Lisa Carroll
Bobby socks, poodle skirts and petticoats – it was the 1950s all over again at the 40th anniversary celebration of “Grease” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last week.
Or so you would think so with several people at the event dressed in the fashion of that era. “Grease” was a big milestone for the 1970s too, and it was a huge boost to the careers of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. Produced by Robert Stigwood, it also marked the feature film debut of director Randal Kleiser.
One of the highlights for me was when Olivia Newton-John walked right by me on her way through a hectic crowd to a private reception as I was waiting for the elevator.
“It’s a cultural event,” a nearby staffer remarked as he directed people where to go, “so it can get a little complicated trying to coordinate everything.”
Dancers named the “Hollywood Hotshots” performed onstage amongst a backdrop of home videos from the time period, along with a clip from the “Grease” premiere back in 1978 with Newton-John and Travolta at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. By the time Academy President John Bailey came on, the adoring audience had worked itself up into an excited frenzy.
Bailey introduced the night by saying “Welcome to the 40th anniversary screening of ‘Grease,’ or the 60th reunion of Rydell High,” to great applause.
He related how the film was released at the height of the disco era when “vinyl still ruled and the quality of video cassettes sucked and we all went to the movies.”
It turned out that ten years before “Grease” became a film, he and Kleiser were USC students and “no one doubted that Randal would stand out.” Bailey noted that the cinematographer, Bill Butler, was 97 and there in the audience that night (and still working).
Mario Lopez was the host for the celebrity panel; even though he had injured his foot, he still made it there on crutches. Lopez had played Vince Fontaine in “Grease Live,” and had been in school productions of the show, he related. He then initiated a lively panel consisting of Newton-John (Sandy), Didi Cohn (Frenchie), Randal Kleiser (director), Barry Pearl (Doody) and Travolta (Danny).
Lopez: What do you think when you look back about 40 years about “Grease?”
Travolta: Olivia! There was literally no one else. When I thought of Olivia with a blue shirt on an album, even then I said no-one else.
Newton-John: I wasn’t sure about it, I was frightened because I did a musical in London and it didn’t do so well. Then this gorgeous guy (Travolta) walked up my driveway. I said, “I’m 29, how could I be 18?” Then I said maybe I could do a screen test, and Randal helped me through it.
Kleiser: John helped her through it, he treated her like a little sister.
Travolta: I had other designs, but sister is fine!
When asked about being prepared for superstardom, Travolta said, “I had a TV series but I don’t think anyone is prepared about ‘Saturday Night Fever” and ‘Grease.’”
Cohn: You were worried about “Saturday Night Fever,” and invited us to come see it.
Newton-John: It was brilliant, we went to see it in our costumes.
Travolta related that since he had done the Broadway play (of “Grease”), he was the only one who had confidence it would do well. Pearl added that he had also been in the Broadway cast and that it had been part of his life since then.
Lopez: And Didi, you were singing with Frankie Avalon.
Cohn: I remember the tight white pants and he was coming down the staircase to sing to me – I’m drooling right now!
Lopez asked the panel why they thought “Grease” had been such a success.
Kleiser: Everywhere I go in the world, in every country they know the songs.
Newton-John: It was the 1950s, bright costumes, everything was larger than life.
Pearl: Plus the choreography and those two faces (Travolta and Newton-John).
Travolta: The two writers did a microcosm of James Dean, Marlon Brando, like the favorite moments of a decade. The play was running for ten years before the film. “Hoplessley Devoted to You” was nominated for an Oscar for best song.
Newton-John: I was so frightened when I sang it at the Oscars.
Lopez: It was Randal’s first feature film.
Kleiser: It was a blast!
The night ended with a full screening of “Grease” to a packed house.
