Film Poster sourced at Wikipedia
It has been a while since I've been on one of the Twitter prompts, but this morning I felt like it was the day. The prompt identified it is getting warmer, and the summer vibes are in the air! What the prompt fails to realise is that it's Winter in Australia, and was have a polar front moving in. Yesterday was the first time this year we had to turn the heater on! But, weather aside, let's talk about Grease - it is, afterall, the word.
For me, I wasn't yet around in 1978, but I remember seeing this as a young fellow in the 90s. Instantly, I was hooked - it was probably the first musical I'd ever seen, and over the years I'd re-watch this one regularly. There was something about it - the songs would linger in your mind and even now, I can hear them crystal clear.
'I'm hopelessly devoted to you' - Ah, Sandy, not so much devotion, but perhaps we should say, 'Look at me I'm Sandra Dee'. But then it's 'Grease Lighting!'. or, 'Wop bob a doo bop' - or maybe it's the declaration, 'You're the one the I want'. It's nearly impossible to write down those lyrics without a smile on the old dial. Each song from the film is iconic and has a level of nostalgia to it. I would watch the film, learn the songs, and ultimately end up singing them around the house. It was a family thing perhaps, as mum would start belting out 'Hopeless devoted' alongside Olivia Newton John.
But you know, I would go one step further - and say this film isn't so much iconic, but a rite of passage. Growing up, those in the generation before me got to enjoy this film at the drive-in, and my generation got to enjoy it on VHS. When DVDs were all the rage in the early 2000s, this one was everywhere (particularly the 30th anniversary of its release), and no doubt it was continued to be be consumed - but, I fear that this film is lost to young people today - perhaps the 1970s were just too long ago, or the star of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John don't quite shine as bright as they did for all those years following the film's release - but what a shame kids these days will never get to blast out some 'Summer Lovin'.
- Particularly because of the timeless depiction of the human condition. The film captures that teenage experience of high school romances and wanting to be someone else - whatever your vision of that 'better' version of yourself is. I guess you would call this the modern day Cinderella story - the transformation of Sandy winning the Prince of the school.
How's this for a fun fact: Britney Spears' music video, 'Hit me baby one more time' was filmed at Grease's 'Rydell High'. The school as a cultural reference might yet help it make another revival!
So as the Summer vibes begin, why not dust off this old classic and get in the mood for a great summer ahead. Who knows, you might even rekindle an old love affair!
This Blog was in response to the CineTV Twitter prompt, get on it: https://twitter.com/CineTv_io/status/1531047791820263426
All images are associated with the film discussed, which is distributed by: Paramount Pictures
