"West Side Story" blu-ray Street Date:October 17th (1 Viewer)

[ahollis]

Interesting that MGM used the option to watch WEST SIDE STORY with the intermission or without on the DVD, but choose to just release it without an option with just the intermission. Where as Sony gave us the choice with THE GUNS OF NAVARONE Blu-ray. Seems it could have been easy to give the choice, I guess it is just another piece of evidence that they lacked knowledge of the film and it's history. That is the scariest part of this fiasco. Happy Halloween.

 

[Charles Smith]

It's as though they gave NO thought to this release. Okay, I know that isn't literally the case -- someone did, after all, alter the film, which takes a modicum of thought. And they designed a big box package.

 

[GMpasqua]

Originally Posted by ahollis

Interesting that MGM used the option to watch WEST SIDE STORY with the intermission or without on the DVD, but choose to just release it without an option with just the intermission. Where as Sony gave us the choice with THE GUNS OF NAVARONE Blu-ray. Seems it could have been easy to give the choice, I guess it is just another piece of evidence that they lacked knowledge of the film and it's history. That is the most scary part of this fiasco.

On Blu-ray all films should come with an option to watch with or without the intermission and overture. Regardless of weather they were present when they originally saw the film.


Quite simlpe:

A: Roadshow version (with overture/intermission)

B: Non Roadshow version (without)


There shouldn't even be a debate over this. It should be the standard on all films released on Blu-ray - the technology is available for this format - so why not use it.


This way everyone will be satisfied and those who love overtures can still listen to them (I'm sure "Scrooge" didn't included it becuase Paramount felt people don't want to sit through it since they did include it on the DVD)

 

[GMpasqua]

[COLOR= #0000ff]If Fox is fixing the "WSS" blu-ray - they should also fix the intermission and make it an option as it was for theater chains[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #0000ff] [/COLOR]

[COLOR= #0000ff]Has anyone notified FOX on that issue?[/COLOR]


[COLOR= #0000ff]Ron you make your contacts at Fox aware of this issue.[/COLOR]



[COLOR= #0000ff]Guys the fix is so simple. on all blu-rays when selecting the Roadshow version a screen wuld come up:[/COLOR]


You are watching the film as originally presented in it's Roadshow Revserve seat Engagement.


Before the film starts an overture will play against a black screen (there is nothing wrong with you monitor). At the 90 mintue point an intermssion break will occur. En'tace music will play against a black screen for 2 mintues and the second half of the film will resume. Exit music will be played after the film ends.


Roadshow films were presented to emulate a Broadway show with overture and intermssions. Tickets were purchased months in advance. Souvernir Programs were also availale for purchase. Roadshow presentations usually played at one theater in a major city many months before going into general release (the multiplex) Roadshow presentations ended in 1973.


[COLOR= #0000ff] [/COLOR]

[COLOR= #0000ff]No need for graphics or screen shot etc. Just the presentation as was origianl issued[/COLOR]

 

[Charles Smith]

I wonder if anyone knows yet whether all of the various issues are on an itemized list in front of someone who has the power to make it all happen.

 

[nedinme]

I wish Hollywood would bring back the Roadshow with some of today's movies..like "Lord of The Rings". Back in the 50s and 60s it was an "event" to go to a movie like "West Side Story" or "Ben-Hur". Most who went to the show dressed up believe it or not!! No jeans and T-shirt at "Lawrence of Arabia"!! You usually had to get a reserved seat and the usher would escort you to you reserved (numbered) seat. "West Side Story" was $5.00 per seat (at that time that was a high priced movie!!). My all time favorite movie is "Lawrence of Arabia" and I saw it at the Criterion Theatre in NYC. I was a senior in high school. Reserved seats of course and we got there early. Hugh theatre with a wide (almost CINERAMA (anyone remember that?) screen with a large red curtain with tassles along the bottom. Now "Lawrence.." DID HAVE AN OVERTURE! ... And David Lean requested that it be played while the curtain was closed (or with a blank screen). The opening drum roll in the soundtrack rattled the theater and was one of the most memorable moments in my movie going life!! Luckily I have the Original Soundtrack which has been out of print for many years. At the intermission, many theatres served wine and crackers! I mean it was an event!! Anyway, "West Side Story" is in my top 10. "Lawrence" is STILL number 1 on my list!! ....just some thoughts from an "old timer"!!..well not that old!!! LOL

 

[nedinme]

I like intermissions during a long movie....to make a "peep" stop!!!!! LOL

 

[nedinme]

Joe C. I too had the LP and it didn't have "intermission" music, but you must remember that an LP did not hold as much content as today's CDs do. The LP did have the Overture. My CD version of the Original Soundtrack includes "Intermission Music" which to me indicates that it was in the original motion picture. I had ordered the Blu-ray but am cancelling it and will wait till after the holidays. Maybe by then it will be fixed....I hope!!

