West Side Story [VHS]
by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
![West Side Story [VHS]](/images/West-Side-Story-VHS-0792837614-L.jpg)
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VHS Tape Cover Information
Actor: George Chakiris, Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, Russ TamblynDirector: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog; Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
Running Time: 151 minutes
Release Date: 1998-01-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
VHS Movie Reviews of West Side Story [VHS]
Movie Review: Classic Musical, and Look Out for Tucker Smith
Summary: 5 Stars
What can I say that already hasn't been said by more eloquent reviewers already about West Side Story the movie? It deviated a bit from the original Broadway musical but the movie here still wack a wallop in terms of Jerome Robbins' groundbreaking choreograpny, Robert Wise's direction, and Leonard Bernstein's music. The movie is presented in widescreen of course, and as it should be, so the entire scope of the amazing and exhiliariting dance numbers can be seen as it was originally intended.
West Side Story traced the rivalry between two gangs, the native born Americans Jets and the Puerto Rican born Sharks. The Jets and Sharks turn out to be more alike than unlike and had the capacity to be friends, yet ethnic differences and the stubborness of both sides eventually leads to the deaths of both gangs' leaders and destroyed a relationship between the sister of the leader of the Sharks and an ex-Jets member which could have unite the two together.
The bonus second disc has a very informative and enlightening documentary on the making of the film, including clips featuring Natalie Wood and Russ Tamblyn's own vocals before they were dubbed in. In fact, Wood's vocals were not that bad, but her voice do quiver when she have to hit the high notes. Russ Tamblyn's original vocals for the Jet Song was also featured on the bonus disc, his voice was alright too, but has to be replaced by Tucker Smith due to contractural reasons.
The piece de resistance of the set is the booklet that came with it. The booklet first have a timeline that traced West Side Story's origins from Broadway smash to cinematic legend. Then the entire screenplay is included, with pictures from the movie inserted at key sequences in the script. The screenplay followed, for the most part, the original Broadway prodcution with the addition of the character Ice (Tucker Smith) and the elimination of Diesel. Ice would went on to assume Diesel's role and also many of Action's lines. After that is a reproduction of the original lobby brochure and finally, newspaper clippings reviewing the movie and of the premiere of the movie (get your magnifying glass out!)
Casting wise, the male Jets are more distinctive in terms of their individuality and characterizations. While their rivalry with the Sharks are based in no small part to racism, they are still likeable....until they assaulted Anita. With the exception of Anybodys, the Jet girls for the most part are undeveloped (pow, poo, ooblee-pooh). This trend is reversed in the Sharks, where the female characters turn out to be more interesting than the guys, with the exception of Bernardo. Despite incorporating the Shark guys in the song "America", most of them remain undistinctive.
While everyone seem to mention the usual suspects: Moreno, Wood, Beymer, Tamblyn, etc, etc, another cast member that also deserved to be mentioned is the late Tucker Smith, who played Ice, the second-in-command of the Jets. The last time I saw "West Side Story" in any form was when I was grade school, which was in the late 70s. Perhaps it is because of the widescreen, and that my sense of perception has matured, watching the movie I found myself constantly drawn to Tucker Smith. This often overlooked dancer/singer/actor, in my humble opinion, steals just about every scene he was in, especially the mambo dance sequence in the gymnasium, where he clearly was the best male dancer in the cast (he can clearly throw his legs much higher and arch his back more than even the "epitome of masculine grace" George Chakiris). He exuded charisma and star quality and certainly danced and looked better than any of the male leads. For whatever reason his career seem to have stalled in Hollywood. Although there were some rumours on why he didn't go on to bigger things but that is a matter to be discussed someplace else.
Summary of West Side Story [VHS]
This brilliant (The New Republic) film sets the ageless story of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950s New York. Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and scripted by Ernest Lehman, the film combines Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's unforgettable score ( Maria, America, 'somewhere, 'tonight ) with Robbins own exuberant choreography to achieve an exhilarating work of art (Saturday Review). A love affair is fated for tragedy amidst the vicious rivalry of two street gangsthe Jets and the Sharks. When Jets member Tony (RichardBeymer) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of the Sharks leader, it's more than these two warring gangs can handle. And as mounting tensions rise, a battle to the death ensues, and innocent blood is shed in a heartbreaking finale.The winner of 10 Academy Awards, this 1961 musical by choreographer Jerome Robbins and director Robert Wise (The Sound of Music) remains irresistible. Based on a smash Broadway play updating Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the 1950s era of juvenile delinquency, the film stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as the star-crossed lovers from different neighborhoods--and ethnicities. The film's real selling points, however, are the highly charged and inventive song-and-dance numbers, the passionate ballads, the moody sets, colorful support from Rita Moreno, and the sheer accomplishment of Hollywood talent and technology producing a film so stirring. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the score. --Tom Keogh
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