Customer Reviews

West Side Story

5 star:		(284)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

Wow. What a great DVD.

The one hour documentary featuring interviews with some of the cast, Robert Wise, Harold Prince, Sondheim, and some key crew members is completely engrossing. Home movie footage showing the filming of the movie is included. Examples of the techniques that the movie makers used to film a musical are fascinating. I was amazed that the knife scene, for example, is COMPLETELY counted out and the actor/dancers' movements were choreographed down to the second (breath, two, three, four; stab, two three; look, two, three, four). Incredible! Rita Morena is particularly informative regarding the dubbing of her song "A Boy Like That". The Robbins/Wise codirecting of the film is explained. And some of Natalie Wood's original vocals are included. The documentary is invaluable for fans of the film.

As for the film itself, it looks and sounds incredible on my widescreen HDTV. The anamorphic transfer is very good.

The DVD is packaged very well. The book which accompanies the set is very cool, with a great introduction by screenwriter Ernest Lehman (who is one of my movie heros).

I'm very impressed with this special edition of WEST SIDE STORY. The film is a classic, and deserves such treatment.

"West Side Story" is proof that the sum of its parts can not only be greater than the whole, but possibly be the greatest!

Little known writer in Elizabethian England pens a drama about two star-crossed lovers. Flash ahead to the turbulent streets of New York in the late 1950s and early 60s. Turn feuding families to rival gangs. Add music, choreography, make it vital. Then find a brilliant director who knows what to show, and watch as it takes home every Oscar it can.

We know the story of this film but what's important for you to know about here are the extras you get in this package that make it worth your while: The first disc is the film, preserved perfectly. And the second disc has your special features.

First, you get a great documentary on the making of the film. Titled "West Side Memories," Principals like Sondheim, Moreno, Chakiris, Beymer and more sit before the cameras and explain the process of preparing and executing what could be the finest example of the Hollywood Musical, ever. It's a piece that's could have been a stand alone DVD, it's so rich with insights.

You also get an interesting "Storyboard to Film" montage, where you see the artist's renderings of the scenes, and how those shots looked when they appeared in the film. You get to study these storyboards more carefully in several galleries on the disc. Lots of other goodies, like the theatrical trailers and photos galore... everything from Jerome Robbins's cattle call for dancers to location shots during production!

And if that wasn't enough, there's a massive book that comes with the set, that includes the complete script of the film, the original lobby brouchure that theater patrons who attended the film received, which has more photos and info, and the newspaper clippings lauding the film as it took its place in movie musical legend.

It's simply a valentine to a remarkable film, and a fantastic package, all the way around.

Highly recommended.

I have loved this movie since I first saw it as a kid and I have been eagerly anticipating it's release on blu-ray. How disappointed I am to now learn that some major flaws have apparently been made in the transfer to high-def. Apparently MGM/Fox will not be recalling the set, but will at some future date replace discs for those who want to send them in. This makes the decision to buy it now, before seeing exactly what kind of fix takes place and how it is implemented, a more difficult decision than it might otherwise have been. I should probably have posted this for discussion in the forums section, but most people don't read those and I think people should be alerted to this issue so they can make an informed decision before deciding to lay down their hard earned money.

This issue has been written about by Robert Harris, one of the best known and most admired film restorers. For a more detailed discussion go to
HomeTheaterForum.com and/or Blu-Ray.com

This great film and it's fans deserve the best possible treatment on blu-ray. As someone pointed out in a comment at Home Theater this is probably the last hard disc edition before everything goes to streaming. That's another reason why we should demand that they get it right.

