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#1

West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:37pm

The other day I was watching The Hollywood TRue Story of Natalie Wood, and they showed clips of West Side Story. I remember seeing this movie years ago... The music was great and so was the dancing.

What do you think?
#3

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:39pm

Besides Guys and Dolls and Porgy and Bess, West Side Story is my favorite musical. Just ever. The choreography is amazing, the songs catchy and pretty, and the ending heart wrenching. The way it was adapted from Romeo and Juliet impresses me so much.

And I love Natalie Wood. Even if she didn't really sing in the movie
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#4

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:40pm

The dancing is amazing. But Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood have absolutely no chemistry. Both miscast, especially him. However, the music and the dancing almost make up for it.
#5

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:41pm

Well as discussed on other threads recently, NOBODY does their own singing in the film. Not even Rita Moreno, who is dubbed on certain notes of "America" and all of "A Boy Like That."

I agree. Natalie Wood is a wonderful Maria. She's the heart of that film.
#6

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:42pm

Specifically about the film, I watched it not long ago. The thought that kept coming to mind was, "Every director who makes a movie musical should have to watch this one first. It's perfectly filmed." Not just the actual songs, but the way the editing works with the underscore and the dance sequences -- brilliant.
#9

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:18pm

Natalie Wood was NOT a miscast. She gave a splendid performance. And those b*tches screwed her over big time with the singing.

If this movie was done today, Natalie and the rest of the cast would be doing their own singing.
#11

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:23pm

Madonna and Prince approached Sondheim about doing a remake in the 1980s. Supposedly, he laughed in their faces.
#12

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:23pm

Hopefully more actors that are actually Latino.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#14

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:25pm

Shoot me - but Jenny Lo has the moves and look for Anita.
#16

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:26pm

Would her ass fit into that little purple dress? re: West Side Story
#17

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:27pm

Me too. She could definitely act the role too. She is getting a lot of buzz for her performance in the upcoming AN UNFINISHED LIFE.

#19

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:36pm

Personally, I cannot think of any film actors that have the vocal training necessary for this show. Anita could be done by J.Lo. I can see that. But for Maria? She needs to have such a pure, pristine voice. I wouldn't want to hear an untrained singer singing those songs. It wouldn't be right. I'm glad they dubbed it. Natalie Wood is an outstanding actress, but I fear for what her singing might have been like. Thank God for Marni Nixon!
#20

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:54pm

Some of the dubbing was unnecessary. Dubbing Russ Tamblyn for the Jet Song?? I think in some cases they went dubbing happy. I dunno, I feel like esp. for Maria and Tony they could have tried more to get people who could sing the parts, but I guess dubbing was used often in movies in those days.

Still though, as much as I love the movie and little order changes they make(switching Krupke w/ Cool) I like the OBC recording much better then the soundtrack, especially Tony, I loove Larry Kert's voice.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
#21

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:59pm

No matter who would've been casted as Maria and Tony in the original WSS movie - they would've been dubbed. The producers were "dubbing crazy."

Natalie Wood was an amazing actress, and some consider her the best Maria - even without singing her own vocals. And mind you Natalie's outtakes are somewhere. Sadly they haven't been released, but they let you sample some on the special eddition WSS dvd.

But all this was made up for - because they let Natalie use her beautiful vocals in the GYPSY movie.

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 05:59 PM

#22

re: West Side Story

Posted: 8/8/05 at 6:06pm

Ive commented on this before, but since its being discussed here.... I actually have heard all of Wood's vocal tapes. She could have used some sweatening to give her voice a fuller sound, but she certainly hits all the notes. I don't think she'd be dubbed today. Particularly, because her interpretation of the lyrics is so superior to what Marni Nixon did.

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