[Monsieur D'Arque]

What would you do differently, if anything?

I have always thought that the song Somewhere should either be sung by Tony and Maria on film, or (and this came from a dream I had) by Doc. It sounds weird, but he's the only one who sees the futility of the concept.

Imagine, as my dream did, Christopher Walken as Doc, driving down the gang-riddled streets in his beat-up car, singing softly to himself as the two lovers harmonize upstairs.

[broadwaybirdie]

I like the whole Doc concept! He is my favorite:)
But I read in this book that its intentional that Doc and Officer Krupke and the other older people don't sing in the show; I think they wanted to represent that adults don't understand young people. something along those lines...

[Monsieur D'Arque]

By the end, Doc has figured it out in his own apocalyptic way- there's no hope now, but there will be eventually. That's why he's the one who hits on it after the "rape."

"You kids make this world lousy!" "But that's the way we found it."

[broadwaybirdie]

ah its so melancholy!
but brilliant.

[Jennifer Lynn]

You're quite right...none of the adults sing a note. In the movie, they ALMOST did...according to the shooting script that came with the DVD, they wanted to give Schrank and Krupke a few couplets during that shot of them in the squad car during the Quintet...Schrank was supposed to have some lines about stopping the rumble, cleaning up the neighborhood, getting these punks, while Krupke responded to each with "right!" Thank the good LORD they didn't go with it. There's a REASON why none of the adults sing...the music, the passion, belongs to the young in this show. It gives a real sense of the generational divide, even if we don't register it consciously.

What I'd like to see in a remake? A better Tony, for one! One who really gives a SENSE of having once been a tough gang leader. Even Richard Beymer himself expressed bewilderment that he could pull it off...and sadly, he was right.

Raid the High School of the Performing Arts for young actors who both look the parts and have the talent, even if it means casting unknowns. (That's the only other problem with the movie...some of the actors do look a bit old to be playing teens.)

And I'm not sure how well it would work onscreen, but seeing the Somewhere Ballet would be superb.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

You want to see them old? Look up Twin Peaks to see Richard Beymer and Russ Tamblyn as adults. Wow.

And as far as the adults never singing, if they can sing anywhere, it'd be "Somewhere." The "Girl on a Balcony" as a detached, random singer never did much for me. The song is so intrinsically related to the show, to make it sung by a Generic Singing Person robs it of a certain something.

[broadwaybirdie]

[Jennifer Lynn]

Oh, of course...but what I mean is the contrast between seeing the gritty streets of New York in a photo-realistic context (as opposed to a stage set) and then going into a dream ballet. I'd love to see it, but it might prove a little jarring in terms of clashing cinematic "languages."

[broadwaybirdie]

oh, I see what your saying. Like, in Carousel they have the beach, which is a ballet-esque place, but New York City wouldn't really work out quite as well.