A Reel 40: GREASE

“Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee…”

This month marks the 40^th anniversary of Randal Kleiser’s GREASE.

Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, GREASE told the story of two high school seniors, Danny, a bad boy greaser, and Sandy, a good girl, who overcome their peer pressures and different backgrounds to become sweethearts in the 1950’s. In 1978 it would be the highest grossing film of the year, and would become the highest grossing musical of all time; breaking a 13-year record held by THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Today, it impressively sits as the 4^th all-time highest grossing musical.

The success of GREASE came from finding the right people for the right job. Director Randal Kleiser had never directed a feature film before, but had experience in working with the eventual lead actor, John Travolta; the two had worked together in the TV movie production of THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE (1976). Travolta had a bit of a singing career at the time, and had also played a small role in the touring production of GREASE on stage. While Travolta greased back his hair and donned the black leather jacket to play Danny, the role of Sandy was filled by Olivia Newton-John, who at the time was known as a country singer and had very limited acting experience. Newton-John, who was born in England and lived most of her life in Australia, couldn’t pull off an American accent, so her character was rewritten to be Australian.

Other cast members would include the late Jeff Conaway, who was no stranger to the story. He had played Danny during the show’s run on Broadway, and in the film would play Danny’s best friend Kenickie. Jamie Donnelly would reprise her stage-role as Jan, the only cast-member to do so. The rest of the impressive cast would include Stockard Channing, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward, Didi Conn, Dinah Manoff, Sid Caesar, Eddie Deezen, and Eve Arden.

GREASE was a smash at the box office and with critics. It earned one Oscar nomination, for Best Original Song for Hopelessly Devoted to You, and its soundtrack album ended 1978 as the No. 2 album of the year. It would be nominated for several Golden Globes, and won several at the People’s Choice Awards, including Favorite Musical Motion Picture, and Motion Picture Supporting Actress for Stockard Channing. The film would re-launch Olivia Newton-John’s singing career, and push John Travolta into upper stardom. Today, the American Film Institute ranks it as the 20^th Best All-Time Musical.

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When this Blogger was a wee-lad growing up in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, there was STAR WARS, and there was GREASE; Danny was cool, his car was cooler, and Sandy was the first crush. The 8-track soundtrack was on constant loop in our house, and Greased Lightnin’ was the song to jam to. Years later, it’s easy to respect GREASE outside of childhood memories. It’s a film that re-captures the innocence of 1950’s America, and its classic storyline of two lovers having to overcome their class distinction is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. On this Blogger’s very short list of Best Musicals, GREASE is at or near the top; it is a charming, fun, and energetic film with a ton of heart…that lasts as long as a summer night.

“Grease is the word…”