West Side Memories

OK documentary on the making of "West Side Story". It has some of the original actors (like Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn) and director and executives talking about the film.

It is good to see some of the outtakes of certain scenes and hear Natalie Woods original recordings of the songs (she was dubbed because, basically, she couldn't sing) but I found this a little dull. I have little interest in art direction and such so this dragged.

For whatever reason George Chakiris wouldn't participate and they got just one or two guys from the gangs to participate. So you're listening to a lot of information from the same people. Also seemingly everyone (except Tamblyn) has forgotten that Wood HATED Richard Beymer and didn't want him. Even Beymer doesn't mention it (although he has talked about it before in other shows). So we're given a very cleaned up version of what went on.

Still it is worth seeing if you want a complete version of every aspect of the movie. I'm giving it an 8 (mostly because I love the movie) but I can't say I'm thrilled by it.