GREASE

US, 1978, 110 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Olivia Newton- John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conoway, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward. Didi Conn, Dinah Manoff, Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, Edd Byrnes, Sid Caesar.
Directed by Randal Kleiser.

Grease was a popular musical on stage in the 1970s, from writers Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. It was the starting point for a number of actors including Richard Gere who portrayed Danny Zuko on stage.

John Travolta had emerged as a very popular star in the 1977 Saturday Night Fever. Olivia Newton- John was a very popular singer in the 1970s. They were brought together to bring Grease to the screen. Olivia Newton- John’s character was made to be an Australian to adapt to her voice and accent.

The film did not meet with much critical success was a box-office bonanza – especially with younger girls wanting to see John Travolta. However, the songs have persevered through the decades and Grease is regularly restaged. The film has also remained quite popular.

John Travolta lazes his way through the film both in acting and singing and dancing. Olivia Newton-John? is very bright and perky – which gives more room for surprise in her transformation at the end. Stockard Channing steals all her scenes as Rizzo. Some veterans from the past also appear to advantage including Eve Arden as the principal, Sid Caesar as the coach and there is a homage to Frankie Avalon as the Teen Angel.

The film purports to show life in a high school – but, of course, this is Broadway and Hollywood.

1. Why was the film so popular in the later 70s? Its intrinsic merit and value, a reflection of the times or the interest of the times? The importance of the packaging and the advertising and the created need in the young audience? How does the film stand after its time of release? does it have the merit that many considered on its
first release?

2. How does it reflect the atmosphere of the 70's? the growing awareness of the past, the nostalgia of' the past? Why nostalgia for the 50's? The 50's were considered quiet in comparison with the 1960s. Why the appeal of the high school, the toughness of the 50s which looks tame in comparison with the 60s? The rock and roll phenomenon and its emergence and social conditions and adult reaction? Why was there a reaction against the evils the 50s, a reaction against pure rock and roll? The appeal in the 70's for those who have no real memory of this decade?

3. The importance of colour, panavision, the American atmosphere ,youth, the high school? The contribution of the music, the songs? The contribution of the stars and their personalties. and style? The atmosphere of rock and roll and its origins, the dance contests, the personalities associated with rock and roll? The recreation of atmosphere of the 50's with the posters, the billboards, fashion styles, the cars, the drive-in material e.g. The Blob?

4. The humour of the credits sequence and the animation? The introduction of the characters and their appearance? The humour? The contribution of the end credits and the collage of photos? The prologue and the atmosphere of Love is a Many Splendored Thing, the echo of the 50s romance films? The beach? Sandy and Danny and romance? Then the transition to the title theme and the theme of Grease?

5. How authentic does the film seem in its memory of the 50ls? Its reliance on the conventions of 50's films e.g. the tradition of the American musical, the pausing for songs, the staging of the dances and the choreography? How well does it stand in comparisons with the great American musicals? Its homage to the old musicals?

6. The contribution of the songs, their placement, their visual presentation and staging, choreography? The old-fashioned style of holding up the action, focussing completely on the singer?

- Summer Loving and the duet and the contrast between Sandy's innocent approach and Danny's knowing singing and the chorus for both? The finale?
- Sandy's nostalgic song Hopelessly Devoted and the image of Danny appearing in the water?
- Rizzo, and the girls and the parody of attitudes and moral stances?
- The song Danny sings about Sandy at the drive-in and the drive-in location?
- Grease lightning and the theme of the cars, the masculine themes? the garage and the choreography?
- Rizzo's song as illustrating her plight as the bad girl in the school, her pregnancy?
- Shape up and the transition of Sandy from the naive young girl to the knowing girl?
- The beauty parlour song and Frenchy and romance - with Frankie Avalon, the staircase, the decor and costumes in white, Rizzo and the other girls appearing? A 50's romantic girl's fantasy?
- The holiday finale and the carnival atmosphere?

7. How convincing were the leads as school-age teenagers? The presentation of life at the school, study, socialising, having milk shakes and hot dogs, the school scenes and the teachers, interaction, the sports coach, preoccupations with study, sex, relationships, dates, the "in" language? How well did the film recapture the atmosphere of adolescence?

8. The relationship between boys and girls - image and reality, their uncertainties, swaggers, kicks, innocence, naivete, hopes, predicaments, guilt? How were these themes illustrated in the main characters?

9. John Travolta as Danny? As the handsome young hero with love is a Many Splendoured Thing, contrast with his swaggering the first day of school, his leadership of the group and their language, preoccupations, dress, smoking? This being summed up in his version of Summer Love? The T-birds as a group, and their behaviour at the bonfire? His awkwardness in the confrontation with Sandy and his not knowing how to behave? The car? The soda sequence and his apology? Her comments on sport and the humour of the sports workout and the various attempts and his hitting but eventually settling for running? The dance, his partnering of Sandy and their success, her being ousted and her upset when he won the competition with the other girl? His fondling her at the drive-in
and her reaction and giving back the ring? His song lamenting what he had done? The buildup to the drag race, his bond with Kinichie and his having to drive, his willingness to change Sandy at the final carnival? John Travolta and his personal style, singing and dancing, swagger?

10. Kinichie and his car, the bond with Rizzo, his talk, rivalry? His behaviour at the dance? The other three T-birds and their relationship with the girls? With Miss Mc Gee on the first day of school? Talking, dance, romance, sex? Kinichie and Rizzo’s pregnancy? The happy ending and the prospective marriage?

11. Rizzo as the tough girl of the school, easy to look down on, dominant, her spite, girlishness? The Sandra Dee song and the friendship with the Pink Ladies? kicks and the evening and the evening out with Kinichie and rivalry from the tough man from the other gang? Her pregnancy and telling her friend at the drive-in? Her attitudes and the song in the school? The false pregnancy but her marrying? Friendship eventually with Sandy? Her participation in the happy ending? A symbol of the trouble that girls can get into at this age?

12. The other girls - Frenchie and her job, her chats with Vi at the milk bar, her pink hair, her dream, going back to school? Marty and her glamour, her appearing on television and dancing with the compere of the dance session?

13. How attractive was Sandy? Olivia Newton- John and her personality and singing style, from Australia, Love is a Many Splendoured Thing, Summer Loving, in contrast with Danny? Her hopelessly devoted song, getting in with the Pink Ladies? Drinking and smoking and her ears pierced? Her dating these sports star, concerned about Danny and his sport, dancing with him and her being hurt, the drive-in incident, her going to the drag race, her decision with Frenchie to change and the final torrid song and dance - and going off at the end?

14. The satire in the presentation of the sports type and his vacuous stare although a gentleman? the two that were on the committee and the enthusiasm especially of the girl?

15. The use of the aging stars for roles in this film ? Miss Mc Gee and Eve Arden's style the running of the school, compering, the dance, her sadness and her assistant getting things mixed, the microphone? Sid Caesar as the coach - his work, with Danny, the bonfire and the aggressive attitude, the humour of his appearance at the carnival and being dumped? Alice Ghostly and her being on side with the drag drivers, Joan Blondell as the worldly-wise waitress, Frankie Avalon appearing as the angel?

16. The build-up to the dance competition - as a chance to present catchy dancing, disco type? The humour of the television and the behaviour of the boys and girls? The skilful dancing?

17. The introduction of the drag race and the memory such films as those of James Dean and the 50's? Kinichie not being able to drive? Danny’s win and the enthusiasm of the group?

18. The melodramatic aspects of the relationships, the big feelings in adolescents' lives? As summed up in the finale? The fantasy memory and nostalgia - for entertainment, for a social history of how people felt or thought they felt?