Nice songs ...
In a way, I really like Grease. It's a musical and I love musicals. And, the songs are fun and the dance routines are quite hilarious (not sure if that's the intention, but who cares). The story itself is not all that outdated .. cliches will always be cliches after all. I'm not sure if anyone ever took anything in it seriously (I highly doubt it), but the ridiculous outfits, cars and behavior gives it a nice mood. I'm not too sure on the jokes involving bullying and it's still a complete mystery to me why John Travolta was casted for any of his films including this one (apart from Hairspray .. he was rather brilliant in that one). But, well, it's nice enough I guess. (It seems like people went to High School well into their 20s back then btw)
Loved it
Well, I suppose Grease is just one of those movies you either love or hate.
I read somewhere, ages ago, that the average women watches this movie about 9 times in her life. I stopped counting at 16 times, and that was 10 years ago...
And yes, whenever they show it on tv, I'll watch it again. and again. and again...
Wow, this movie does NOT age well! All the actors look waaaay too old to be in high school - they'd have been better off setting it in college - and the plot is basically non-existing. I still like the music, but it's not enough to keep this a favourite any longer. Downgraded from 5 to 3 stars.
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John Travolta | Danny Zuko |
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Olivia Newton-John | Sandy Olsson |
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Stockard Channing | Betty Rizzo |
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Jeff Conaway | Kenickie Murdoch |
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Didi Conn | Frenchy |
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Barry Pearl | Doody |
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Michael Tucci | Sonny |
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Kelly Ward | Putzie |
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Jamie Donnelly | Jan |
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Dinah Manoff | Marty Maraschino |
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Eve Arden | Principal McGee |
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Edd Byrnes | Vince Fontaine |
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Sid Caesar | Coach Calhoun |
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Dody Goodman | Blanche |
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Susan Buckner | Patty Simcox |
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Ellen Travolta | Waitress |
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Annette Charles | Cha-Cha DiGregorio |
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Dennis Stewart | Leo, Scorpions member |
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Joan Blondell | Vi |
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Frankie Avalon | The Teen Angel |
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Michael Biehn | Mike - School Athlete |
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Lorenzo Lamas | Tom Chisum |
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Eddie Deezen | Eugene |
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Bill Butler | Director of Photography |
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Randal Kleiser | Director |
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Bronte Woodard | Screenplay |
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Allan Carr | Producer |
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Robert Stigwood | Producer |
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Neil A. Machlis | Producer |
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John F. Burnett | Editor |
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Joel Thurm | Casting |
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Philip M. Jefferies | Production Design |
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James L. Berkey | Set Decoration |
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Albert Wolsky | Costume Design |
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June Edgerton | Music Editor |
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Jerry Jost | Sound mixer |
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Ken Speed | Special Effects |
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Allan Carr | Writer |
"Grease is the word"
In the summer of 1959, local boy Danny Zuko and vacationing Sandy Olsson meet at the beach and fall in love. When the summer comes to an end, Sandy—who is going back to Australia—frets that they may never meet again, but Danny tells her that their love is "only the beginning". The film moves to the start of the seniors' term at Rydell High School. Danny, a greaser, is a member of the T-Birds, consisting of his best friend Kenickie, Doody, Sonny, and Putzie. The Pink Ladies also arrive, consisting of Rizzo, Frenchy, Marty, and Jan. After her parents decided not to return to Australia, Sandy enrolls at Rydell and befriends Frenchy, who considers dropping out of school to become a beautician. Oblivious to each other's presence at school, Danny and Sandy tell their respective groups the accounts of events during the pair's brief romance.
Upon learning Danny is Sandy's sweetheart, Rizzo arranges for the two to reunite, but Danny is forced to maintain his bad-boy attitude in front of his pals, upsetting Sandy. Frenchy invites the girls to a pajama party, but Sandy falls ill from trying a cigarette and drinking. The T-Birds almost crash the party in Kenickie's Greased Lightning car, but a guilty Danny leaves, followed by Rizzo, who departs to make out with Kenickie, who is actually her boyfriend. The two are disturbed by Leo, leader of the T-Birds' rival gang, the Scorpions, and his girlfriend Cha-Cha, leading to a planned race between Kenickie and Leo. Wishing to win his way back into Sandy's affection, Danny turns to Coach Calhoun to get into sports, eventually becoming a runner. He reunites with Sandy and they attempt to go on a date, but their friends crash it, resulting in Kenickie and Rizzo arguing and parting. Left alone, Frenchy is visited by a guardian angel who advises her to return to school after a mishap in beauty class leaves her with candy-pink hair.
The school dance arrives, broadcast live on television and hosted by DJ Vince Fontaine, who flirts with Marty. Rizzo and Kenickie attempt to spite one another by bringing Leo and Cha-Cha as their dates, while Danny and Sandy come together. During a dance, Danny and Cha-Cha (who were once boyfriend and girlfriend) perform together and win a dance-off. Danny tries to make it up to Sandy by taking her to a drive-in theater but ends up making several passes at her, causing Sandy to flee. Meanwhile, Rizzo fears she is pregnant after missing a period and confides to Marty, but Sonny overhears and spreads the rumor which eventually reaches Kenickie who is the potential father.
The race arrives, but Kenickie is knocked out by his own car door thanks to the careless behavior of his friend Putzie, so Danny takes up the challenge. He and Leo race until Leo crashes and leaves humiliated, with Danny as the victor. Sandy watches from afar, concluding she still loves Danny and decides to change her attitude and look to impress him. On the last day of school, while Principal McGee and her assistant Blanche sob about the departing class, the class celebrates their graduation at the fair on the school grounds. Rizzo discovers she is not pregnant after all and reunites with Kenickie. Danny has become a jock, but is shocked when Sandy appears dressed in leather and is seen smoking. In song, the two admit they love each other and reunite. The film ends with Danny and Sandy departing in the Greased Lightning car together, which then takes flight, and the pair waves goodbye to their friends. The film ends with credits in the style of a yearbook.
Theatrical : 1978-06-16 : United States of America
Theatrical : 1978-08-03 : Australia
Theatrical : 1978-08-30 : Italy
Theatrical : 1978-09-14 : United Kingdom
Theatrical : 1978-09-15 : Denmark
Theatrical : 1978-09-15 : Ireland
Theatrical : 1978-09-22 : Spain
Theatrical : 1978-09-25 : Sweden
Theatrical : 1978-09-28 : West Germany
Theatrical : 1978-10-03 : France
Theatrical : 1978-10-11 : Colombia
Theatrical : 1978-10-12 : Netherlands
Theatrical : 1978-10-20 : Norway
Theatrical : 1978-11-02 : Argentina
Theatrical : 1978-11-02 : Mexico
Theatrical : 1978-11-14 : Philippines
Theatrical : 1978-11-23 : Hong Kong
Theatrical : 1978-12-08 : Finland
Theatrical : 1978-12-09 : Japan
Theatrical : 1978-12-25 : South Korea
Theatrical : 1981-02-02 : Turkey
DVD : 2002-09-24
1978-06-13 : United States of America