Grease [DVD] [1978]

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Most Popular Feature Films Released in 1978". IMDb. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012 . Retrieved April 27, 2012. Director Randal Kleiser took numerous liberties with the original source material, most notably moving the setting from an urban Chicago setting (based on William Howard Taft High School [10]), as the original musical had been, to a more suburban locale, reflecting his own teenage years at Radnor High School in the suburbs of Philadelphia. [8] He had little control over the musical aspects of the film; his choice of theme song, a composition by Charles Fox and Paul Williams, was overruled when Robert Stigwood and Allan Carr commissioned a song from Stigwood's client Barry Gibb at the last minute. [11] [12] Casting [ edit ] Grease' Returning to AMC Theatres for Charity, in Honor of Olivia Newton-John". Variety. August 18, 2022 . Retrieved August 18, 2022. It remained the highest-grossing live-action musical until 2012 when it was overtaken by Les Misérables, [42] and it remained the US champion until 2017 when it was surpassed by Beauty and the Beast. [43] Discounting inflation, Grease is now the seventh-highest-grossing live-action musical worldwide. [42] White points out that Grease is a mix of the musical, romcom and teen-movie genres that traditionally appeal to female audiences. It also offers a readily relatable ensemble of characters who aren’t just minor twists on the usual archetypes. There’s one character in particular, though, who provides the beating heart of the movie, and it isn’t Danny or Sandy. Louisa Lytton starred in the revival of the stage version of Grease, which toured the UK for much of 2017. “They asked me originally if I wanted to go in and sing for Sandy and I thought, I kind of always play that girl-next-door role,” she recalls. “I thought, I’d really like to go for Rizzo. Growing up watching the film, she’s most people’s favourite character and, in my mind she has the best song.”

Hood, Micaela (January 27, 2016). "Carrie Fisher could have played Sandy in 'Grease' ". New York Daily News . Retrieved October 27, 2021. BFI Statistical Yearbook (PDF) (2012ed.). London: British Film Institute. 2013. pp. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2013 . Retrieved July 11, 2022. Grease (1978)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. July 7, 1978. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014 . Retrieved September 1, 2021. Greatest Musicals: Channel 4 Film". Channel4.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009 . Retrieved March 29, 2017. Alternate Ending (HD 0:45) – Shown here in color for the first time (and mostly animated), this "alternate ending" isn't much different from the one we're familiar with.Olivia Newtwon-John and Robert Stigwood "Grease Day" Interview (SD 2:06) – In another archival interview from 1978, Grease's other producer interviews its other star. Film locations for Grease (1978)". Movie-locations.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012 . Retrieved October 30, 2012. Siskel, Gene (June 16, 1978). "Travolta cuts through flaws in suburbanized 'Grease'". Chicago Tribune. Section 3, p. 1. In connection with the film's 40th anniversary, Paramount released Grease on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on April 24, 2018. [63] Awards and nominations [ edit ] Award

John Travolta had previously worked with Stigwood on Saturday Night Fever, recorded the top-10 hit " Let Her In" in 1976, and had previously appeared as Doody in a touring production of the stage version of Grease. As part of a three-picture deal with Stigwood, Travolta was given the lead role after Henry Winkler turned down the role for fear of being typecast as a greaser, having been playing the similar bad-boy greaser Arthur Fonzarelli on Happy Days since 1974. [13] (Winkler would later regret the decision.) [13] [14] Director Randal Kleiser had never directed a theatrical feature before this but had directed Travolta in the 1976 telefilm The Boy in the Plastic Bubble; Kleiser and Travolta developed a close platonic bond over the course of production, helping Travolta maintain focus as he grieved the death of Diana Hyland (his girlfriend at the time and his on-screen mother in Bubble). [13] Before Newton-John was hired, Allan Carr was considering numerous names such as Carrie Fisher, [15] [16] Ann-Margret, Deborah Raffin, [17] Susan Dey and Marie Osmond for the lead role. Fisher, who had recently finished Star Wars, was ultimately rejected because neither Stigwood nor Carr knew if she could sing. [13] Osmond almost took the role before she realized the extent to which the character transformed into a rebel and turned it down [18] to star in Goin' Coconuts instead. Carr eventually chose Newton-John after a chance encounter at a soireé hosted by Helen Reddy. [19] Newton-John had done little acting before this film, with only two film credits (1965's Funny Things Happen Down Under and the little-seen 1970 film Toomorrow, which predated her singing breakthrough) to her name up to that time; she requested a screen test prior to accepting the role. [19] Newton-John agreed to a reduced asking price in exchange for star billing and the ability to rewrite the script, which included changing her character's origin to an Australian immigrant (to avoid having to emulate an American accent) and making her less passive. [19] In a case of life imitating art, Newton-John's own musical career would undergo a transformation similar to that of the Sandy Olsson character; her next album after Grease, the provocatively titled Totally Hot, featured a much more sexual and pop-oriented approach, with Newton-John appearing on the album cover in similar all-leather attire and teased hair. [20] About Grease: Live". Fox. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018 . Retrieved November 24, 2018. Grease Memories from John and Olivia (SD 3:23) – In this footage that was also taken from the 2002 Grease DVD Launch Party, the two leads reminisce about the movie.

