Richard Barrios Pořadí knih

She was born nearly a century ago and has been gone for well over half that time. The body of work she left behind is limited and sometimes debatable in quality. The environment in which she thrived—popular entertainment in the 1950s—is a distant memory. Yet, these facts seem immaterial. Why does her phenomenon continue unabated? The iconography and mythology surrounding her only seem to grow, leading to endless interest, speculation, and merchandising, as well as numerous documentaries and miniseries. The answer is complex, but one obvious factor is the element of tragedy. Her life, marked by magnetic achievement and sudden demise, invites mourning and speculation about what could have been. Figures like Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, and Marilyn Monroe evoke similar sentiments. Monroe's rapid rise to fame, the tumult of her personal and professional life, and the ambiguous circumstances of her death create fertile ground for speculation. This has unfortunately led to a franchise of conjecture surrounding her death, often steeped in paranoia and personal agendas. The fascination with her legacy persists, reflecting a deep cultural intrigue that transcends time and context.

A captivating, richly illustrated full account of the making of the ground-breaking movie classic West Side Story (1961). A major hit on Broadway, on film West Side Story became immortal-a movie different from anything that had come before, but this cinematic victory came at a price. In this engrossing volume, film historian Richard Barrios recounts how the drama and rivalries seen onscreen played out to equal intensity behind-the-scenes, while still achieving extraordinary artistic feats. The making and impact of West Side Story has so far been recounted only in vestiges. In the pages of this book, the backstage tale comes to life along with insight on what has made the film a favorite across six decades: its brilliant use of dance as staged by erstwhile co-director Jerome Robbins; a meaningful story, as set to Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's soundtrack; the performances of a youthful ensemble cast featuring Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and more; a film with Shakespearean roots (Romeo and Juliet) that is simultaneously timeless and current. West Side Story was a triumph that appeared to be very much of its time; over the years it has shown itself to be eternal.