westsidestory

Gold Cost International Film Festival Announces Events: 50 Years of West Side Story, Talent Agent Budd Burton Moss

This year’s Second AnnuAl Gold Coast International Film Festival will present two pre-festival programs that capture all the excitement and energy of Hollywood and all that it evokes: "West Side Story: Celebrating 50 Years" and "Conversation with Budd Burton Moss & His Hollywood Friends."

Most everyone living today has seen or at least heard of West Side Story. Fifty years ago, the classic film adaptation of the Broadway musical went on to win 10 Academy Awards, still the most of any musical film. In celebration of its 50 years, Gold Coast will present a pre-festival screening of the film at the New York Institute of Technology’s Auditorium on Broadway in New York City. And, as a special treat, two of the stars of the film, Academy Award winner George Chakiris (Bernardo) and Russ Tamblyn (Riff) will be on hand for a pre-screening Q&A.
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West Side Story was reborn in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, when the Sydney Symphony played Leonard Bernstein's electrifying orchestral score live in January while the newly remastered film was shown in glorious high definition with the original vocals and dialogue. Find out the challenges behind the project and how the producers made it.

'West Side Story' Dancers Celebrate Film's 50th Anniversary

By Jessica Gardner

The film version of "West Side Story" marked its 50th anniversary in 2011. The beloved screen transfer of the legendary Broadway musical won 10 Oscars in 1961, including best picture and best director for Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. AFI ranks it number 41 on its list of 100 greatest American movies, and it ranks number two on AFI's greatest movie musicals list. In 1997, the film was chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry for being deemed "culturally significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress.

In the film, dance is as important as Stephen Sondheim's lyrics and Leonard Bernstein's music. The dancers are front and center, acting— through Robbins' difficult, stylized, and emotional choreography—the story of a modern Romeo and Juliet torn apart by gang warfare. Not much is known, however, about the amazing actor-dancers who played the Jets and the Sharks. Some of them were not even listed in the film's credits.

Robert Banas and Tony Mordente, who played the Jet gang members Joyboy and Action, had the idea to put together a memoir of the "West Side" actor-dancers. "Our Story—Jets & Sharks—Then and Now" covers their auditions, their filming experience, and how the film influenced their lives and careers. The book was released in 2011 to mark the film's half-century celebration, as was a three-disc Blu-ray DVD.
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Our Story Jets and Sharks Then and Now: As Told By Cast Members From the Movie West Side Story by 12 cast members from the 1961 film. 300 pages of reminiscences from Jets Russ Tamblyn, Tony Mordente, Bert Michaels, David Bean, Harvey Hohnecker(Evans), Robert Banas, Gina Trikonis and Carole D'Andrea as well as Sharks Eddie Verso, Nick Covacevich, Joanne Miya and Maria Henley. ( Read more... )

WEST SIDE STORY: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review

by Nico

What do you call something that combines gang warfare, race relations and Shakespeare? Well, if you add infectious songs and unbelievable dancing, you call it West Side Story. More Jets and Sharks in our review of the 50th Anniversary West Side Story Blu-ray after the jump.


My wife loves musicals. I love movies. I thought watching West Side Story together might be time well spent as a couple. As it turns out, for me, it was time well spent as a film-lover and student of the craft.
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Win a 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray of "West Side Story"

I've been meaning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of West Side Story (1961) for two months now. I've shirked my duties as a fan.

When you're a fan, you're a fan all the way, from your first sing-along to your last dying day. ♫

But no more! In addition to December being the kick off for our year in review festivities let's celebrate the greatest musical ever written here and there with posts about the 1961 multiple Oscar winner.

I have two copies of the 50th anniversary Blu-Ray to give away. To enter simply send me an e-mail [filmexperience(at)gmail(dot)com] with "WSS" in the subject line by Sunday night, December 4th with the following information.

1. Your full name and mailing address
(this will be kept private unless you win in which case the studio gets your info to send you the prize!)

2. An anecdote about your personal relationship to this movie, be it a favorite song, first time you saw it, moment you love, favorite character, line from a song you have used in public or WHATEVER... (This second part may not be kept private. I might quote you in a future post!)

Enter the contest TONIGHT!


tonight, tonight
the world is wild and bright
going mad
shooting sparks into space

http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2011/12/2/win-a-50th-anniversary-blu-ray-of-west-side-story.html

Interviews: Stars of ‘West Side Story’ on its 50th Anniversary

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – The legend of the 1961 film version of the Broadway sensation “West Side Story” grows as the years go by. Who better to remember that legend 50 years later than three of the stars of that Academy Award winning Best Picture – Rita Moreno (Anita), George Chakiris (Bernardo) and Russ Tamblyn (Riff).

The film version of “West Side Story” had it all. There was controversy – star Natalie Wood (Maria) was neither Puerto Rican nor sang her own songs. There was art – the classic, unforgettable songs of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, plus the athletic and graceful choreography of Jerome Robbins. And finally, there were the awards. TEN Oscars including Best Supporting nods for both Moreno and Chakiris, in addition to the first shared Best Director award for Robbins and co-director Robert Wise.

HollywoodChicago.com got the privilege last year of interviewing three of the main stars of West Side Story – Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tambyn – as they reminisced on their participation in one of the most iconic movie musicals ever put to screen. The good, the bad and the ugly came out of these sessions, in accordance with the hindsight and perspective of 50 years.
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'West Side Story' Debuts in Glorious Hi-Def

George Thomas
Cleveland Movie Examiner

When the great Mikhail Baryshnikov deems it necessary to offer commentary on a film’s legacy, then you must pay attention.

But when it comes to West Side Story (No rating, MGM, $16.99-$44.99 depending on version, 5-of-5 stars), no one ever had to get me to pay attention. Baryshnikov’s presence is still welcome, however.

The film – quite simply – is one of the top three musicals to ever grace Broadway and, without a doubt, it’s the best adaptation of a Broadway musical for the screen.
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"West Side Story" turns 50
Half a century since the Oscar-winning classic "West Side Story" hit the big screen, stars Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris look back at their experiences making one of the greatest musicals in cinematic history. Alexis Christoforous reports.





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