"Grease" is the most popular musical of the 1970's and I am sure it has gained more popularity since (the movie was also re-released in a sing-along version in theaters). The movie will stay with me as the ideal musical romantic comedy with the perfectly cast John Travolta and the sweet, lovely, winsome Olivia Newton-John as the lovely couple. John Travolta's Danny Zuko is one of the leather-jacketed, 1950's bad boys whose pride is always in check and it is hard to forget Travolta's performance that, in repeated viewings, is actually wittier than I had thought. Ultimately, it is really Olivia Newton-John whom we gravitate to the most as the Australian teenage Sandy Olsson who meets and falls in love with Danny. Of course, when Sandy is admitted to Rydell High, Danny acts like he doesn't know her because his T-Bird greaser gang don't believe in love, only making out.
"Grease" is an upbeat, revved-up musical but it is not among my favorites in this genre. The ending doesn't quite work which falls into something more fanciful with a fairy-tale touch than what preceded it. Still, I love the music, the expertly-timed dancing and the songs are memorable (especially more memorable than anything in "Grease 2"), and my favorite song and dance number might easily be the rousing number "Greased Lightnin." My favorite of the supporting characters is easily Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo who chews more gum than I ever did in all my high school years combined. Of course, it goes without saying that Travolta and Newton-John are a dynamic pair and sizzle - who else could do these roles better?
I do have a special fondness for the best scene in the film and it involves Olivia singing the Oscar-nominated "Hopeless Devoted To You." It is sung beautifully as we follow Sandy walking around the community at night singing her heart out to Danny whom we see in a reflection in an inflatable pool of water. It is sad and wistful and just so lovingly performed that you can't help but hope Sandy finds love with Danny. That is the ultimate effect of this deliberately old-fashioned musical and that is the long-lasting effect Olivia Newton-John has left us as well. Rest in Peace, you beautiful spirit.
