Voenix Rising

Woof.

West Side Story

A few weeks ago I was browsing the stacks at the Phoenix Public Library and ran across the soundtrack to this American musical classic. It’s been probably ten years since I last listened to it and since I was itching to hear something “new” come out of my CD player, I checked it out.

Hearing those songs again after all these years, I was pleasantly surprised to realize just how much a part of our collective psyche they’ve become. Everything from Somewhere to Maria to Tonight all seem like familiar old friends, covered again and again by everyone from Barbra Streisand to The Pet Shop Boys.

I am not a big theater/show tunes queen, but West Side Story is one of those CDs that’s wormed its way into my consciousness and I can’t seem to get the songs out of my head.

This led me back to the library yesterday, where I picked up the DVD. I hadn’t seen the film in its entirety since I was a teenager, so I was eager to refresh my memories and see it again as an adult.

From Wikipedia:

West Side Story is a 1961 film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. It is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, loosely adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It stars Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn, Richard Beymer, and Tony Mordente, and was photographed by Daniel L. Fapp in Super Panavision 70. The action was filmed largely in Los Angeles on sets designed by Boris Leven, although the film’s opening sequence was shot on the streets of New York City, mainly in the area where Lincoln Center now stands.

Jerome Robbins, who had directed the stage version, was responsible for planning and directing all music and dance sequences in the film, as well as all the fight scenes. When approximately 60% of principal photography was complete, the producers became concerned that the production was over-budget and Robbins was fired. His final contribution before leaving the film was to write out the staging for the rumble.

The film was released on October 18 through United Artists. It received praise from critics and the public and became the second highest grossing film of the year, domestically. The film won ten Academy Awards in its eleven nominated categories as well as a special award for Robbins, including Best Picture, thus surpassing Gigi’s record nine-for-nine sweep three years earlier. The soundtrack album made more money than any other album before it.

The film ranked #41 on American Film Institute’s list of greatest American movies, #2 on its list of best musicals and #3 on its list of the best romantic American movies. On the list of the greatest songs from American movies, “Tonight” ranked #59, “America” ranked #35, and “Somewhere” ranked #20. The film has been deemed “culturally significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1997.

I love the opening shots, as the camera flies over New York:

Very Koyaanisqatsi, twenty years before Koyaanisqatsi was even a gleam in its director’s eye.

As the camera swoops down into the neighborhood, we find ourselves in a local playground, where we’re introduced to the three main Jets, played by Russ Tamblin, Tucker Smith and Tony Mordente. Who knew guys in the 60s were such hotties?

I know it’s a musical, but the one thing I do find a bit silly in the opening sequence are the very—dare I say it…gay—dance moves done by this supposed gang of street thugs.

But hey, they’re cute enough that I can overlook it.

The scene at the gym, however, has got to be among the most amazing dance numbers ever put on film.

And Rita Moreno sizzles. OMG.

Especially during America, one of my favorite songs in the film and one that forty-five years later still rings way too true.

Against the backdrop of the gang rivalry, is the forbidden love between Maria (Natalie Wood) and Tony (Richard Baymer). As gay men, I think we’re all too familiar with the theme of forbidden love, no doubt one of the reasons that the Pet Shop Boys rendition of Somewhere became such a huge gay anthem.

While Russ Tamblin (as Riff ) certainly has his mojo goin’ on big time, I have to admit that it was Tucker Smith playing the secondary character Ice, who stole my heart.

Like I wrote earlier, who knew that guys from the 60s were so hot?

Now that I’ve seen the film again, it’s one that’s definitely going to be added to my permanent library. One of the great pieces of American cinema, it’s no surprise that it won 10 Oscars and earned the accolades it did.

Who among us that works with these Spawn-of-Satan things every day and has fought the urge to throw them off a nearby roof does not take a little smug satisfaction in seeing this? I know I do!

Where is your mobile phone? Kitchen
Your relationship? What?
Your hair? Hahaha
Work? Sucks
Favorite color? Teal
Favorite thing? Camera
Last night’s dream? Dennis
Favorite drink? Mocha Frappuccino (Okay, that’s two words. Shoot me.)
Dream car? Driving it.
The room you’re in? Bedroom
Your shoes? Sneakers
What do you fear? Theocratic Fascism
What do you want to be in 10 years time? Alive
Who did you hang out with this weekend? Dad
What are you not good at? Confrontation
Favorite muffin? Chocolate Chip
Wish list item? Laptop
Where you grew up? Suburbia
Last thing you did? Ate
What are you wearing? T-shirt
What are you not wearing? Hat
Your pet? Fish
Your TV? Off
Your computer? Adequate
Your life? Complicated
Last time you laughed? Recently
Last time you cried? Recently
Your mood? Contented
What are you missing? The United States before Bush
What are you thinking about? The Meaning of Life
Your car? Silver
Your kitchen? Underutilized
Your summer? Ready for it to end

Because if this is what’s considered sexy today, I don’t ever want to be sexy. (Nevermind the queen with the drinks in the foreground…looks like the old saying, “Cocktail in one hand, cigarette in the other, and nothing in between,” still holds true after all these years.)

WTF?

Dear Sir,

Thank you for contacting The Home Depot Customer Care.

We appreciate you taking the time to forward your concerns regarding The Home Depot’s sponsorship of Bill O’ Reilly’s show on FOX.

The Home Depot has a strong passion for being environmentally responsible both in the Company’s operating principles and in responsible retailing through our industry-leading Eco Options initiative, a program that allows customers to easily identify products that have less of an impact on the environment and empowers them to help make a difference in their own homes. We have led many initiatives with interest groups to develop standards and set environmental goals for ourselves and suppliers. Some of these at great expense and sweat equity to the company.

Our advertising campaigns have one simple objective to communicate with audiences in the most effective way possible. The Company is receptive to many forms and styles of media as we seek a balanced representation of programming to reach our customer base. Unfortunately campaigns like this one cause us to take time away from our sustainability goals and address a variance of political views.

Sincerely,

Atul
Customer Care

Looks like their integrity as well as their “Customer Care” has been outsourced to India. (Is anyone surprised?) “Unfortunately campaigns like this one cause us to take time away from our sustainability goals and address a variance of political views.”

Are they on crack?

My emailed response:

Well fine, then. If you consider hate speech and calling for the assassination of the entire Congress “a variance of political views” you can go fuck yourselves AND your Eco Options initiative. I will never be setting foot in a Home Depot again. Lowe’s has just gotten a customer for life.

Wanker.

I’ll bet he and Joe ended up back at Buck’s place and got nekkid. With the squirrel watching, of course.

In 6 minutes.

Can we impeach this whole fucking administration NOW?

Because accepting personal responsibility for anything in your own life these days is so last century.

As you know from previous posts, I’m a pretty regular customer at Homo Home Depot. But when I discovered today that they’re big sponsors on Bill “Loofa” O’Reilly’s show, it was definitely time for me to pull the plug on that.

This is the letter I just sent their corporate headquarters:

I will no longer be shopping at Home Depot. Your company’s sponsorship of Bill O’Reilly—and by extension—his hate-filled website where registered posters leave comments advocating the destruction of the Capitol and the assassination of Hillary Clinton is completely unacceptable.

It should be pointed out that these are not anonymous posts on the O’Reilly website. Everyone who comments there must be registered (paying a $50 fee), so Mr. O’Reilly knows exactly who each and every one of those posters are. Additionally, since the comments are not removed, it indicates that O’Reilly himself is in full agreement with the sentiments expressed.

Could you please let me know if it’s the policy of your company to advocate political assassination? I’m be eagerly awaiting your response.

While I personally believe Bill O’Reilly is a pox upon the face of America, only speaking for the 25% of the country who still believe in George Bush’s failed policies both at home and abroad, I am also a staunch supporter of free speech and believe that O’Reilly has the same rights as anyone else granted by the Constitution to express those opinions. At the same time, it is also my right not to patronize his advertisers.

Lowe’s is a bit farther from my house than Home Depot, but it’s worth the drive to buy from a company who does not endorse (explicitly or implicitly by their sponsorships) hate speech.

And finally, please don’t insult my intelligence by sending a canned response saying, “We are not responsible for the opinions expressed, blah, blah, blah…” We both know that’s bullshit. You can choose to not sponsor O’Reilly’s show as easily as I can choose not to visit your stores.

Paul Rudd. Very few guys can do stubble like Mr. Rudd. Woof.

Anything, anywhere, any time, Paul. Call me.