Welcome to the GREASE 2 25th Anniversary Blogathon!!
On June 11, 1982, GREASE 2 was released to theatres. While not a big hit theatrically, it went on to develop a huge and loyal cult following during its frequent cable airings in the following years.
Were you a fan of GREASE 2? Well, let your love of the film be known!
Bloggers, email me a link to your post, or post it in the comment section.
Don’t have a blog? Post in the comment section.
And a big thanks to Grease2.net for their help, and for helping me find a lot of great links. Check over there also for details of the upcoming 25th anniversary reunion.
Links
Blogs
"Hope He's Proud of What He's Done" (Edward Copeland on Film)
A Tale of Two Careers (Lazy Eye Theatre)
"Grease 2 is 25" (Politics, Culture, And Other Wastes of Time)
"On This Day" (USA Today's Pop Candy) - Pop Candy linked to this blog (thanks!) and there is a great discussion going on about the film in the talkback section.
"Happy 25th Anniversary, Grease 2" (Entertainment Weekly's Popwatch) - The folks at Popwatch join in with reasons why you should care about the anniversary.
"Academy of the Underrated: GREASE 2" (Club Parnassus)
"Why Grease 2?" (Moviezzz)
Grease 2 Novelization Book Review (Moviezzz)
What Ever Happened to GREASE 2 stars Jean and Liz Sagal and Lucinda Dickey (Moviezzz)
Reviews
Roger Ebert’s review – It wasn’t that bad, he gave it 2 stars.
Variety’s Review – They think the musical numbers are better than the original.
Other Links
Grease2.net - The Ultimate Grease 2 Fansite
Tab Hunter – The Official Site of Mr. Stuart.
Eddie Deezen – Eugene’s official site
Lorna’ Luft’s Official Site - Paulette's Site.
The Sagal Twins – Features a great bio
Box office report – Why Grease 2 didn’t do well at the box office. Look at what it was competing against!
Wikipedia Entry – Which raises one point I never thought of, about Michael asking Stephanie “Have you ever read a Superman comic?”.
Grease 2's IMDB Page
Grease 2 Transcription
Yale Cabaret Grease 2 Play Review
Shiny Gun - Great essay on the film.
More to follow today.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Welcome to the GREASE 2 Blogathon!
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13 comments:
woohoo!!! It's here!! Blogathon day! Enjoy! Thanks for rememberig such a great movie.
So many moons ago, yet it seems like yesterday. I remember it had been a few months prior to the release and all the teen mags were starting to promote it and Introduce Maxwell and Michelle. SuperTeen even held a contest on who should be the next "Danny and Sandy"
June 11 arrrived and I'll never forget that day ever. My dad took me, my cousin and mom to this little theater in Fountain Valley, CA, it was the 7:35 showing. I sat in awwe the entire time.
That very first scene when Pfeiffer arrived on the screen. Too cool. Then the Cool Rider sequence! It changed my life forever!
I begged my dad to take me again the next day, which he did and I saw it two more times.
The day after that he took me to buy the LP. I had every magazine I could get my hands on.
By the time Grease 2 left the theater in August of 1982, I had seen the movie over 35 times. I would sit in the theatre over and over and over.
Gosh, those were the days.
Now I pay tribute to my fave movie of all time at my very own Grease 2 Tribute, The Ultimate Grease 2 Fansite, www.grease2.net
The Music and Feeling go on Forever....
Amy - webmaster, Grease2.net
Why GREASE 2?
Many people have wondered how I came about my interest in the musical GREASE 2 when the mass majority rejected it during its premiere June 11th, 1982. Since this is the 25th Anniversary of its release, here is my story...
I had initially seen the original GREASE on a small black and white tv and thought it was fun, but felt it would have been even better if the roles had been reversed, a cool girl, and a smart, out of his element kind of guy. Mostly because I was out of my element in High School.
Then in Spring of 1982 at the age of 16, I was washing dishes in the kitchen and had Entertainment Tonight blairing loudly in the living room. I heard a catchy tune, wiped my hands and walked in just as Stephanie was straddling the ladder and singing COOL RIDER! I thought, "What the hell is this?" Then they continued on with an interview with Michelle Pfeiffer and discussed the film. It sounded exactly like what I had thought would be a great story. At that point I remember the logo was still the GREASE car and trailer with a "2" in it next to Mary Hart's head! "I will have to catch that when it opens", I thought. The song just stayed in my head so I went out and bought the vinyl record album, without even having seen the movie yet. I grew up in the rural country so it isn't like I could just walk over to the theatre down the street and I didn't have my license yet... I was at the mercy of my older brother Steve or my friends.
A bit later I went to see STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN at the Viking Theatre downtown College Avenue in Appleton and in the lobby was a huge promotional cardboard standup of GREASE 2! It looked so cool, I vowed to see it the next time I went to the movies. I generally went with friends who had licences at the time and NO ONE wanted to see it because John and Olivia weren't in it! Yet they forced me to sit through MEGAFORCE! I finally got to see GREASE 2 at the drive in at the end of summer. At that point Paramount Pictures made it a double feature with the big hit of the previous year, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. So my brother and his girlfriend said they wanted to see RAIDERS anyway so they took me along.
