Grease (1978)

Tuesday, June 28th 9pm

Otto’s Shrunken Head

538 E. 14th street (A & B)

This week’s film is dedicated to the memory of Manhattan born, Queens raised “city boy” actor, Jeff Conoway, of Grease and Taxi vehicular film and tv fame.

Rest in Grease, Kenickie!

(October 5^th, 1950 – May 27^th, 2011)

…and because–let’s face it–you LOVE this movie, Cine Meccanica presents Grease in all it’s sing-a-long inducing glory!

The rules are… there ain’t no rules!

Released on June 16^th 1978, and based on the 1971 musical of the same title written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, Grease is the classic musical tale of 1950’s high school juvenile delinquents, fast cars, hot chicks and summer love.

When a guy picks a chick over his buddies, something’s gotta be wrong. Come on, guys let’s go for some pizza.

In the summer of 1959, greaser Danny Zuko (John Travolta) cavorts on the beach with vacationing Australian good girl, Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), but when it’s time to say goodbye, they know it’s been more than just a summer fling.

You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’

Back at Rydell High for the first day of senior year, Danny’s reunited with his gang The T-Birds: Bad-boy Kenickie (Jeff Conaway), Doody (Barry Pearl), Putzie (Kelly Ward), and Sonny (Michael Tucci).

That’s cool baby, you know how it is, rockin’ and rollin’ and what not.

And Sandy (who’s family unexpectedly ended up sticking around) is taken in by girl gang, The Pink Ladies, made up of tough Betty Rizzo (Stockard Channing), sophisticated Marty (Dinah Manoff), flaky Frenchy (Didi Conn), and juvenile Jan (Jamie Donnelly).

Rizzo: [singing] Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee / Lousy with virginity / Won’t go to bed ’til I’m legally wed / I can’t, I’m Sandra Dee.

Even though they think Sandy’s a bit of a square, they decide to reunite the summer lovers who recount their summer escapades to the respective gangs (“Summer Nights“).

You can’t just walk out of a drive-in.

It takes a while and a whole lot of drama to get the two back together since guy’s guy Danny doesn’t want to look uncool, by liking a square in front of the gang, and Sandy thinks he’s a creep for caring what the boys think.

Why, this car is Auto-matic. Its System-matic. Its Hyyyyydro-matic. Why, its Greased Lightning!

But many shenanigans (drive-ins, sock hops, shop class hot rod builds, drag races),

Cha Cha: They call me Cha Cha because I’m the best dancer at St. Bernadette’s.
Frenchy: With the worst reputation.

subplots (breakups, drop outs, pregnancies), and musical numbers (“BEAUTY SCHOOL DROP-OUT“, “GREASED LIGHTNING“, “THERE ARE WORSE THINGS I COULD DO“),

Danny: Sandy!

Sandy: Tell me about it, stud.

Everything works itself out in the end at the end of year carnival when the two reinvent their image to win the other, friends and morals be damned. (“You’re the One That I Want“),