake whether other people call it that or not. Any number of the stills demonstrate aspects of the first film version are being recreated. I'm not sure there is a big enough difference between 1957 and 1961 for the average person on the set to mark the difference. I expect some of the crew would be expected to be more aware of the minute differences (to ensure consistent period set/costume/prop design) than a lot of the cast members.

There's a difference between remake, reboot, reimagining, and re-adaptation. I wish audiences would understand this. I just hate when people get so mad over anything being "remade." Plays and musicals get restaged all the time, but God forbid a movie is done more than once. I like seeing different perspectives and takes of the same story. Gerwig's Little Women made people fall in love with Amy March, whom you're supposed to hate in other versions. Cinderella (2015) expanded on characters and plot that the 1950 movie didn't touch upon. I see this West Side Story as a re-adaptation/revival but done on film instead of on stage.

Am I correct in saying that it’s an adaptation of elements from both the original stage and film versions? The reason I say this is because if it were an adaptation of just the original stage show then the Sharks wouldn’t be included in the “America” number. Also there is a whole lot of dialogue that is completely original and is not derived from the original stage book by Arthur Laurents.

Just my two cents…(wink)

@Joevitus, and I completely understand why they’re calling it an adaptation and not a remake and completely agree. Of course there will be shots and scenes that resemble the 1961 film because they’re both based on the same musical , not to mention Peck’s choreography is inspired by Robbins work so you will notice similarities. But as great as that film is, it was basically a stage production done on a soundstage and on location in NYC with a bigger budget. Besides adding the Shark guys to “America”, the placement of I feel Pretty, eliminating the dream ballet, and wrongfully (IMO) swapping the placement of Cool and “Officer Krupke”, the 1961 film is basically the same as the musical with almost all of Laurent’s dialogue used. It’s not exactly cinematic… it’s the film version of the stage show. Whereas, the films of Cabaret and Chicago for example are musical films based on their source material but are completely new adaptations for the medium of film.


This version of WSS completely rewrites the script and expanded it for the film medium. Spielberg and Kushner used the original stage musical and created an adaptation of that property into a Movie Musical. That is why they all are adamant that it’s an adaptation and not a remake.