 

[Paul Rossen]

I wish Hollywood would bring back the Roadshow with some of today's movies..like "Lord of The Rings". Back in the 50s and 60s it was an "event" to go to a movie like "West Side Story" or "Ben-Hur". Most who went to the show dressed up believe it or not!! No jeans and T-shirt at "Lawrence of Arabia"!! You usually had to get a reserved seat and the usher would escort you to you reserved (numbered) seat. "West Side Story" was $5.00 per seat (at that time that was a high priced movie!!). My all time favorite movie is "Lawrence of Arabia" and I saw it at the Criterion Theatre in NYC. I was a senior in high school. Reserved seats of course and we got there early. Hugh theatre with a wide (almost CINERAMA (anyone remember that?) screen with a large red curtain with tassles along the bottom. Now "Lawrence.." DID HAVE AN OVERTURE! ... And David Lean requested that it be played while the curtain was closed (or with a blank screen). The opening drum roll in the soundtrack rattled the theater and was one of the most memorable moments in my movie going life!! Luckily I have the Original Soundtrack which has been out of print for many years. At the intermission, many theatres served wine and crackers! I mean it was an event!! Anyway, "West Side Story" is in my top 10. "Lawrence" is STILL number 1 on my list!! ....just some thoughts from an "old timer"!!..well not that old!!! LOL

Many of us on this forum remember the old days and theaters such as the Rivoli and Criterion. I believe the $5.00 per ticket for WWS is a bit on the high side. I recall Ben-Hur and Spartacus at $3.50 top price at the Loew's State and DeMille. And I believe that $3.50 was the top price for any number of Roadshow films in NYC. When Lawrence of Arabia played at The Criterion I believe it had an unheard price of $4.80!!!!! A year later Cleopatra at the Rivoli went even higher....$5.50 I believe! My recollection of My Fair Lady is that it also had a $5.50 top price. I could be slightly off but in any case the ticket prices for the Roadshow films were some of the best buys in entertainment.

 

[GMpasqua]

"[COLOR= #ff0000]West Side Story[/COLOR]" top ticket price in October 1961 was $3.50 for Fri/Sat/Sun evening performances

"[COLOR= #daa520]Cleopatra[/COLOR]" top ticket price June 1963 $5.50


Same theater - The Rivoli ("Cleopatra" production cost was about 4 times the cost of "West Side Story" )

 

[nedinme]

I stand corrected. I think you're right about the $3.50 price. Even then that was a lot of money. Anyway, I liked the "event" of going to a movie. Never saw "Cleopatra" back then. Not sure why. As a matter of fact I still haven't seen it!! I believe it is due on Blu-ray next year and will get it....hopefully with an Overture and Intermission!!!!

 

[GMpasqua]

$3.50 in 1961 would be about $25.00 today


$5.50 in 1963 would be about $40.00 Today (Remember 'Cleopatra" was 4 hours long "WSS" only 2.5)

Funny how it comes out $10.00 per hour in 2011 money)

 

[nedinme]

Greg, I don't think they charge admission price by how long the movie is. Heck, I can remember going as a kid to the movies for 25 cents!! You'd get two movies, 5 cartoons and Movietone News all for that...plus a lot of screaming kids throwing popcorn at the screen!!! LOVED IT!!!!

 

[GMpasqua]

lol, no they didn't charge admission based on the lenght of the films


I just happen to notice "Cleo" was 4 hours and $40.00 in today's dollars while "WSS" is 2.5 hours and $25 dollars at todays rate - just like the film's lenghts


but no, films were not priced according to length

 

[AdrianTurner]

For the sheer drama of presentation, I think How The West Was Won was hard to beat: those huge blood red curtains, the fabulous Overture, the lights dimming, the MGM logo, the curtains inching open to reveal the giant curved screen and the Main Title. That alone was worth the price of admission.

 

[nedinme]

Adrian, ....and it was originally filmed in CINERAMA!! A great film!!!

 

[Joe Caps]

Again , a poster claims the Overture forWest Side Story was on the LP - Itcertainly was not. theLP began with tehoopening dance of the Jets and the Sharks. The Intermission was probablythrownon the cD as Sony is usually desperate for padding for their redone cds.

 

[Joe Caps]

Again , a poster claims the Overture forWest Side Story was on the LP - Itcertainly was not. theLP began with tehoopening dance of the Jets and the Sharks. The Intermission was probablythrownon the cD as Sony is usually desperate for padding for their redone cds.

 

[Howard S]

I know it's a crime they didn't use the original 6-track sound mix, and there's no excuse for it.

It wouldn't be possible to transfer the original 6-track sound mix to the blu-ray as-is. The original mix was created with 5 channels across the front screen (Left - Left of Centre - Centre - Right of Centre - Right), and a mono surround. Without remixing, it wouldn't be compatible with the DTS-HD 7.1 surround configuration used by home blurays, which have the speakers placed in different locations to this. I suspect that they will have used the best elements available to them to create a modern 7.1 mix, which so long as it hasn't been filtered and de-noised to the detriment of fidelity/frequency loss, and is done intelligently to be faithful to the original intent, albeit it with intelligent use of the surrounds, I am more than happy with. However, there should also be a direct port over of the original 4-track (L-C-R, mono surround), which will fit with the home speaker configuration.

 

[nedinme]

Joe C. Again, I stand corrected. The LP starts with the "Prologue" which is NOT the Overture. The "oveture" and "intermission" along with the "Finale" and "End Credits" music are added to the CD! Now I wish I kept my LP!! Oh well!! My mistake!! NED