West Side Memories (2003)

Documentary attached to the 25th anniversary MGM collection. Details how this successful stage production was reared and molded into a beautiful cinematic one. Deep dives into how Robbins' ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Arick (as Michael M. Arick)

Writer:

Michael Arick (as Michael M. Arick)

Stars:

Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerome Robbins	...	Himself (1960 interview) (voice) (archive footage)
Arthur Laurents	...	Himself
Stephen Sondheim	...	Himself
Harold Prince	...	Himself (as Hal Prince)
Greg Lawrence	...	Himself
Walter Mirisch	...	Himself
Robert Wise	...	Himself
Richard Beymer	...	Himself
Robert E. Relyea	...	Himself (as Robert Relyea)
Tony Mordente	...	Himself
Rita Moreno	...	Herself
Russ Tamblyn	...	Himself
Harvey Evans	...	Himself (as Harvey Hohnecker)
Howard Jeffrey	...	Himself (archive footage)
Saul Chaplin	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Documentary attached to the 25th anniversary MGM collection. Details how this successful stage production was reared and molded into a beautiful cinematic one. Deep dives into how Robbins' choreography and Bernstein's score making processes.

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Plot Keywords:

making of | interview | cast | behind the scenes | actor | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Erinnerungen an die West Side Story

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alston Road Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This documentary is featured on the Special Edition DVD for West Side Story (1961), released in 2003.

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Connections

Features West Side Story (1961)

User Reviews

Interesting

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.