UPDATE: I've just finished watching the blu-ray and I can not recommend it. The issues with the blackout in the Overture and the quality of the image in some of the scenes are regrettable, but if that was all that was wrong I could probably deal with it. What I can't deal with is the audio which is a disaster. The 7.1 mix sounds like it's being heard through a pillow. The 4.0 mix has much more snap and presence, but the extreme stereo separation is horribly unnatural and distracting. I've seen this movie many times and I've never noticed this before. Dialogue was not centered. When Bernardo and Anita are talking in the stairwell after the "America" number they are shot close up and centered on the screen, but her voice is emerging from the far right and his is coming from the far left. When Maria is making her final speech after Tony's death her voice is constantly bouncing from left to right every time the camera shifts position. Also, there are times, particularly when the gangs are singing in "Quintet" that they sound like they're in an echo chamber. On top of this the rear channels are disproportionately loud forcing me to adjust the balances for my speakers. And before anyone asks I'm quite certain that these problems are not due to any shortcoming with my sound system.
I'm also disappointed that, unlike the previous dvd release, the blu-ray provides no option for watching without the intermission. I never saw this with an intermission in the theater and I find it to be unnecessary and intrusive. Apparently the first theatrical showings of the movie had the intermission, but Robert Wise didn't want it and it should just be dropped. Some movies, like "The Sound of Music" are structured around an intermission. This one isn't. Besides, it's not quite long enough to justify an intermission.

West Side Story

Score: 86/100

In 1961, West Side Story, this endearing classic, garnered a total of ten academy awards, which is one of the most plausible amounts ever. The film is now terribly ignored by audiences, but for me, West Side Story set a standard that remains, most likely, unsurpassed in movie musicals. It's that good.

West Side Story is a musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in New York City, where rival street gangs - the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks - battle for territory and respect. Is the love affair between former Jets leader Tony (Richard Beymer), and Maria (Natalie Wood), sister to Sharks' leader Bernardo, doomed to failure? Well, you're doomed until you find out, so grab this movie as soon as you.

West Side Story is a truly electrifying piece of cinema, it sets ageless tragedy on the slums of New York in the 1950's and does it maturely and with stunning style. The violence and some unnecessary language may slightly falter it, but Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's unforgettable score, which includes such famous songs as Maria, America and Tonight, and Jerome Robbins' exuberant chereography makes up for whatever may put the film down. Performances are no problem for these now-crinkly actors; Natalie Wood captures Maria with such heartbreaking richness that makes her performance ignored beauty, while Richard Beymer is excellently controlled in his performance as the confused but honest Tony. Oscar-winners Rita Moreno and George Chakiris both make sure this film is satisfying in supporting performances as well.

West Side Story is a lovely film that remains a feast for the eye, the ear and, ultimately, the heart.

When "West Side Story" hit the Broadway stage it must have shocked theater critics. A balletic musical about street gangs and murder, with such an emotional swell built in, that even the most hardened cynics must have left the show dewey-eyed and humming the Leonard Berstein score. The film created nothing less than an international craze and garnered an unprecidented 10 Oscars - the most of any musical.
PLOT: In a nut shell, this is Romeo and Juliet in the ghetto. Natilie Wood (dubbed by Marni Nixon) is Maria; poor, Puertorican and in love with Richard Beymer (Tony). But her brother, Bernardo (George Chakaris) and his girlfriend, Anita (Rita Moreno) don't approve. If you know your Shakespeare, you know how this one ends. The difference here are the songs, so electric and outstanding that they easily steal the show. Try listening to "America" or "I Feel Pretty" without tapping your toes or "One Hand, One Heart" without getting goose-bumps. It's impossible.