Long story short, RAIDERS was first and by the end clouds started appearing fast over the Drive In. When my brother came back from intermission he dropped the speaker off the window and it kind of crackled, WHAT? Are you kidding me? then it happened..... GREASE 2 began and I had a blast. Since I had heard the songs first on the record, it was interesting to see what visuals went with them. Somewhere in the middle there were sprinkles of rain. And the speaker was going in and out.... My brother wanted to leave. NONONONONONONo!!!!!!!!!! I never got to see the Luau because the rain just POURED down on us, coming into the windows where the speakers were. I could not make out the screen. Large splotchy red, yellow and orange colors of the luau. I was so mad. As soon as everyone said "It's Michael!" my brother put the speaker out in the pouring rain on its hook and we drove out with me looking out the rear window trying to see what was happening on screen. All I saw were streams of color. Life was harsh.
Fall 1982 begins and I ask the kids at school what they had all seen at the movies that summer. No one mentions GREASE 2. EVERYONE talks about E.T, the THING, POLTERGEIST and STAR TREK II. What sucked was the fact that the musical oriented people at school went to see ANNIE and BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS! The few who had seen GREASE 2 were not impressed... damn nerds! I had brought the vinyl record album to school so my friends could listen to the genious which was COOL RIDER and REPRODUCTION. They...just... didn't... get... it. Oh well, whatever.
My aunt told me later that it was coming to HBO and invited me over. That was fun, here I was watching it clear and unedited! Hooray! Two years later I specifically had gotten a VCR for Graduation so I could buy GREASE 2 ($59.99) Back then it was $5.00 a night (after a $50 membership fee) to rent it, though sometimes it on the $2.00 special list! One song that I really connected with was CHARADES. Most people think this song is too long. I disagree. It is a love ballad and the lyrics really hit home. As a young gay teen, I totally related to the duality of the Michael Carrington character. This song was powerful and touching. While the character wondered if the hot girl would still be interested in him if she knew who he really was, I was wondering would anyone be interested in me if they knew I was gay. I had listened to this song over and over again and appreciated it more each time. This seems to have eluded many of my peers. Thier loss.
I eagerly awaited its premiere on ABCTV. I though that now more people than ever will sample the film and enjoy it. It was then that I realised ABC had sacrificed GREASE 2 by placing it opposite the number one series on television at that time, THE COSBY SHOW! So much for that grand idea!
While in college at University Of Wisconsin: Green Bay, I brought my love of GREASE 2 with me. Once I secured the position of Film Coordinator for campus activities, I scheduled a GREASE/GREASE 2 double feature. Once again the musical gods were against me when I discovered that GREASE was available in a huge widescreen version, but GREASE 2 was in the standard, square 16mm version. Interestingly enough, there was also a coming attractions trailer for GREASE but when I asked the film company about the trailer for GREASE 2, I was met with a big 'Are you kidding?' I believe we had a double feature at some point for three years straight. They were always money makers! I am also pleased to announce that quite a few times people showed up just to watch GREASE 2! Of course this was when Michelle Pfeiffer was beginning her ascent in the film world and more people were interested in her and Maxwell Caulfield had made a name for himself on TV with DYNASTY.
In the late 1990's I finally became computer literate and discovered GREASE2.NET a wonderful forum where fans of this underrated musical discussed it and one could find rare pics and information. I wrote to its webmaster Amy and asked her if the school they filmed it at was still around. She wrote back that it was and soon plans were made for me to fly to California and meet her at Excelsior High School! We were like soulmates. We had our own language, a GREASE 2 language that my friends who were with me did not understand and were, frankly, concerned for my well being. I was so happy having Amy walk me around the campus, showing me the TBird/Pink Ladies lockers and the amazing auditorium where, in the back, is the place where Michelle sang COOL RIDER! The graffiti is still there! "Frank loves Helen" is what is written when Michelle leans against the wall after having left Michael on the stage. It was SO MUCH fun! I have been back there over the years and enjoy it every time. One year we found out that GREASE 2 was being played live, like Rockey Horror,on Santa Monica Blvd and I was lucky enough to contact Chris McDonald, Goose, and he called to say he would love to meet me at the Nuart Theatre and we'd watch the film together! Surreal and one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet.
In 2005 I saw that Maxwell Caulfield was attending an autograph show in Burbank, California. I decided to write to as many cast members as I could find and see if they were interested in a mini G2 reunion. The guy in charge, Ray Courts gave me the ok and I sent out invitations. I get an email from Maureen Teefy saying she was interested and that she knew how to contact Leif Green and Pamela Segall! very cool! I thought this was going to be as good as it gets until I recieved a phone call one night from Lorna Luft! She thought this was a great idea and wanted to be a part of it! We had the best talk and I called her back the next day to hammer out the details. The reunion went off without a hitch! Maxwell was surprised to see his former castmates and we had a super weekend. The following year I was able to Meet Tab Hunter and Connie Stevens and they all signed my oversized G2 poster which I cherish.
