Musical Mondays: West Side Story
A few memories of my time spent in the service of West Side Story. When asked at the Chicago International Film Festival why he chose to open The Sound of Music in much the same aerial manner as West Side Story, director Robert Wise replied, “Because I felt like it.” No sooner does Maria whisper, “Be quiet, Tony,” so as not to awaken her slumbering parents than she’s joining the thoughtless gringo in a fire escape-ratting chorus of, “TONIGHT! TONIGHT!” Then there are those eyeball-liquefying moments during the Dance at the Gym number where cinematographer Daniel Fapp could barely keep a grip on his well-Vaselined lens. Not unlike Larry Fine, Jose De Vega’s Chino turns background indolence into an art form. Lastly, during a 70mm revival in the late 90s, my date whispered in my ear, “This stinks. Give me the car keys so I can go and listen to the radio.” Don’t miss this chance to see it on the Reading Grossmont’s H-U-G-E Panavision screen. – Scott Marks