Grease

Grease
Directed by	Randal Kleiser
Written by	Bronte Woodard
Produced by	Robert Stigwood, Allan Carr
Starring	John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway
Cinematography	Bill Butler
Edited by	John F. Burnett
Music by	Michael Gibson
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	June 16, 1978
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$6 million
Box office	$394.5 million

Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and produced by Robert Stigwood and Allan Carr. The film is an adaptation of the 1971 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School, the film follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of peer pressure, politics, personal core values, and love.

Plot

The film opens with a summer fling between Danny Zuko and the sweet Sandy Olsson. They unexpectedly discover they are now in the same high school. Danny is the leader of the T-Birds, a group of greasers, while Sandy hangs out with the Pink Ladies, a group of pink-wearing girls led by Rizzo. Throughout the film, they struggle with their mutual attraction and the pressures from their respective friends and social norms.

Cast

• John Travolta as Danny Zuko
• Olivia Newton-John as Sandy Olsson
• Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo
• Jeff Conaway as Kenickie

Production

The film was shot during 1977, primarily at Venice High School in Los Angeles, California. Despite initial concerns from the cast about the film's potential success, Grease became a box office hit and a cultural phenomenon.

Musical Numbers

Grease features several hit songs that have become iconic in the world of musical theatre, including "Greased Lightnin'," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want."

Reception

Upon its release, Grease received mixed reviews from critics but was a massive commercial success. It became the highest-grossing musical film at the time. It has since gained a cult following and is considered a classic in the musical genre.

Legacy

The film's success spawned a sequel, Grease 2, which was released in 1982 but did not achieve the same level of success. The original Grease film has been re-released several times and adapted into various other media, including television and live performances.

See Also

• Musical theatre
• 1970s in film
• American films of the 1970s