Not long after, Maxwell called and we discussed TRYST, a play he was working on in NYC. I decided to go and when I mentioned this to Leif Green, he met up with me outside the theatre! Later we met Maxwell backstage and I was thrilled! When I got back to my hotel, I checked my email and found a message from G2 director Patricia Birch! She wanted to meet for lunch the following Sunday! Meeting her was amazing. She pulls no punches and I appreciated it. We had a great discussion about G2 and I wanted it to go one forever. She asked about the previous reunion and how Lorna was, so I pulled out the trust cell phone and called her! Surprisingly, Lorna was actually home and they had a nice chat. My long weekend in NYC was coming to an end but these talented castmembers were so warm and welcoming to me that I will never forget it.
I still have my original Videotape, record album and magazines from back then. It is a film that has helped me get through some very bad days, in some cases probably saved my life. It is comforting and safe. I am not one of those people who thinks it's so bad it's good. I believe there is a lot of artistic integrity here, and I enjoy being in that world for a while.
I did my bit!
http://evanwaters.blogspot.com/2007/06/academy-of-underrated-grease-2.html
Enjoyed it, really. Might get the soundtrack if I happen across it somewhere.
Let's try that again:
Grease 2 Review
Amy - 35 times?? That is amazing!! As I wrote, I was never able to see it theatrically, even though I wanted to. I have probably seen it well over 100 times on cable and video, but that is nothing compared to seeing it theatrically.
Craig - Wonderful story. And I also got one of those $59.95 copies of the film. I begged for it for my birthday one year after first getting a VCR.
And I wish I could make it to the reunion.
Thanks for all the comments!
I couldn't resist participating!
I was born on July 2, 1982, so seeing "Grease 2" theatrically was never in the cards for me.
I am, however, the youngest of five children, and my four older siblings' wacky taste in movies brought "Grease 2" to my attention. We had it on videotape -- recorded from some local Philadelphia cable channel -- and we damn near wore it out watching it so much.
Looking back, it's especially surprising to me how much my brothers loved that movie. They mainly listened to Metallica, Iron Maiden -- things of that ilk. But somehow, they also felt it necessary to memorize every word to "Reproduction". My oldest brother, Sean, lost about 70% of his hearing when he was six years old (due to spinal meningitis), and so in the years before the internet made it easy to find any lyrics, I would transcribe the lyrics to his favorite songs for him. This included "Enter Sandman", "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Nite"...and "Who's That Guy?"
Looking back on it today, after film school's made me a nit-picky little freak, I still actually think "Grease 2" holds up. You have to be able to love it's inherent cheesiness, of course, but as movie musicals go, the staging is pretty fantastic. Especially when you compare it to recent musicals like "Rent" or "Dreamgirls", that haven't got the first clue how to make a musical number visually exciting -- or "Chicago", which while I love it, has that quick-cutting problem that never lets you see the performers, y'know...actually perform.
All in all, no one's going to accuse "Grease 2" of being art. But it sure is a helluva lot of fun.
I think my count is 375+ times seeing my all time fave movie musical of all time! But my goal was to see it as many times as posible before it left the "big" screen! I miss that summer! Thank goodness we all have each other to keep the memories alive~!
Amy
The article about the play version was interesting. I was thinking while watching how it would work on stage.
I was a high school junior in 1982. High School was a blast, and it was hell, all at the same time. When I had problems that I didnt know the answers to, Grease 2 was a great diversion. Sure, it wasnt a success at the box office. But, this movie will always have a special place in my heart. Sure its corny, but corny can be cool. And silly can be fun. Thanks guys and gals for Grease 2. Davey is the cutest.
It's a cool stuff!
To Craig: WOW! some stiry! i really enjoyed it! it was truly great to read what you had to say! OMG i can't beleive that you met some of the Cast and the Director! WOW again! i am soo jealous of you! haha Joke! anyway, i LOVE Grease 2 it is amazing and i can't help but laugh everytime i watch it ( but in a good way!)Anywho i am rambling again! sorry but one final message
I LOVE GREASE 2!!!! :D xx
I first saw G2 when it was on HBO (when HBO was the only movie channel on), I believe I was 8. Watching G2 actually led me to watching the first one. almost 25 years later I introduced it to my 11, 9, and 8 yr old daughters. They loved it and sill watch it every chance they get on our DVD. My 9 yr old found the soundtrack in a CD store in the local mall while I was looking for another soundtrack, so we bought it also. Now I hear "Cool Rider" every minute of the day, lol! Point being, from 1982 to 2010, G2 is still rockin' people from my (our) to the next (my babies). " So how do you become one of these T-Birds, ay?"
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