Grease 2
| Grease 2 | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Patricia Birch |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Ken Finkleman |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Louis St. Louis |
| Cinematography | Frank Stanley |
| Edited by | John F. Burnett |
Production company | Polydor Records |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 114 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $11.2 million |
| Box office | $15.2 million[2] |
Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical romantic comedy film and the sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The film was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film and the Broadway musical. It takes place two years after the original film at Rydell High School, set in the 1961–1962 school year, with an almost entirely new cast, led by actors Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The film was released theatrically on June 11, 1982 and grossed over $15 million against a production budget of $11 million. The film, now best known for being Pfeiffer's breakout role, was otherwise poorly received, with Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs (who did not have any involvement with Grease 2) particularly displeased with the film.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
2.1 Reprising roles from Grease
2.2 Supporting cast
3 Production
3.1 Development
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
4 Music
5 Release
5.1 Box office
5.2 Critical reception
5.3 Accolades
6 Remakes
7 Plans for a third film
8 Stage musical
9 References
10 External links
Plot
It is 1961, two years after the original Grease ended. The first day of school has arrived ("Alma Mater" from the original musical) as Principal McGee and her secretary Blanche react in horror as the students, among them the new T-Birds and Pink Ladies, arrive at high school ("Back to School Again"). The Pink Ladies are now led by Stephanie Zinone, who feels she has "outgrown" her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Johnny Nogerelli, the arrogant and rather immature new leader of the T-Birds.
A new arrival comes in the form of clean-cut English student Michael Carrington (a cousin of Sandy Olsson from the previous film). He is welcomed and introduced to the school atmosphere by Frenchy, who was asked by Sandy to help show Michael around. Frenchy reveals she has returned to Rydell to get her high school diploma so she can start her own cosmetics company. Michael eventually meets Stephanie and quickly becomes smitten with her.
At the local bowling alley, a game ("Score Tonight") turns sour due to the animosity between Johnny and Stephanie. Stephanie retaliates by kissing the next man who walks in the door, who happens to be Michael. Bemused by this unexpected kiss, Michael asks her out, but he learns that she has a very specific vision of her ideal man ("Cool Rider"). After realizing that he will only win her affections if he turns himself into a cool rider, Michael accepts payment from the T-Birds to write term papers for them; he uses the cash to buy a motorcycle.
Following an unusual biology lesson ("Reproduction") given by Mr. Stuart, a substitute teacher, a gang of rival motorcyclists called the Cycle Lords (most of whom are members of the defunct Scorpions) led by Leo Balmudo, surprise the T-Birds at the bowling alley. Before the fight starts, a lone mysterious (unnamed) biker appears (who is actually Michael in disguise,) defeats the enemy gang and disappears into the night ("Who's That Guy?"). Stephanie is fascinated with the stranger. Meanwhile, Louis, one of the T-Birds, attempts to trick his sweetheart Sharon, one of the Pink Ladies and Stephanie's friends into losing her virginity to him by taking her to a fallout shelter and faking a nuclear attack ("Let's Do It for Our Country.")
The next evening while working at a gas station/garage, Stephanie is surprised again by the Cool Rider, and they enjoy a romantic twilight motorcycle ride. Just as Michael is about to reveal his identity, they are interrupted by the arrival of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Before Michael leaves, he tells Stephanie that he will see her at the school talent show, in which the Pink Ladies and T-Birds are performing. Johnny, enraged by Stephanie's new romance, threatens to fight the Cool Rider if he sees him with her again. The Pink Ladies walk away haughtily, but this has little effect on the T-Birds' self-confidence ("Prowlin'").
At school, Stephanie's poor grades in English lead her to accept Michael's offer of help. Johnny, upon seeing them together in a discussion, demands that Stephanie quit the Pink Ladies to preserve his honor ("rep", reputation). Although still enchanted by the mysterious Cool Rider, interactions with Michael reveal that she has become romantically interested in him as well. Michael ponders over the continuing charade he puts on for Stephanie ("Charades").
