Musicals & Music Films > 1961 Musicals & Music Films

I want to be in America!

Advantages: great singing and dancing, plenty of extras!
Disadvantages: depending on viewer, could be too long.

West Side Story is without doubt one of the finest musicals ever! A bold statment you might think but let me convince you. From the beginning of the film you are pulled further and further in to the 1950's inner city of New York. Greeted by a gang of all singing, all dancing, disinfected youth. The 'Jets' are a local gang fed up with the increase in immigrants to the neighbourhood and they aren't afraid to voice their opinion. Natalie Wood (star ...
...young girl newly relocated from Puerto Rico with her family. Innocent to the racial divides in the community, Maria embarks on a whirlwind romance with Tony a youthful shop worker who has close links with the 'Jets'. Maria also has a brother who is the leader of a rival gang, the 'Sharks'. The 'Sharks' are led by Bernado, who has been hardened by the circumstances he has found himself in. Supported by his loving but feisty girlfriend Anita, Bernado ...

katattack3 21.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of West Side Story (Special Edition) (DVD)

Elvis is not Blue in Hawaii

Advantages: Elvis need i say more
Disadvantages: none

This 1961 movie shows Elvis, back to his fun loving and swinging ways, after a short spell of making a few dull movies, this film shows Elvis as he should be, boyish looks and full of life. The Film. Chad Gates (Elvis) returns from a spell of national service to his home in Honolulu, home is a pineapple plantation owned by his parents, where its is parents wishes for there son to take control of the family business, but Chad is a young man who ...
...the dismay of his overbearing parents Chad lands himself a job as an island tour guide,this of course enables him to meet beautiful woman and charm all with his singing talent. Some of the songs in the movie include "Blue Hawaii," "Rock-A-Hula Baby," "Hawaiian Wedding Song" and "Island of Love," as well as the immortal "Can't Help Falling in Love." A cracking entertaining film for all Elvis fans. Run time: 97 mins . Dubbed: French, German, Italian, ...

dreamscancometrue 01.02.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Blue Hawaii (DVD)

A treasury for Cliff fans and non-fans alike

Advantages: Three Movies in One Set, Fab for Cliff Fans
Disadvantages: Each Movie could Support its own disc plus bonus material

...sad day for Britain when Cliff Richard and the gang boogied off of our screens for the last time, but fear not! They are back to a man in this three movie bumper pack. Yes, Cliff, Una (Stubbs), Melvin (Hayes) and Co once again brighten our screens in 'Summer Holiday', 'The Young Ones' and 'Wonderful Life'. There's nothing to quite compare to the kooky schemes in these movies, be it driving a red double decker from London to Athens, shooting a movie ...
...innocent time. Filmed before Cliff became the 'Peter Pan of Pop', these three movies show him at his heart-throb best, wooing a succession of beauties (including Susan Hampshire and Laurie Peters) and performing the clean brand of rock n roll that he is, sadly, no longer known for. The movies are presented well, and are bright, fresh and a joy to watch, if only for the fashion and hairdos. The songs (Summer Holiday, The Young Ones, Every Girl, ...

staceyvm 29.03.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Cliff Richard DVD Collection - The Young Ones / Summer Holiday / Wonderful Life (DVD)

Gang Violence,Immigration,Doomed Love in Song

Advantages: Musical Collector's must-have
Disadvantages: can't think of any

...some you wish weren't so. West Side Story probably still tops the lot for originality and its ability to stand alone in its own right as a dramatic musical. It was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 10. Although I was only five years old when it hit the cinemas, the film and its songs are etched on my psyche in the same way as many Beatles songs are. I'm sure this is true for many of my generation. I need to watch it at least once a year and this collectors' ...
...are as follows: • West Side Memories -- 56 Minute Retrospective Documentary • Storyboard to Film Comparison • Original Theatrical Trailers • Production Designs, Storyboards, Photo Galleries The documentary is fascinating if you like the film. I've never understood why they put the trailers on these DVDs. Are there trailer anoraks out there? I have used the photo galleries to make wallpaper for my computer, and very nice it ...

bigush 26.01.2007 · Read full review
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Review of West Side Story (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

A walk on the West Side

Advantages: Fantastic dance scenes.
Disadvantages: Some of the music

~~ WEST SIDE STORY ~~ I would like to say this is a modern day Romeo and Juliet and I suppose it is, if you think back to when Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, but in fact the film is now 44 years old and it was nominated for 11 Oscars which it won 10 of. West Side Story (Stage show), premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in New York in 1957, where it had a very successful run of 77 weeks. After its successful time on the stage, the movie went into ...
...be the Golden Anniversary of West Side Story and I should imagine they will re-release a special edition to celebrate it. Originally the movie version was only going to take 3 weeks to make, but instead it took months and Premiered in October 1961. Why did it take so long, well, Jerome Robbins who was one of the two directors on the movie, was a perfectionist when it came to the dance routines, he pushed all the cast beyond their own expectations ...

arnoldhenryrufus 13.02.2006 · Read full review
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Review of West Side Story (DVD)