MGM gives us some nice packaging and some extras but let's state the obvious first: this transfer is identical to the one previously issued on DVD. Having said that, the transfer is quite good, with a rich bold color scheme and fair solid blacks. But there are cases where edge enhancement is present and quite obtrusive. There's also a lot of pixelization in the backgrounds.
Certain scenes appear slightly out of focus, while others are so sharp that even with your televsion sharpness turned to zero, the image is rather hard to look at on the screen.
The soundtrack is very strident. Songs are presented at an explosive listening level that really rocks the house. But other bits of dialogue are soft or muffled. Some of the songs have a grating high pitch to them that really strains the ear. A moderate listening level is recommended to fully appreciate this audio.
Now for the extras - for starters we get a very handsome book that contains the entire script as well as personal reflections from the producers and cast and newspaper clippings of the initial reviews. The print quality of the book is okay, but the photo image quality herein is simply unacceptable, with smeared images of original stills and others that have faded colors.
Since this is a two-disc set, the movie is on disc one, with the option to listen and view with or without the intermission music - a very nice touch. Disc 2 contains a documentary "West Side Memories" that is somewhat disappointing in that not all the cast members have their say.
Missing from the proceedings are George Chakaris (Bernardo) who is still alive and should have been included. Yes, Natalie Wood is no longer with us but I find it hard to believe that she never gave any sound bytes to the press ever, with regard to her participation on the film. Marni Nixon, who dubbed for Natalie is also not present to lend her expertise and talk about the art of dubbing, which she did plenty of during Hollywood's golden age. There's also no Ernest Lehman - odd, considering how active he's been on other special edition DVD's.
This documentary is self-congratulatory and pretty much plays it safe. The premiere and the film's enduring popularity are glossed over.
On disc 2 we get the isolated intermission music presented a second time - for what reason, I'm not sure - presumably to fill disc space. There's also a montage of stills set to music and no less than five theatrical trailers - all of them looking pretty dull and worn out. Lastly, we get a shameless add from MGM, promoting its other DVD releases. That's pretty much it. A real waste of a second disc if you ask me. Yes, the documentary is fairly comprehensive, but it could have fit on side two of a flipper disc. Yes, the book is a nice companion piece but it's not printed with high quality in mind. The handsome packaging on the exterior hints to more hidden treasures than are actually found inside.
BOTTOM LINE: A genuine work of art. The transfer is nice, just not pristine. The extras are okay, but don't really live up to the excitement one has before taking the plastic wrapper off.

Its hard to review a film like "West Side Story, that has been cannonized as a film classic. All I can do is try to relate the joy, energy and wonder I feel everytime I view this movie. This is one of those rare instances in film history, where commerce/box office success intersects with great art to create an entertainment legacy, that is truely special. We all pretty much know the story. It is a modern, musical retelling of Shakesphere's Romeo and Juliet.Instead of aristocratic families, we have poor NYC youth gangs(Jets & the Sharks), who battle for territory and respect.Two young lovers (Tony & Maria) from the opposite sides try to end the violence, but ultimately their love cannot overcome hate and biogtry.Where do you start with what makes this movie great? Do you begin with the talented youthful cast? Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood both are wonderful as the young lovers, who make the ultimate sacrifice. Likewise Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris give amazing performances as young people, who are caught up in a world that dosn't seem to understand their need to explode in violence. The entire cast is just fantastic and never gives us a false note of acting. Then there is the music. The Leonard Bernstein/ Stephen Sondheim songs such as"Tonight", "Maria", "America", "Somewhere" and the rest of the score have become enshrined in our cultural consciousness. Everytime I watch this movie I unknowingly start singing along to those wonderful tunes, that just seem to stick in your brain and make your toes tap. Finally there is the brilliant Choreogaphy of Co-Director, Jerome Robbins. The only word that comes to mind is 'GENUIS', when I see the dancing at the gym or during the songs "America" and "Cool".How did he get the actors to move like that? The story, music and dancing all comes together under the artistry of Robbins and his Co-Director Robert Wise, who both share the responsiblity for the creation of this filmmaking masterpiece."West Side Story" has now been lovingly remastered in a 'Special Edition', two DVD set.If you are a fan of this movie, then you will be in heaven with the tons of extras included. Most prominent is a great one hour documentary called "West Side Memories", which includes both home movies, original vocal soundtracks, and interviews from actors and production people. Also included along with the DVDs is a 150 page book, that has the script, publicity materials and reviews from the original film release. If you are a fan of "West Side Story" or classic movies in general, then I highly recommend this 'Special Edition'!

This new release of "West Side Story" on DVD is a masterstroke of entertainment.: a perfect blend of music, choreography, and talent, such that the screen hasn't seen since the making of this film.

Now I must admit that I haven't been a huge fan of this film prior. It seems that the two other times that I tried watching this, I actually fell asleep. I knew that I wanted to like this movie, and now, after watching the DVD release of this movie, I understand why.

The transfer of the film to DVD is flawless. The movie looks sumptous and rich, the sound incredible, and the music soars. Every performance in the film, from Russ Tamblyn to Natalie Wood to Rita Moreno, and so on and so on, is powerful and compelling. The huge dancing numbers are visually mesmerizing, you get lost in the middle of them constantly.