At the talent show, Stephanie and the Cool Rider meet up but are abruptly ambushed by the T-Birds who pursue Michael on their respective motorcycles, with Stephanie and the Pink Ladies following in a car. They chase him to a construction site which conceals a deadly drop, and the biker's absence suggests that he has perished below, leaving Stephanie heartbroken and inconsolable. Johnny and his T-Birds remove the competing Preptones - preppie boys - by tying them to a shower pole in the boys' locker room and drenching them. During the Pink Ladies' performance in the talent show ("Girl for All Seasons"), Stephanie enters a dreamlike fantasy world where she is reunited with her mystery biker ("(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time"). She is named winner of the contest and crowned the queen of the upcoming graduation luau, with Johnny hailed as king for his performance of "Prowlin'" with his fellow T-Birds.
The school year ends with the luau ("Rock-a-Hula Luau"), during which the Cycle Lords appear and begin to destroy the celebration. However, the Cool Rider reappears. After he defeats the Cycle Lords again, he reveals himself to be Michael. Initially shocked, Johnny gives him a T-Birds jacket, officially welcoming him into the gang, and Stephanie is delighted that she can now be with him. Michael and Stephanie share a kiss and all the couples pair off happily at the seniors' graduation as the graduating class sings ("We'll Be Together"). The credits start rolling in yearbook-style, as in the original film.
Cast
Maxwell Caulfield as Michael Carrington, an English exchange student and Sandy's cousin. Caulfield had already made his Broadway debut with roles in The Elephant Man and Entertaining Mr. Sloane. Having seen his performances, Allan Carr offered Caulfield the role of Michael over thousands of applicants.[3] Unlike co-star Pfeiffer, Caulfield's career following Grease 2 was damaged by the film's failure. He has been quoted as saying: "Before Grease 2 came out, I was being hailed as the next Richard Gere or John Travolta. However, when Grease 2 flopped, nobody would touch me. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown in my face. It took me 10 years to get over Grease 2."[4]
Michelle Pfeiffer as Stephanie Zinone, the leader of the Pink Ladies. With only a few television roles and small film appearances, the 23-year-old Pfeiffer was an unknown actress when she attended the casting call audition for the role of Stephanie. Other better-known actresses up for the part included Lisa Hartman, Kristy McNichol, Andrea McArdle, and singer Pat Benatar.[5] Pfeiffer was a wild card choice, but according to Birch, she won the part because she "has a quirky quality you don't expect."[6]
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Reprising roles from Grease
Didi Conn as Frenchy
Eve Arden as Principal Greta McGee (Arden's final Theatrical Role in this film)
Sid Caesar as Coach Calhoun
Dody Goodman as Secretary Blanche Hodel
Eddie Deezen as Eugene Felsnick
Dennis C. Stewart as Leo Balmudo (Craterface), leader of the Cycle Lords (appeared as the gang leader of the Scorpions in the previous film)- Dick Patterson as Mr. Spears (appeared as Mr. Rudie in the previous film)
Supporting cast
Tab Hunter as Mr. Stuart
Connie Stevens as Miss Yvette Mason
Jean and Liz Sagal as the Sorority / Cheerleader Twins
Matt Lattanzi as Brad, one of the Prep-Tones
Donna King as Girl Greaser (lead dancer)[7]
Lucinda Dickey as Girl Greaser
Ivy Austin as Girl Greaser 'Francine'
Andy Tennant as Boy Greaser 'Artie' (Arnold in Grease)
Bernard Hiller as Boy Greaser
Tom Villard as Boy Greaser 'Willie' (Performs 'Cry' at the Talent Show)- Vernon Scott as Henry Dickey, one of the Prep-Tones
Tom Willett as Bowling Alley Manager (uncredited)
Janet Jones as the Girl who missed her last two periods (Uncredited)
William N. Clark as Cycle Salvage Yard Manager (Uncredited) - also was a cameraman
Aurelio Padron as Boy Greaser
John Robert Garrett as Boy Greaser (Bubba in Grease)
Helena Andreyko as Girl Greaser (Trix in Grease)
Dennis Daniels as Boy Greaser (Bart in Grease)
Vicki Hunter as Girl Greaser
Sandra Gray as Girl Greaser (Big G. in Grease)
John Allee as student with basketball (Calhoun: "We'll put high-heels on your sneakers and we'll make you a center!")
