In tribute to the late Olivia Newton John interesting facts about Grease
Randal Kleiser would go on to direct films such as “Flight of the navigator” and “White fang” as well as “Honey I blew up the kid”
Johns older sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in one scene and future 80s action star Michael Biehn of Terminator and Aliens fame was an extra.
there are several deleted scenes which now only exist as black and white rough cuts including one with Travolta making a lab frog dance. One scene that was accidentally edited is where sandy and Danny fly off in their car and kiss. A special edition of the film had this scene re inserted and coloured.
There are three musical numbers that appear in the film that were not in the stage musical “Grease”, The one that I want and “hopelessly devoted to you” the scene where Olivia sings “hopelessly devoted to you” was filmed after principle photography was complete to comply with her contract that stated she would get a solo song.
Carrie Fisher and Marie Osmond were also considered to play Sandra Dee. Olivia wanted a screen test before accepting and she and John did the drive in scene. She tried an American accent but it was not successful so her character was written as Australian.
Elvis Presley was considered for the Teen Angel character in the “Beauty school drop out” sequence but died Donny Osmond was also considered.
The boys gang in the stage show was the Burger palace boys not the T birds in the film and the stage a
Show was set in Chicago but was in Philadelphia for the film. “Greased lightning” was a sung in the stage show by Konickie and Danny in the film.
The film was released in 1978 and was second only to the Godfather at the box and was nominated for four Oscar’s but failed to win any though John, Olivia and Stockard did win the peoples choice awards for best actor, actress and supporting actor. The album from the film was second only in success to Saturday Night Fever. Travolta and Olivia were asked to reprise their roles in the sequel Grease 2 as a newly wed couple running a gas station with a number by John called “Gas pump Jockey” they declined most of the actors who played the school teachers reprised their roles as did Jeff Conway and DiDi Conn who played Frenchy.
Randal Kleiser would go on to direct films such as “Flight of the navigator” and “White fang” as well as “Honey I blew up the kid”
Johns older sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in one scene and future 80s action star Michael Biehn of Terminator and Aliens fame was an extra.
there are several deleted scenes which now only exist as black and white rough cuts including one with Travolta making a lab frog dance. One scene that was accidentally edited is where sandy and Danny fly off in their car and kiss. A special edition of the film had this scene re inserted and coloured.
There are three musical numbers that appear in the film that were not in the stage musical “Grease”, The one that I want and “hopelessly devoted to you” the scene where Olivia sings “hopelessly devoted to you” was filmed after principle photography was complete to comply with her contract that stated she would get a solo song.
Carrie Fisher and Marie Osmond were also considered to play Sandra Dee. Olivia wanted a screen test before accepting and she and John did the drive in scene. She tried an American accent but it was not successful so her character was written as Australian.
Elvis Presley was considered for the Teen Angel character in the “Beauty school drop out” sequence but died Donny Osmond was also considered.
The boys gang in the stage show was the Burger palace boys not the T birds in the film and the stage a
Show was set in Chicago but was in Philadelphia for the film. “Greased lightning” was a sung in the stage show by Konickie and Danny in the film.
The film was released in 1978 and was second only to the Godfather at the box and was nominated for four Oscar’s but failed to win any though John, Olivia and Stockard did win the peoples choice awards for best actor, actress and supporting actor. The album from the film was second only in success to Saturday Night Fever. Travolta and Olivia were asked to reprise their roles in the sequel Grease 2 as a newly wed couple running a gas station with a number by John called “Gas pump Jockey” they declined most of the actors who played the school teachers reprised their roles as did Jeff Conway and DiDi Conn who played Frenchy.
