Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 45

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 9:47pm

degrassifan said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Also, these ABC News Specials are available on Hulu the next day so if you miss it, it’ll be on Hulu for a while."

Not always! I couldn't find the one they did for Mary Poppins Returns! I only watched half live and I had to leave to go somewhere."

Well, if you still want to watch it, its still on the ABC OnDemand:

https://abc.com/shows/2020/episode-guide/2018-12/23-122318-mary-poppins-returns-behind-the-magic

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 11:10pm

LOL that’s hilarious! All these years later! Thanks, Brody! Guess I can finish it now!

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 11:43pm

I'm so happy that TV networks still do these behind the scenes specials. I do remember when this happened to Mary Poppins Returns and I watched it; it was well done so I hope the same effort will apply to West Side Story, if not more.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 1:29pm

Musical Master said: "I'm so happy that TV networks still do these behind the scenes specials. I do remember when this happened to Mary Poppins Returns and I watched it; it was well done so I hope the same effort will apply to West Side Story, if not more."

Mary Poppins Returns feels like a million years ago at this point. 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 2:13pm

I am loving the graphics for the two new posters. Too bad that David Alvarez’ face is obscured on the Anita/Bernardo poster though.

[rg7759]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 8:24pm

Shamelessly asking for any heads up on attending the nyc premiere.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 10:20pm

rg7759 said: "Shamelessly asking for any heads up on attending the nyc premiere."

Is there a NYC premiere? I read somewhere that the LA premiere will be on Monday, December 6, but that's unconfirmed. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 10:24pm

degrassifan said: "rg7759 said: "Shamelessly asking for any heads up on attending the nyc premiere."

Is there a NYC premiere? I read somewhere that the LA premiere will be on Monday, December 6, but that's unconfirmed."

There will be various premieres including an L.A. and NY premiere as well as international premieres.  

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/30/21 at 12:45pm

I've been re-familiarizing myself with the score in anticipation of the film's release so I've been listening to the many recordings of it that are readily available. Aside from the more obvious changes that were made when this show was first adapted to the screen back in 1960 I noticed one that escaped me within the "Tonight (Quintet)". 

In the original version of the song as performed on Broadway in 1957 the following section was sung completely by Tony:

"Tonight, tonight

Won't be just any night

Tonight, there will be no morning star

Tonight, tonight

I'll see my love tonight

And for us, stars will stop where they are

Today the minutes seem like hours

The hours go so slowly

And still, the sky is light

Oh moon, grow bright

And make this endless day, endless night..."

In the 1961 film that section was divided between Tony and Maria. Tony sings the first part up until "And for us, stars will stop where they are..."

Maria then picks up the rest of it beginning with: "Today, the minutes seem like hours..." and sings the rest of it.

I am now wondering if the new film will use the original song structure and have Tony sing all of it as it was originally written, or will they use the version adapted for the 1961 film so that Rachel Zegler has more to sing within the Quintet. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 10/30/21 at 3:29pm

The logo of the title though.

 

You can't beat the iconic fire escapes with people dancing

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/30/21 at 3:56pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The logo of the title though.
You can't beat the iconic fire escapes with people dancing"

The new film's logo looks to me like a homage to the original title treatment from the 1961 film's advertising campaign. Each of the three words in the title are stacked one on top of the other and like the original film's logo is given a design that is meant to evoke the bricks of an inner-city tenement.

 

 

 

 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/30/21 at 4:05pm

At least they didn't go with the original Broadway production's logo which to my eye looks like something straight out of Archie comics...

Notice that on the sheet music the lyrics are credited to both Sondheim and Bernstein!



 

 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 11/1/21 at 11:09am

[degrassifan]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 11:09am

Making-of book is now coming out November 16! Already preordered mine. :) Also, check out some exclusive First Look pages and photos from the book in the link below. 

 

The Making of ‘West Side Story’ to Be Chronicled in New Book

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 11:44am

Judging from the storyboards from the book, "Tonight" is going to be staged in an interesting way with Tony climbing and swinging from the fire-escape at the start of the song. Also, Ansel Elgort wanting no harness for the number only to have a padded mattress below him is funny to read.

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 3:55pm

Pre-ordered mine as well!

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 11/3/21 at 5:00pm

Musical Master said: "Judging from the storyboards from the book, "Tonight" is going to be staged in an interesting way with Tony climbing and swinging from the fire-escape at the start of the song. Also, Ansel Elgort wanting no harness for the number only to have a padded mattress below him is funny to read."

Which sounds great cause I think what's always been missing from how that song is performed is sex, playfulness, and passion

It's such a beautiful song that's always directed very stagey and presentational.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 5:15pm

Ok, so I was on Wikipedia and I saw the following written about these songs. Take them with a grain of salt since it is Wikipedia, but they attribute their source to the new making-of book. 

Differences among film and stage versions

The film follows the song order of the Broadway script, except that both "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool" are performed in the first half, with "One Hand, One Heart" appearing in between. Tony sings "Cool" to Riff to get the Jets to wait to fight at the rumble that evening, instead of Riff singing it to encourage the Jets to stay cool during the war council at Doc's Drug Store.

Gee, Officer Krupke

In the 2021 film version, the song is again moved to the first half, performed prior to the rumble, with "Cool" moved to after "One Hand, One Heart" Additionally, instead of in the streets, the song takes place in the 21st Precinct of the New York City Police Department. 

Cool

Hours before the rumble, Tony (Ansel Elgort) sings it to Riff (Mike Faist) to get the Jets to wait to fight there that evening. 

Somewhere

In the 2021 film, the song takes place after "I Feel Pretty," like in the stage show, except now it is sung by Valentina (Rita Moreno), a reworked version of the character Doc. The ballet is again omitted, like in the 1961 film.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 5:29pm

No hay el “Somewhere” ballet. Que pinga?!

[Globefan]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 5:49pm

The changes to song placements sound fascinating 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 5:58pm

No "Somewhere Ballet"?? Well that's disappointing to find out; but considering this movie might be 2 hours and 30 minutes long, I guess I can understand why it would be cut.

[Globefan]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 6:01pm

Musical Master said: "No "Somewhere Ballet"?? Well that's disappointing to find out; but considering this movie might be 2 hours and 30 minutes long, I guess I can understand why it would be cut."

I think the making of book will give justification for why the ballet isn't in there 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 6:36pm

I'm sure it will, either Spielberg, Kushner or Peck will probably give their own reasons. I do love the idea that "Gee Officer Krupke" and "Cool" are very close together with "One Hand One Heart" in between them, not only that but "Cool" is sung by Tony this time around which will give Elgort a good excuse to sing some more.

I'm a little curious as to how and why "Krupke" is taking place inside a Police Department building, but all these changes do sound exciting and proves that this isn't a "remake" as it's been mistakenly called.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 6:48pm

Just remember this is all from Wikipedia and could be false. If they are indeed true, I can see why the ballet isn't in the movie. If WSS was more like La La Land, then I could definitely see the ballet being there, but it's not. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:27pm

degrassifan said: "Just remember this is all from Wikipedia and could be false. If they are indeed true, I can see why the ballet isn't in the movie. If WSS was more like La La Land, then I could definitely see the ballet being there, but it's not."

That's true, but I wouldn't put it past any of the creative team if they had to cut it out of the movie. Which is a shame because the "Somewhere Ballet" deserves to be on the big screen, even if Jerome Robbins chorography won't be used.