A "Grease"-y Debate

[Hemiola]

I know that I'm dating myself by saying this, but I saw the musical "Grease" during its original run on Broadway. One of the things that struck me as amusing about the show was its wonderful satire of the mentality of "mindless conformity" that was so pervasive during the '50s.



To my surprise, though, friends of mine who have daughters tell me that their kids (who, of course, aren't old enough to remember the real '50s) adore the film, and see it as a kind of "Cinderella" story. Huh????? I must have missed something here. The whole point of the show was that the "Sandra Dee"-type girl has to, basically, change herself into a "bad" girl to appear to fit in with the rest of the "gang". How can this be seen as something positive? Did the movie so radically change the message of the show that now young girls would see the necessity to "slutify" (is that a word? ) themselves as a "good" thing????



I thought I would solicit some Kitten Opinions (tm) on this subject .

[Cicca]

Huh. My first exposure to Grease was through the movie when I was a kid. And of course I loved it! Most of that stuff went over our heads, we just knew that Sandy looked like such a Bad Girl Barbie.

The way I see it, both of them tried to change for the other. Remember Danny in that letter sweater? heheheheh



I've never seen it as a Cinderella story, that's for sure.



And I really thought this might be a debate about Grease vs. Grease 2.

“Spirit of Sappho, ... I summon you. Come fill me with your big, dykey power!” ~ Final Exam by Tommo

[Hemiola]

Sorry, Cicca--I never saw "Grease 2"

[Cicca]

That may be a good thing or a bad thing. There's a description of the movie here. Yeah, it sounds like a really cheezy movie. And it is! But just ask anyone who's seen it about Michelle Pfeiffer on the ladder. Alas, I can find no pics!

Here's the description from that page though.

Quote:

---

Following one talent show rehearsal, Michael makes his move to ask Stephanie for a date. She turns down repeated entreaties and sings him a song about her ideal man--the "Cool Rider." As the first strains of the song begin, Pfeiffer is bathed in red lighting. Wearing a tight black outfit, she scales a ladder with cat-like stealthiness, and straddles it while singing lines like: "I want a devil in skin-tight leather" and "If he's cool enough/he can burn me through and through." Anyone who wonders why Pfeiffer was the only actor to become successful after G2 needs only to watch this scene.

---

“Spirit of Sappho, ... I summon you. Come fill me with your big, dykey power!” ~ Final Exam by Tommo

Edited by: Cicca  at: 10/7/03 10:31 pm

[sprhrgrl]

I always thought that the way that Danny and Sandy ended up both changing for each other and then not 'matching' once again said that maybe you shouldn't change for someone?

she's my everything

Sweetie, I'm a fag. I been there. - Tara (Dead Things shooting script)

A muscle cramp? in your. . . pants? - Tara (Older & Far Away)

[Tempest Duer]

That's a good point you make there...



But I only ever saw the movie, and I absolutely hate John Travolta.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

[SySnootles]

It boggles my mind that someone has seen Grease only once. It was such a staple of my childhood.



Speaking of which, when I was younger I never "got" the whole changing for someone idea. It was clearly there, but I really just loved the movie for the music. (A brief side note -- one of the funniest songs you never really hear in the movie is "It's Raining On Prom Night." If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend it for the goofyness of it. Especially the bridge.) When I got older and I finally "got it," I was actually a bit irritated. I'm better about it now... I think...



As for Grease 2, I have to confess I love cheesy movies. Love 'em! Howard the Duck, Clue: The Movie, The Brady Bunch Movie, those kind. And I love Grease 2. Where else can you hear songs titled "Reproduction," "Let's Do It For Our Country," and "We're Gonna Score Tonight"? And there's my personal favorite, "Girl For All Seasons." Come on!! I have it on VHS, but even if I did have the DVD, I would have no idea how to get screen caps. I haven't evolved enough in that area of technology.

Catie



"The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make a difference that you lived at all." -- Leo Roston

[dekalog]

I can only speak for myself in that the movie did radically change my perception of Olivia Newton-John.



I was a very young girl when I saw it and when Sandy came out in the leather - I came out in my own mind. Suddenly I knew why I wanted to carry "cheryl's" books home from school.



To this day I still have an Olivia fetish. MMMMMMMMMM

[Tempest Duer]

Oh, dear.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

[BigGayBear]

I'm another of those that was introduced to Grease at an early age. Of course when I was a kid it did kinda appear to me like a 'Cinderella' story, but in recent years I've watched it again, and thought... ok... You're changing who you are for him??? And I mean, it's still a classic, but it's not so much viewed in the same positive light. *shrugs* Still love the film... that bit at the end... "What if we never see other again" "That'll never happen"... ok, that made me cry on my last day of school



And, yeah, I'm sorry, but looking back now.. I think there were some Olivia Newton John elements that as a kid I didn't so much notice...



OH! I thought I was the only one who actually liked Grease 2... Man, I need to get that on DVD or something. *Coooooool rider... cooo-oolll rider* hehe. Happy Dayz.



Go Greased Lightening!



Al

[Cicca]

I think I need to watch Grease again, with a critical eye. It'll be interesting! Later viewings have been surprising more for all the sexual content that went waaaaaaaaaaay over our heads when we were little.



As for being the only one who liked Grease 2? Heck no!

One of my fondest memories is acting out A Girl For All Seasons with a friend at summer camp.

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?