Grease Review

Grease


Release Date: 3rd August 1978 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)
Allan Carr Production

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Musical/Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes


Budget: $6,000,000

Box Office Gross: $396,271,103 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Near the end of summer in 1958, greaser Danny Zuko and Aussie girl Sandy Olsson met at the beach and fell in love. As they have parted ways, neither one realise that they will meet again in the same high school they are attending, with Danny being the leader of the gang of black leather jacket-wearing greasers called the T-Birds while Sandy hangs out with an all-girl group called the Pink Ladies. Will their romance be able to rekindle?

Cast

Principal Cast
John Travolta - Danny Zuko
Olivia Newton-John - Sandy

Olsson
Jeff Conaway - Kenickie
Stockard Channing - Betty Rizzo

The T-Birds
Barry Pearl - Doody
Michael Tucci - Sonny LaTierri
Kelly Ward - Putzie

The Pink Ladies
Didi Conn - Frenchy
Jamie Donnelly - Jan
Dinah Manoff - Marty Maraschino

School Staff/Other Characters
Eve Arden - Principal McGee
Frankie Avalon - The Teen Angel
Joan Blondell - Vi
Edd Byrnes - Vince Fontaine
Sid Caesar - Coach Calhoun
Alice Ghostley - Mrs Murdock
Dody Goodman - Blanche Hodel
Susan Buckner - Patty Simcox
Dennis C. Stewart - Leo Balmudo
Annette Charles - Charlene "Cha-Cha"
DiGregorio
Eddie Deezen - Eugene Felsnic
Fannie Flagg - Nurse Wilkins
Lorenzo Lamas - Tom Chisolm
Dick Patterson - Mr. Rudie
Darrell Zwerling - Mr. Lynch

Ellen Travolta - Waitress

Johnny Contardo - Johnny Casino (Uncredited)

Sha Na Na - The Gamblers (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Randal Kleiser
Based on the Stage Musical/Music and Lyrics -
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Screenplay - Bronte Woodard
Adaptation/Producer - Allan Carr
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Neil A. Machlis

Producer - Robert Stigwood
Casting Director - Joel Thurm

Production Designer - Phillip M. Jeffries

Set Decorator - James L. Berkey
Costume Designer - Albert Wolsky

Makeup Artists - Edwin Allen and

Daniel C. Striepeke
Dance Consultant - Tommy Smith
Dance & Musical Sequences Staging

and Choreographer - Patricia Birch
Director of Photography - Bill Butler

Location Managers - Alan B. Curtiss

and Marty Eli Schwartz (Uncredited)

Assistant Director - Jerry Grandey

Second Assistant Directors - Paula Marcus

and Lynn M. Morgan

Stunt Coordinator - Wally Crowder
Editor - John F. Burnett

Assistant Film Editor - Robert Pergament

Re-Recording Mixer - Bill Varney
Songs & Lyrics "You're the One That I Want"
& "Hopelessly Devoted to You" - John Farrar

Creative Consultant/Music Adaptor/

Music: "Sandy"/Performer: "Mooning" &

"Rock 'N' Roll Party Queen" - Louis St. Louis

Music - Michael Gibson


Awards

1979 Academy Awards
Best Music, Original Song "Hopelessly Devoted

to You" - John Farrar (Nominated)


Review
GREASE is a fun and extraordinary musical that perfectly captures the spirit and nostalgia of the 1950s in which the film takes place. The makers, such as director Randal Kleiser and the choreographers, did an incredible job of giving this slick movie a vibrant and lively atmosphere of the period through their stunning visuals and cinematography. It does have great acting by the lead actors, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, with the latter delivering a career-defining role. Their on-screen chemistry is simply electrifying, making the movie a true classic.

The energetically choreographed dance numbers like "Summer Nights" and "Grease Lightning" are a visual treat that leaves you tapping your feet. With iconic songs like my favourite, "You're the One That I Want", the film's soundtrack is an absolute delight. I like how these songs are interwoven into the narrative, adding to the film's charm and making it an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Forget its sequel, Grease 2 and the High School Musical movies as they walk in the shadow of the original masterpiece. GREASE will always be the word, as my favourite singing and dancing feature of all time and the best. If you're looking for a musical reliving the era of the swinging 50s, here it is.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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