By Lee Pfeiffer
Variety writer Robert Hofler presents a fascinating article about the trials and tribulations of bringing hit stage musicals to the silver screen. In some cases, the creative teams behind the stage production oppose changes made for the film version - but history has proven that very often the movie version emerges as the definitive piece. This is particularly true with West Side Story, for which many key changes were made. Although
the play's writer Arthur Laurents still bemoans the fact that his
original stage version is never performed, most people would feel that
the changes made for Robert Wise's Oscar-winning 1961 screen version
improved the product substantially. In contrast, the producers of the
new revival of Hair loathe Milos Forman's 1979 screen version
and have studiously avoided using any elements of it. Instead, they
have morphed together various aspects of stage productions from over
the years to emerge with the "ultimate" production of hippie era hit. Click here for the article