Meanwhile, Newton-John is equally solid, even though, at the time, she was far better known for making records than movies. His comic aptitude, often on display during the '70s in "Welcome Back Kotter," is used to good effect in a montage where Danny tries out at several sports in order to prove his worth to Sandy.
Alternately swaggering to prove his "coolness" and re-affirming his ability on the dance floor, the actor gives the kind of performance that's perfect for the role. Despite all of the silliness and singing, the exuberance of youth lies at the core of Grease, and, although everything is greatly exaggerated here, the film brings back memories of what it was like to hang out in the school yard, take a date to a drive-in movie, and attend a prom.Īs Danny, the leader of the leather jacket-wearing T-Birds, Travolta is a riot. In addition to the songs, highlights of Grease include Travolta's daffy, limber performance as Danny, Newton-John's sexy-but-sweet Sandy, and a cast of adults trying vainly to pass themselves off as high-schoolers.
GREASE LIGHTNING CAST 1978 MOVIE
The two then spend the rest of the movie dancing around each other, eventually getting together for the musical finale. To Sandy, the reaction is like a slap in the face. Although Danny is secretly delighted to see Sandy, he realizes that an overt display of joy will look bad in front of his tough friends, so he plays it cool. Their eventual reunion, however, is anything but joyous. Sandy has changed schools, and, unbeknownst to Danny or her, they are now both in Rydell High's Senior Class. After pledging their undying affection, they go their separate ways, returning to the reality that every teenager must face after Labor Day - high school. The plot, such as it is, opens during the summer of 1958 when, to the tune of "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," Danny (Travolta) and Sandy (Newton-John) fall in love.
(Incidentally, three of those, "Grease," "Hopelessly Devoted," and "You're the One" were penned specifically for the movie the others are leftovers from the stage show.)
Who can't recognize "Grease," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "You're the One that I Want," "Greased Lightning," and "Summer Nights"? These may not represent great music, but they're a lot of fun to listen to, as their abiding appeal proves. Familiarity with the soundtrack is undoubtedly one of the reasons for the film's popularity – several of the songs have achieved pop hit status. Grease boasts what all successful motion picture musicals have: likable stars, a simple but not trivial plot, and a lot of enjoyable music. The digitally-remastered soundtrack (which sounds great) and the enhanced color can only help. No one thinks Grease's 1998 box office total will come close to that of the first installment of George Lucas' space opera, but it should still make a tidy profit. The biggest reason, however, is the unexpected windfall created last March when 20th Century Fox unveiled a spruced-up Star Wars.
GREASE LIGHTNING CAST 1978 FULL
'70s nostalgia is in full bloom (America has a thing about looking back 20 years), Travolta is hot again, and the CD is a cash cow. There are several reasons why Paramount Pictures has chosen to re-release Grease on its twentieth anniversary, all of which have something to do with money. The film was also popular enough to spawn a sequel, catchily titled Grease 2, but the less said about that sad endeavor, the better. Aside from the likes of Little Shop of Horrors (1986), the Disney animated films, and Evita (1996), there have been few memorable, big-budget motion picture musicals since Grease. It certainly isn't a momentous film, and stands a considerable distance downslope from the pinnacle its genre, but it became a huge hit in an era when the musical was well into its death throes. Many fans of movie musicals recall Grease with fondness. The soundtrack for Grease sold well in 1978 and is still going strong two decades later. The songs are '50s style hits that have shown their enduring popularity. The stars were '70s icons, with John Travolta having come off his phenomenally successful outing in Saturday Night Fever and Olivia Newton-John having made her American acting debut after repeated stays atop world-wide pop charts. Not only was it one of the top box office draws in 1978, but it capped off a decade of '50s frenzy (that began, ironically, with the off-Broadway opening of the play Grease in 1972). Grease is a perfect way to become immersed in the recent past.
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