'Grease' came out as a hit movie in 1978, although it was originally a musical about how rock and roll transformed American culture and sexuality in the late 50s. The clash between the 1950's and 1960's is represented by its two lead characters, Sandy Olsson (representing the conformity and conservatism of the 1950s) and Danny Zuko (representing the individualism and the sexual revolution of the 1960s).
In the summer of 1958, Danny, leader of a boy gang in Rydell High called 'The T-Birds', visited Australia where he met Sandy at the beach. This romantic opening scene between Sandy and Danny is the perfect gateway for the film atmosphere's transformation from the simplicity of life in the 50s to the complexity of life in the 60s, which was tackled in the rest of the film.
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Figure 1. Danny and Sandy met at an Australian beach |
Danny and Sandy got to meet again, this time in the U.S., when Sandy was chosen to attend Rydell High School as an exchange student. They both wanted to rekindle their old romantic flame, but it wasn't that easy anymore. They were now in a world different from where they met - a more rebellious pre-60s America, where Danny is subjected to peer pressure to be 'cool'.
The film, which tackles social issues such as teenage pregnancy and gang violence while presenting the complexities of teenage life - love, friendship, rebellion, and sexual exploration, is also made interesting by the rivalry between the T-Birds and another gang, the Scorpions.
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Figure 2. The ever-popular 'Summer Nights' scene of Grease |
Eventually Sandy learned to be a little 'badder' herself, as Danny himself tried to resolve inner conflicts to win back his love. Needless to say, they found themselves in each other's arms again at the end of the movie.
The film was directed by Randall Kleiser.
Information on the movie's full credits may be found at:
