Grease - Cine Plus

Issue Number 14

Translation:

The king of disco, John Travolta, has infected the American public with one of the most dangerous viruses of the 70s: the musical film virus. But the first inoculation wasn't enough, so he's doing it again, stronger than ever!

This film has all the qualities of the previous ones, with the addition of Travolta's wild and sensual breath. His performance is so extraordinary that if Saturday Night Fever" made him a star overnight, Grease" will make him a legend like J. Dean, R. Valentino, etc.

Originally, Grease" was a Broadway musical success and had already completed more than 2,200 performances. It has been readapted for the screen with original songs, as well as hits from the 50s. A double album of the original music will be released with Olivia Newton-John and Travolta on the cover. The exciting and energetic Grease is a musical tribute to the age of rock and roll, and its music captivates viewers in the same way that Elvis Presley's tunes did in his time.

Travolta plays Danny Zuko, a young man finishing high school, who leads a gang of tough-guy, leather-clad kids. They ride around on motorcycles, drive sports cars, go out with their girlfriends, and go dancing whenever they get the chance.

Travolta met O. Newton-John (Sandy Olsson) last summer vacation and they fell madly in love. When high school starts again, they accidentally end up at the same school.

Throughout the school year, rivalries arise: Danny goes out with other girls and Sandy sees other boys. Meanwhile, everyone prepares for the inter-high school dance competition. The number Danny and Sandy will be televised, and it's a big deal. After various twists and turns, they finally admit they're deeply in love and must stay together.

25 professional actors, dancers, and musicians surround the two stars. Classified ads were placed to find the most perfect team. It took weeks to sort through the thousands of responses. Broadway star Stockard Channing stars alongside Sha-Na-Na, Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, and many others. Many of them helped compose the music and lyrics.

The film was shot in Hollywood on set, and on location in the streets of Los Angeles, on beaches, and at Hollywood High School. The director, Randall Kleiser, is 30 years old: he first directed Travolta in the TV series The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Travolta displays a fantastic energy coupled with the violence and innocence of a young animal.

Olivia Newton-John, who was very popular as a singer in the United States, made her film debut with Grease. She received several Oscars. Her greatest hits are: Let Me Be There, If You Love Me, Let Me Know, and Please, Mister Please. She sings with Travolta in the film. Their duet songs broke all sales records in the U.S.

Grease

Feature Film USA color - 1h 51
DIRECTOR: Randal Kleiser; SCREENPLAY: Bronte Woodard
Based on the musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
PRODUCERS: Robert Stigwood and Allan Carr
LYRICS AND MUSIC: Barry Gibb
CAST: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Didi Conn, Jamie Donelly, Dinah Manoff, Ellen Travolta...
With the participation of: Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, Sha-Na-Na...

The plot has often been treated in different forms: a love story between teenagers in the context of high school. Danny met Sandy on vacation. They fell in love and do not know when they will be able to see each other again. By an extraordinary coincidence, they find themselves in the same high school.

Sandy hasn't changed her attitude: sincere, a little shy, she's ready to throw herself into his arms, and she doesn't understand Danny's reactions. He's back to being Zuko, the leader of a gang of T Birds with a status to maintain, especially with women: themes are used from time to time for going out, losing teenage acne, etc.

Out of spite, she goes out with an athlete from school whose brain resides in his biceps. Danny, to win her back, changes his character and trains at the stadium. Finally, Sandy, at the end-of-year school party, to please him, will adopt his style: a young girl from a good family, she appears as a suburban girl with ultra-tight black pants, crazy hair and vamp makeup...

The dances are all very well-regulated. This film is sometimes full of humor and sometimes full of dynamism; sometimes only, because the whole thing seems a little heterogeneous and some scenes a little flat.

We find the usual clichés about the characters: the crazy apprentice hairdresser, makeup and hair dye, the tough one who does not deprive herself of making love with those she likes (even in the rival gang), but who in reality is straight and has a heart of gold, the fake T Bird who in reality is a little lost in front of women, the headmistress of a very anarchic and very crazy school etc... In fact, these clichés are only a support to the musical comedy that is the film (A dynamic film from a musical point of view, it was American Graffiti by G. Lucas).

It's true that there's always a gap between a performance on stage and its adaptation to the screen. This is the case with Grease, which probably explains the juxtaposition of certain sequences. (This was also the case with The Rocky Horror Picture Show from a technical point of view, but whose theme was clearly parodic.)

That said, the Travolta recipe is perfect. An excellent dancer, he's also a charmer who relies on his frank smile, his slightly reserved air, and his direct, blue eyes. Undeniably a sensitive teen idol. Olivia Newton-John, straight out of a teen toothpaste ad, has all the charm of youth.

Grease, despite its small, easily overlooked flaws, is an entertaining film not to be missed.