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West Side Story | 
| Directors: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
Actors: John Astin, Robert Banas, Richard Beymer, William Bramley, Jimmy Bryant
Studio: MGM
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 19.98
Buy New: CDN$ 6.57
You Save: CDN$ 13.41 (67%)
New (10) Used (2) from CDN$ 6.57
Rating:  177 reviews
Sales Rank: 25906
Format: Dubbed, Ntsc, Subtitled
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MGMDM106963D
ISBN: 0792858522
UPC: 027616898807
EAN: 9780792858522
ASIN: B0000AM6IY
Theatrical Release Date: 1961
Release Date: October 7, 2003
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Disc and case in very good condition - Ships quickly
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| Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.co.uk
The winner of 10 Academy Awards, this 1961 musical by choreographer Jerome Robbins and director Robert Wise (iThe Sound of Music/i) remains irresistible. Based on a smash Broadway play updating Shakespeare's iRomeo and Juliet/i to the 1950s era of juvenile delinquency, IWest Side Story/I stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as the star-crossed lovers from different neighbourhoods--and ethnicities. The film's real selling points, however, are the highly charged and inventive song-and-dance numbers, the passionate ballads, the moody sets, colourful support from Rita Moreno, and the sheer accomplishment of Hollywood talent and technology producing a film so stirring. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the score. i--Tom Keogh/i
Additional Features
IWest Side Story/I, considered by many the greatest movie musical ever, is beautifully packaged in its collector's edition set. The film itself has a new transfer and 5.1 sound mix (though the picture and 5.1 sound of the original DVD release were also excellent), and adds 90 seconds of intermission music, which is an instrumental version of "I Feel Pretty" before the film resumes with that song. The opening menu allows viewers to select whether they want to hear the intermission music (it's not separately tracked). The second disc offers numerous features, such as storyboards, international advertising, and, of chief interest, a 56-minute 2003 documentary that interviews key contributors such as director-coproducer Robert Wise, playwright Arthur Laurents, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (who says that even when the show was on stage he wanted "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool" switched to the order they appear in the film). Most interesting are the discussions about the extensive dubbing. It's common knowledge that Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer were dubbed (you can hear her original "I Feel Pretty," which is adequate, and her part in the "Tonight" quintet, which is not), but Russ Tamblyn says that associate producer Saul Chaplin insisted on dubbing everyone, and Rita Moreno expresses her dissatisfaction with the character of her dubbed voice. The package is rounded out by a lovely and thick (if somewhat small-sized) booklet that reproduces the original screenplay and lobby brochure, supplemented by a new letter from screenwriter Ernest Lehman and other goodies. I--David Horiuchi/I
Amazon.com essential video
The winner of 10 Academy Awards, this 1961 musical by choreographer Jerome Robbins and director Robert Wise (iThe Sound of Music/i) remains irresistible. Based on a smash Broadway play updating Shakespeare's iRomeo and Juliet/i to the 1950s era of juvenile delinquency, the film stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as the star-crossed lovers from different neighborhoods--and ethnicities. The film's real selling points, however, are the highly-charged and inventive song-and-dance numbers, the passionate ballads, the moody sets, colorful support from Rita Moreno, and the sheer accomplishment of Hollywood talent and technology producing a film so stirring. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the score. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, Dolby sound, optional French subtitles. i--Tom Keogh/i
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| Customer Reviews: Read 172 more reviews...
 There's a place for us January 13, 2007
B. Chandler (Arlington, Texas)
"There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." br /Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim br / br /And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... br /One big plus is even if the story line is a classic they did not try to duplicate `Romeo Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play. br / br /Just on the chance that you missed this movie the first time around, it is the story of two people (Tony and Maria) from adverse backgrounds who fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicit things they have trouble from their families and society. Will thy overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? br /I could write a book on what makes this movie great but it is best that you watch and judge for yourself. br / br /
There's a place for us August 2, 2006
B. Chandler (Arlington, Texas)
"There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." br /Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim br / br /And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... br /One big plus is even if the story line is a classic they did not try to duplicate `Romeo Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play. br / br /Just on the chance that you missed this movie the first time around, based on the Romeo and Juliet play that has been updated, it is the story of two people (Tony and Maria) from adverse backgrounds who fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicit things they have trouble from their families and society. Will thy overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? br /I could write a book on what makes this movie great but it is best that you watch and judge for yourself. br / br / br /
There's a place for us August 2, 2006
B. Chandler (Arlington, Texas)
There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." br /Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim br / br /And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... br /One big plus is even if the story line is a classic they did not try to duplicate `Romeo Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play. br / br /Just on the chance that you missed this movie the first time around, based on the Romeo and Juliet play that has been updated, it is the story of two people (Tony and Maria) from adverse backgrounds who fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicit things they have trouble from their families and society. Will thy overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? br /I could write a book on what makes this movie great but it is best that you watch and judge for yourself. br / br /
There's a place for us June 18, 2006
B. Chandler (Arlington, Texas)
"There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." br /Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim br / br /And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... br /One big plus is even if the story line is a classic they did not try to duplicate `Romeo Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play. br / br /Just on the chance that you missed this movie the first time around, it is the story of two people (Tony and Maria) from adverse backgrounds who fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicit things they have trouble from their families and society. Will thy overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? br /I could write a book on what makes this movie great but it is best that you watch and judge for yourself. br / br /
WEST SIDE STORY THE HIGH WATER MARK IN CINEMA May 24, 2005
A. Munnik (Brazeau Tower, Alberta)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's too bad that younger generations of viewers of WEST SIDE STORY, when viewing the scenes of superb ensemble choreography will at once think of certain fashionable brands of chinos. In our society, where nothing is sacred, it's a shame that our most elevated moments of artistic achievement end up being shanghaid for commercial exploitation.br That aside, WEST SIDE STORY has it all. A love story with a timeless and universal appeal. A pulsating energy from beginning to end. A fantastic libretto and Leonard Bernstein's outstanding score, with performances to match. Brilliant cinematography that captures the flavour of NYC circa 1960 with its decaying neighbourhoods and smoldering juvenile gang tension. It really is a climax to such worthy precursors as The Blackboard Jungle of 1955.br WEST SIDE STORY also features some fine acting performances, although curiously not from the leads. The Supporting Oscars bestowed on Rita Moreno and George Chakiris were well deserved as it was they who supplied the Latino passion in spades. Natalie Wood looks gorgeous as usual but uses her eyes rather than her body to express her emotions, which is not very Puerto Rican at all. Richard Beymer is rather wooden and there is a lack of chemistry between him and Natalie. Not surprising, considering that Ms Wood was not pleased with his selection to play opposite her and subsequently gave him the cold shoulder throughout the production.br What really energates WEST SIDE STORY is the brilliant choreography of Jerome Robbins. From the long opening gang ballet scene to it's tragic but inevitable ending, this film never lags. Much more than a Musical, this masterpiece satisfies all the senses and it remains unsurpassed in its achievement.
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