In fact, the directing of Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins is inspiring. I hate it when you have a large dance number, and it suffers by having to view closeup after closeup without ever being able to see the entire number. Robbins and Wise pull back and allow the dancing to speak for itself. I only wish other directors would realize you don't need a thousand cuts in a dance number to make it exciting.

When purchasing DVDs, I tend to look beyond the simple inclusion of the movie when rating a set. This DVD is loaded, and I mean LOADED with goodies. Not only do you get the movie, but it comes with an interesting documentary, trailers, behind the scene photos, and even includes a "scrapbook" of the script complete with pictures and other information. This DVD has set the standard for all other DVD releases in the future.

So come on, enjoy the Sharks, Jets, their fighting, dancing, all set in the arms of an amazing love story. No wonder AFI chose this as one of the 100 best films of all time. This new DVD collection is one of the best of all time as well.

There's not too much point in my writing a review of this movie, since everyone already knows it's great. But perhaps I have a slightly different slant on it, because I hate - and I mean, I absolutely HATE - musicals. I would have walked out of the Academy Award-winning "Oliver" if I hadn't promised my wife I'd sit through the entire thing.

Probably my primary reason for hating musicals is that the music is always so out of character with the scenes and characterizations. If a movie is good, then the viewer experiences a temporary suspension of reality, in which he projects himself into the world of the movie, with all of its characters and moods. The effect of most songs in a musical is to jar that mood away and to destroy that illusion. For example, in "Oliver" a bunch of street urchins in Victorian England suddenly stop what they're doing and start dancing up and down the street singing, "Consider Yourself At Home". The scene is ridiculous on its face, and the viewer can never take those street urchins seriously again. For me this one difficulty destroys any chance I have of liking or even respecting almost any musical.

But "West Side Story" is a shining and spectacular exception to the rule. Not only is the story a beautiful one (after all, you can't improve on Shakespeare), not only are the actors and actresses uniformly superb, but the music is so well integrated into the plot and the characterizations that it almost never becomes the jarring influence that it is in so many other films. When Tony sings "I've just met a girl named Maria", when Maria sings, "I Feel Pretty", when all of the groups of characters sing "Tonight, Tonight" in anticipation of the fateful evening - all of these are circumstances in which a real person would FEEL like singing. Instead of stopping the action dead in its tracks, the songs move things forward. Instead of rendering the personalities of the characters less believable, these songs reinforce the characterizations.

Even as stand-alone pieces of music, the Bernstein-Sondheim score puts its competitors to shame. Has any song ever packed more social commentary into a believable and entertaining production piece than "Officer Krupke"? Has there ever been a better wedding song than "One Hand, One Heart"? What song has ever expressed more effectively and fervently the desire of two lovers for a better world and a better life than "There's A Place For Us"?

I hate to use a cliche, but: It doesn't get any better than this.

There are known issues on this blu ray release. The studio says it will fix the problems ONLY in future manufacturing. Don't buy this one right away. It's a great film and it's opening moments were accidentally mutilated by the blu ray mfr. I am surprised a mass distributor like Amazon is moving forward and shipping this bad pressing.

When a film is based on a Broadway musical, usually a number of changes have to be made, and people who saw the work on stage feel that the film version loses its integrity. "West Side Story" is one Broadway musical that is often considered an exception to this rule and seems better on film. While the film's version of the work is able to capture all of New York, this is not the only reason for the film's success. Some of the musical numbers are rearranged and slightly rewritten which makes the film version flow a bit better than the stage production. Even though MGM's Golden Days of Musicals had long ended when "West Side Story" was filmed, we see the former glory of this great studio in this film.

The film has some of Hollywood's greats including the young Natalie Wood as Maria (a lip-syncing Maria, but that's no problem) and Rita Moreno as Anita. The singing is great, the dancing leaves a viewer spellbound, and the story is timeless. While we know we are in 1950's NYC, it could happen today. It is no wonder that both the film and the stage production are revered by so many. It is a great film and deserves its rightful place in film history.

For people considering purchasing this DVD set, the collector's edition is well worth the price. Viewers can see the movie as it would have originally aired in movie theatres, complete with intermission music, see behind the scenes tidbits, and get a commemorative book filled with photographs and interesting information.