The quiet conservatism of Steven Spielberg

‘Timing is everything’, as the saying goes. The death of West Side Story composer Stephen Sondheim must have seemed especially poignant to Steven Spielberg coming as it did a week before the premiere of the new film version of his acclaimed musical.

The composer surely would have delighted in the critical acclaim being accorded to Steven Spielberg’s remake. ‘He and I became good friends,’ the director told reporters at the film’s premiere. The musical famously updates Romeo & Juliet to 1950s New York City. Spielberg keeps the action in the 1950s, with his recreation of the city at the time earning special praise.

The timing of West Side Story’s release may seem spot on but Spielberg has never been especially interested in the zeitgeist, often favouring classic filming techniques, and conservative narrative themes. West Side Story is Spielberg’s first foray into directing a movie musical, although he dabbled with the form in the opening credits of Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984).