This is the third of seven entries I am writing for the Musical Countdown being hosted by WONDERS IN THE DARK. Here is the link.
http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/grease-no-39/
This is the third of seven entries I am writing for the Musical Countdown being hosted by WONDERS IN THE DARK. Here is the link.
http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/grease-no-39/
John, you had bunches of comments at the link post, so I thought I’d leave one here. You summed up completely that way I feel about the original Broadway Grease and the Hollywood one by explaining what it is SUPPOSED to be: “Their desire was to capture the feel of those early rock and roll records, the doo-wop sounds of the urban streets. Jacobs and Casey grew up in that environment, listened to those records back in Chicago and captured it perfectly, the language, the violence, the themes of teenage love, pregnancy, friendship.”
The movie Grease squelched all those things and turned the teenage angst into a mish-mosh of disco songs, sugary love story, lovable gang members, as you said (I LOVED your description of the other 3 members as Bowery Boys offspring!). Yes it was fun to watch, but it also just reinforced all of the Beach Party, unrealistic fun. Those are fine, but that is not what Grease was supposed to be. Of course, the supporting cast with Arden, Caesar, Byrnes, all were fun, and I have to admit that the highlight of the whole thing for me was Frankie Avalon singing “Beauty School Dropout” as an angel from heaven. But to me the low point was Olivia singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” Ack! I’m not a rabid feminist, really, but that was too much.
Stockard Channing saved what she could, but it was not enough to make this into a great movie, in my opinion, which I’m sure is not shared by many. However, I am not looking at a movie called Grease. I’m thinking of the original idea, which unfortunately Hollywood decided to cover with sugar. What a mess! However, you review was really spectacular, John! Kudos!
Becky, thanks for the great response. I am not a fan of Olivia Newton-John and the song they stuck in for her to sing (Hopelessly, Devoted to You) is just typical of how the filmmakers just screwed it all up. But what can you do, thins is what we are stuck with,. The musical show only live on in memories. Thanks again!!!