Comparing ‘America’ from “West Side Story” film 1961 and 2021 | Leonard Bernstein | Steven Spielberg

#WestSideStory #StevenSpielberg #America #LeonardBernstein #StephenSondheim
#Music #Broadway #Movie #Comparison

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[daniellashah]

No matter which version you prefer one thing we can all agree ; Anitas and the dresses are fire and iconic

[YannLL]

I grew up with the original and love it, but this scene looked like a filmed stage production. Spielberg's take is so much more cinematic, spectacular, full of energy and movement. It looks like a real movie! And even if I love both, my preference has to be Spielberg's.

[valentinasisi]

I love both versions a looot, but I personally prefer Spielberg’s, I love seeing everyone smiling and enjoying their dancing (even Spielberg said so), I loved the detail that they showed the whole neighborhood and people joining in to dance. Besides the dancing in 2021 is superior for me, also the costumes. Everything’s so colorful and pretty. Rita Moreno and Ariana Debose slayed in both movies and that is a fact.

[drieuxkoeppel]

Justin Peck is the principal choreographer for the New York City Ballet. He was also the choreographer for the 2021 film. The ‘America’ sequence scenes were shot in New York City in July, when the pavement is BEASTLY HOT. Peck said Ariana DeBose kept melting holes in her shoes—from a combination of the heat—AND her dancing. He said her feet were moving so fast it created tremendous friction..and her shoes melted. Peck and wardrobe learned to keep multiple pairs of the same shoes for DeBose!

[semthornwood]

I honestly loved how they made the first one but my one problem is that in the original the "You forget I'm in America" is a very flirty line I always loved that part of the story and in the new version it doesn't give that same energy.

[coreyboggs]

I love both versions. They both convey something different. The original is more intimate. It’s about a group of friends hanging out. The remake is about the entire community. I’m more partial to the original version but I love the characterization of Bernardo in the remake. Anita is a badass in both versions!

[madisoncooper]

I love Spielberg’s version of this, and mainly because of one thing: community. He really highlights the differences between the two gangs in this movie. The Sharks have community, they have family’s and they have each other. However, the white capitalist world is against them, so instead they have to work together. You can really see that community in his version, especially at the end with the children getting involved and the whole west side watching. He highlights this further in the beginning as well after the first number when the Sharks sing and the community applauds them. They are protectors. The Jets don’t have this, the system doesn’t support them, their own families don’t support them - they only have The Jets. In fact, their song ‘stay cool boy’ which is supposed to prepare them for the rumble was changed by Spielberg to Tony trying to get them to change their mind, so even that was taken away from them. Spielberg’s film highlights what we don’t get in the production or even the original.

[aubryellaotero]

Two Oscar winning actresses for this stunning role. And it’s absolutely deserved.

[isismarielys]

I have to say, Ariana DeBose is very talented and did a good job with her role but it's literally impossible to get a better Anita than Rita Moreno. The sass, style, charisma and facial expressions are completely unmatched.

[abbeyBominable]

I love how the 2021's visuals are depicting what is said in the lyrics. Everything is so dynamic and beautiful.

The 60s version is beautiful too but feels too static. Even with the great dancing.

[belle-ashton]

1:41- 1:53 in Spielberg’s movie is genius. It first feels like you’re watching a report (Anita is looking at the audience) and then a parody of an add (the lyrics suggest that), BRILLIANT. So much creativity in this movie

[pauldrapiewski]

The original was more homoerotic, more sassy and biting, with better singing, and Rita Moreno remains unchallenged. But I like the new one as well. Great cinematography, costumes - I like all the changes of scenery, and the dancing and singing is commendable. The new Bernardo is definitely an eye full!

[vickytruckenmiller]

Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose sound so good together.

[belle-ashton]

Bernardo and Riff were so misogynistic with their girlfriends in the 61 version, I’m so glad they wrote more complex characters who are not too cartoonish in the 2021 version. It really feels like you’re watching real people. They’re still macho-like but their girls are standing up for themselves and they at least try to “listen” to them

[Caroline-jtez]

I loved how they included children at the end of the 2021 version, it's so cute.

[muffinamy]

All these comments about which is "better" really miss the point, I think. They're both beautiful and of their time. Equally good, imo. The new one feels more 'real' but that's because we're living in a 2021 reality, not 1961.

[ChristianHernandez]

The original feels more like a conversation between two sides

The newer one feels more like a music video

[alexanderguerrero]

3:00 is when I feel the 1961 version is better. George and Rita just have better chemistry and the movie feel better for it

[gogakushayemi]

Moving from the rooftop to the street really opens up the action and performance. 61 feels like a stage play. 21 feels more like a blockbuster.

Also, something I had forgotten until the 61 Anita actress (Rita Moreno) mentioned it. They painted all the "Puerto Ricans" brown in the 61 version. She said she hated it. Why should she, a Puerto Rican, have to be sprayed to look Puerto Rican.

Anyhow, love them both.

[rodbacote]

Both versions are amazing for different reasons. Speilberg opened it up to reflect the neighborhood and made it colorful and the original captured more of the rivalry between the sexes. But the best thing is that made both Anita's dresses as iconic. Bravo to the costumer designers!