WOULFE, MOLLY (January 2, 2009). " 'Grease' has deep, dark Chicago roots". nwitimes.com . Retrieved October 20, 2021. Weekend Records Through the Years". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018 . Retrieved March 24, 2018. Grease was originally shot on 35 mm film using Panavision cameras with anamorphic lenses. Paramount’s new 40th Anniversary Edition Ultra HD release features a new 4K scan of the original negative, followed by an extensive digital clean-up and restoration process supervised by Kleiser himself. It’s also been given new color grades for both Dolby Vision and HDR10, and is presented here on UHD in the original 2.39:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The result is very good looking indeed, about as good as one could expect given the film’s age. The image is often optically soft, particularly around the edges of the frame, and a few scenes were shot with filters to give it additional romantic quality. But on the whole the transfer features lovely detail and nicely refined texturing, particularly in skin tones and facial details. There’s a steady wash of light-to-moderate film grain that looks organic and cinematic. Contrast is excellent, with dark shadows and bright highlights (seen in gleaming chrome, car headlights, and the like). But it’s the color that really shines here, with incredible accuracy and vibrance. The High Dynamic Range helps all of this to pop off the screen with an electric but still natural appearance that really enhances the the image.

Grease was, is, and always will be a total hoot… a campy and dated one, sure, but still a hoot. If you love the film, the important thing to know is that you’ve certainly never seen it looking better than it does here on Paramount’s new 4K release. The disc carries over everything from the previous Blu-ray edition and even adds a few new features too. It’s definitely recommended for fans.A sequel, Grease 2, was released in 1982, starring Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer as a newer class of greasers. Few of the original cast members reprised their roles. As of 2023, a short-lived prequel television series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, debuted on Paramount+, with a prequel film, titled Summer Lovin ', currently in production. [8] [9] Plot [ edit ] Grease movie review & film summary (1998)". RogerEbert.com. March 27, 1998. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019 . Retrieved January 31, 2020. John Travolta and Allan Carr "Grease Day" Interview (SD 1:48) – In an archival interview from 1978, the producer of Grease interviews its star. McNary, Dave (December 14, 2020). " 'Dark Knight,' 'Shrek,' 'Grease,' 'Blues Brothers' Added to National Film Registry". Variety . Retrieved December 14, 2020.

As for this new 40th Anniversary release, you'll want to review our specs coverage below to decide if this one is worth adding to your collection. As noted, if you don't already own the movie, this release is certainly worth your consideration. As for the film itself, it's still a blast to watch and – after all these years - Grease is still very much the "word". a b c Windeler, Robert (July 31, 1978). "Ohh Sandy! – Olivia Newton-John". People. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008 . Retrieved November 10, 2008. The Moves Behind the Music (SD 8:14) – This featurette takes a look at the dance/production numbers in the movie. a b c d e f g Callahan, Michael (January 26, 2016). "How Grease Beat the Odds and Became the Biggest Movie Musical of the 20th Century". Vanity Fair . Retrieved June 4, 2021. David Ansen of Newsweek wrote, "Too often, Grease is simply mediocre, full of broad high-school humor, flat dramatic scenes and lethargic pacing. Fortunately, there's nothing flat about John Travolta ... Travolta can't dominate this movie as he did Fever, but when he's on screen you can't watch anyone else." [56]The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering Grease (SD 22:26) – An entertaining featurette with members of the cast and crew (including Travolta and Newton-John) providing their memories of making the movie. Henry Winkler on 'Barry,' 'The French Dispatch' and some of his missed career chances". Newsweek. October 15, 2021. a b "Aladdin Is Actually The Second-Most Successful Musical Ever". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019 . Retrieved June 19, 2019. Grease: A Chicago Story (HD 24:30) –This brand-new featurette takes a look at the very first version of Grease to hit the stage. Venevisión estrena 'Somos tú y yo, un nuevo día, inspirada en Grease' ". Archived from the original on June 22, 2017 . Retrieved July 30, 2016.