LASER BIN : ‘West Side Story’: A Videodisc Treat : “West Side Story,” The Criterion Collection, laser disc, CAV format, $124.95; CLV format, $59.95. (The Voyager Co.)

If ever a film cried out for showing in letter-box format, it’s “West Side Story.”

If you last saw the 1961 Academy Award-winning film on tape, or worse, cut up for viewing on broadcast TV, you have a treat in store. This is one musical that demands to be seen without pans and scans, and the letter-box versions (banded on top and bottom to approximate the big-screen experience) in Criterion’s CAV and CLV formats provide that.

The innovative Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim-Jerome Robbins-Arthur Laurents adaptation of the “Romeo and Juliet” story translated to the screen still retains much of its power, despite some odd casting, particularly Richard Beymer as Tony.

With digital sound, the Bernstein-Sondheim collaboration bristles with freshness from the striking opening credits to the poignant ending. The particular joy of this release lies in the power of Jerome Robbins’ choreography finally seen again as Robbins directed it, not chopped apart to fit into a traditional TV picture.

Co-director Robert Wise supervised the film-to-tape transfer, made from a new 35mm internegative, which was struck from a reconstructed 70mm negative. The sound was also digitally remastered from a four-track, 35mm magnetic track, produced from a six-track 70mm magnetic sound track. All of which means that picture and sound are state-of-the-art.

What cineastes get for the additional $65 charged for the CAV format is a bonus side filled with typical Criterion offerings. These include an audio interview with co-director Wise by film maker Jeremy Kagan; a director’s scrapbook with photo studies of Manhattan’s West Side; conceptual set paintings and storyboard sketches, which are great fun to pore through; and the almost now-requisite theatrical trailer and premiere coverage. Plus, the opportunity to random access, slow and fast motion and freeze frame, almost worth the extra bucks just to delve into Robbins’ choreography and Wise’s overhead shots of the city.

NEW LASERDISCS

Here’s a brief sampling of significant recent releases on video disc:

“Casablanca” (Voyager, $99.95) is now available in this special two-disc, CAV edition that contains supplementary material, including the beloved Humphrey Bogart film’s original theatrical trailer.

“The Lavender Hill Mob/The Man in the White Suit” and “Captain’s Paradise/Kind Hearts and Coronets” (Image, $59.95) are two CLV three-sided discs that combine classic British comedies, all starring Alec Guinness.

“L’Avventura” (Voyager, $124.95). The landmark, abstract Antonioni film comes with commentary and supplementary material in this special CAV version.

“Il Bidone” (Image, $49.95, CLV) was made by Fellini in 1955. Thepowerful drama stars Broderick Crawford, Richard Basehart and Giulietta Masina.

“David Bowie: Jazzin’ for Blue Jean” (Pioneer, $29.95) a short but valuable CLV collectors item for fans of the singer, this early-’80s extended music video has CX-encoded digital stereo.