Director: Robert Wise and Jerome RobbinsGenre: MusicalRuntime: 152 minutesStarring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George ChakirisWest Side Story is a musical film based on the adaptation of the Broadway musical, of the same name. The musical was based on William Shakespeare’s tale of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet .The film explores the rivalry between two gangs, both of different ethnicity and backgrounds. Maria, the younger sister of the Puerto Rican gang leader falls in love with Tony, a young man who belongs to the American gang. Famous songs, from the West Side Story, includes “Maria,” “América,” “Somewhere,” “Tonight,” “Jet Song,” “I Feel Pretty,” and “Something’s Coming”.West Side Story received much acclaim and wound up winning 10 out of 11 nominations at the Academy Awards in 1961, including Best Picture.This musical film has got to be one of my favorite musicals of all time. If you haven’t seen it, or want to keep a copy of the DVD, just go ahead and check it out! If you’re a fan of Natalie Wood, just like I am, you might want to get the DVD to Splendor In The Grass as well!
Here’s a clip of Richard Beymer singing “Maria” from the West Side Story.
In March 2009, Vanity Fair had photographer Mark Seliger re-create the scenes of West Side Story in conjunction with the Broadway revival of West Side Story, opening that week. The scene re-creation of the characters Maria, Anita, Tony, Bernardo and The Sharks as well as Riff and The Jets were made possible by celebrities and fans of the story:
Camilla Belle as Maria
Jennifer Lopez as Anita
Ben Barnes (famously known as Prince Caspian) as Tony
Splendor In The Grass is probably one of my favorite classic films. It was a really daring movie about forbidden love between a young budding teenager, Wilma Dean Loomis a.k.a Deenie Loomis who has to resist her sexual feelings towards her first love, Bud Stamper - the notorious son of one of the town’s most prominent families.
With Deenie and Bud’s father both having business relations, both parents talk the two love-struck teenagers to go their seperate ways and while Bud follows his father’s advice, it drives Deenie to despair, heartbreak and madness.
For a film written and made back in the early 60s, its elements and issues concerning love, sexuality, promiscuity and abortion are very much relevant in today’s society with high school teenagers.
Directed by Elia Kazan, written by William Inge (who made a brief cameo as a Protestant clergyman), Splendor In The Grass stars one of the most beautiful women ever on film (to me, that is) Natalie Wood as Deenie Loomis, and the dashing and charming Warren Beatty as Bud Stamper.
If you haven’t seen this or only seen it once a whole long time ago, I suggest you get the DVD to add to your collection! It’s a masterpiece!!
Last night was a classic DVD night at home and so we had the husband’s DVD collection to choose from and so we settled with Twelve O’Clock High.
Adapted from the novel by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr, Twelve O’Clock High is a masterpiece classic that portrays the heroics and perils of war during World War II. Loosely based on the true story of Major General Frank Armstrong, this film is a moving story about courage and sacrifice. Brigadier General Frank Savage is a hard-as-nails general that takes over a bomper pilot unit suffering from low morale due to numerous losses. A fearless fighter, obsessed with discipline, the rebellious and resentful unit gradually change and under Savage’s command, accomplishes amazing feats. The stress of command and fatigue soon sets in and Savage soon reaches his own breaking point.
Starring the amazing Gregory Peck as Brigadier General Frank Savage, Dean Jagger as Major Stovall, Hugh Marlowe as Lt. Col. Ben Gately, Gary Merrill as Col. Davenport, Twelve O’Clock High garnered four Academy Award nominations including Best Sound Recording, Best Supporting Actor - Dean Jagger, Best Actor - Gregory Peck and Best Picture. They took away 2 awards, for Best Sound and Best Supporting Actor.
This is one black-and-white classic that you simply must own! I found a copy of Twelve O’Clock High - Special Edition DVD and I’m suggesting that you get it!
