Grease has been the word for 35 years. It is the most successful movie musical ever. According to recent stats, the film was shot on a budget estimated at just over $6 million – equivalent to $20 million in today鈥檚 economy. Since its 1978 release, it has wowed audiences of all ages, cultures and generations and has grossed almost $395 million worldwide, a return close to twenty times its cost.
Allan Carr, the movie鈥檚 producer, said in an interview that making Grease was a pleasure, from first to last day. Cast and crew were like a big family. Openly-gay actor and dancer Sean Moran, who plays Moose in the movie, agrees.
鈥淲e all became very close,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 met the love of my life on that shoot.鈥�
A lot of the cast members had worked on Broadway doing the play so they knew the characters well. However, much of the film鈥檚 success is owed to choreographer, Pat Birch. She was instrumental in setting up complicated scenes and always put the dancers to good use. They weren鈥檛 just itinerant figures. They were the heart of the high school.
鈥淧at always felt that Greased Lightning was one of the most intricate numbers to film,鈥� Moran said.
鈥淲e shot it in two long days. Because we only had a couple of outfits each and the prop tyres were so greasy, wardrobe was a big concern.鈥�
In the stage version, the number is heavy with sexual innuendo. The show refers to Saran wrap as a substitute for condoms.
鈥淎s the movie was PG they had John Travolta running around the car with plastic wrap, which really made no sense at all,鈥� he said.
There is a brief glimpse of him rubbing his crotch with it in the sequence. Blink an eye and you鈥檒l miss it. Younger audiences usually do. But then again, so do most adults. What a fascinating time the 1950s must have been.
Jeff Conaway, who plays Kenickie in the movie, was initially meant to perform Greased Lightning. Moran says that Conaway wasn鈥檛 at all pleased when changes were made to the script and the song went to Travolta.
鈥淭here were a few meetings over it. Jeff had played Danny Zuko on Broadway. John had only played the role of Doody. But John was the star of the movie鈥︹��
These days, the cast are spread out all over the world. They all stay in touch by email, phone or through Facebook. Every now and then, they reunite when one of them directs the stage show or when the sing-a-long plays at the Hollywood Bowl.
鈥淧icture it: 18,000 people all dressed up in Grease costumes watching and singing with the movie. It鈥檚 amazing!鈥� Moran said.
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