Matt has discovered West Side Story, the movie/musical. I scored a used DVD of this classic at the video game store, and slid it into the player despite the usual protests ("Ah, Mom, not another old movie!").
The opening sequence, if you don't recall, features an aerial shot of New York in the late 1960s. Matt is a fan of the Big Apple, so the familiar skyline (sans World Trade Center towers, since this was before they were built) caused his butt to lower onto the couch.
The music, the gorgeous art direction, edgy editing and shot composition. Have you seen this movie lately?
Matt might not have lasted through exposition or dialog, but the Jets Song follows quickly.
When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way
from your first cigarette to your last dyin' day.
I hope he doesn't get in trouble at school singing the Jets Song; the cigarette, and liberal use of the epithet "Buggin'." Matt has such a horror of cussing, he can't bring himself to finish the line "Bat out of Hell" -- but it sounds like he is.
The rapid, spot-on storytelling in that song is flawless. Boys banding together for brotherhood and protection, turning into men - it's thematically perfect to hold Matt's interest.
Now he's singing and leaping around the house acrobatically - and I fear at his elementary school too, though luckily Ms. Currie is a fan as well.
I found Variety's insightful original review and was struck by its freshness and energy. I associated this slick urban feel and open sexuality with later 60s, post Beatles, but this was 1961!
Related tidbits:
- The Library of Congress is featuring an exhibition of WSS materials through March 2008. I'd love to see Bernstein's annotated copy of Romeo & Juliet, Robbins' choreography notes, original scene outlines, and the tryout notes such as those on Warren Beatty ("good voice—can’t open his jaw—charming as hell—clean cut.").
- Two of the original castmembers recently appeared in the Disney movie Enchanted, in a Central Park dance number, according to a Bernstein forum post.
We discussed musicals, haves and have-nots, gangs then and now, choreography, Shakespeare and his continuing appeal, Leonard Bernstein (Matt recognized the name from Fantasia) problem solving through violence and immigration.
Not bad for a nearly 50-year-old movie. Wonder if there's a 50-year anniversary version DVD planned? The "Collector's edition" came out in 2003. The stage musical hit its 50-year mark this year (2007).