Michael David Eilert as Boy Greaser (Uncredited)
Production
Development
Grease co-producer Allan Carr had a deal with Paramount Pictures to be paid $5 million to produce a sequel, with production beginning within three years of the original film. Carr decided to hire Patricia Birch as director for the sequel, as she had previously served as the choreographer for the stage and film versions of Grease. Birch was initially hesitant to accept after learning that neither composers Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey nor John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John would be involved in film.[8]Bronte Woodard, the writer who adapted the original stage material for the original film, had died in 1980, and Canadian comic Ken Finkleman (who was also writing and directing Airplane II at the same time) was tasked with penning a new script mostly from scratch. The total budget for the production was $11.2 million, almost double the budget of the original.[9]
Grease 2 was intended to be the second film (and first sequel) in a proposed Grease franchise of four films and a television series. (The third and fourth films were to take place in the sixties and during the counterculture era.) However, the projects were scrapped due to the underwhelming box office performance of Grease 2.[10]Maxwell Caulfield was unhappy with the film's "drab" title, and unsuccessfully lobbied to change it to Son of Grease.[11]
Casting
Birch proposed an idea to feature Travolta and Newton-John reprising their characters as a now married couple running a gas station near the end of the film, which did not come to fruition.[8] Paramount tried to get Jeff Conaway and Stockard Channing from the first film to do cameos but this did not happen.[12]
Timothy Hutton was announced as a male star,[13] but Maxwell Caulfield was signed after impressing producers on Broadway in Entertaining Mister Sloane.
Pfeiffer had only made a few films before:
That was really weird for me. I'd been taking singing lessons and I had taken dance, because I loved to dance, but I had never considered myself a professional at all. I went on this audition as a fluke, and somehow, through the process of going back and dancing, and then going back and singing, I ended up getting the part. I went crazy with that movie. I came to New York and the paparazzi were waiting at the hotel. I know the producers put them up to it. I am basically very private, and I'm really nervous about doing publicity. Every time I set up an interview, I say, "That's it, this is my last one. I'll do this because I committed to doing it, but I'm never doing another one." It was insane.[14]
Lorna Luft was the last star cast.[15] The part played by Connie Stevens was originally meant for Annette Funicello but she was unable to appear as she was filming a peanut butter advertisement that week.[16]
Adrian Zmed had previously played the role of Danny Zuko in the stage version of Grease, a role he would later reprise in the 1990s.[17]
Filming
Scenes at Rydell High School were filmed at Excelsior High School, an abandoned school in Norwalk, California.[9] Filming took place throughout a 58-day shooting schedule during the autumn of 1981.[10] According to director Birch, the script was still incomplete when filming commenced.[10] Sequences that were filmed but cut during post-production include scenes in which Frenchy helps Michael become a motorcycle rider, and a sequence at the end of the film showing Michael and Stephanie flying off into the sky on a motorcycle.[10]
In the film, after Stephanie wins the contest, it goes on to show the stakeout in the final scene. Originally, there were a few minutes dedicated to a scene in which Michael (believed to be dead in his alter ego, by Stephanie) comes out on stage as Stephanie is exiting the stage, unbeknownst to her that he is the cool rider and he is alive. He attempts to ask her what's wrong and she storms past him and runs off crying, then it cuts to the stakeout. There was a scene within the "Who's that Guy?" number in which Goose accidentally smashes Rhonda's nose at the Bowl-A-Rama door. None of these scenes have been shown since the film's release.
Music
| Grease 2 | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | 1982 |
| Recorded | 1981 |
| Length | 32:28 |
| Label | RSO (Original issue)[18] Polydor (Re-issue)[19] |
| This album =
| prev_title=
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   link |
- "Back to School Again" – Cast and The Four Tops (verses by the Pink Ladies are absent from the soundtrack)
- "Score Tonight" – T-Birds, Pink Ladies, Cast
- "Brad" – Noreen and Doreen
- "Cool Rider" – Stephanie
- "Reproduction" – Mr. Stuart and Students
- "Who's That Guy?" – Michael, T-Birds, Pink Ladies, Cycle Lords, and Cast
- "Do It for Our Country" – Louis and Sharon (Sharon's part is absent from the soundtrack)
- "Prowlin'" – Johnny and T-Birds
- "Charades" – Michael
- "Girl for All Seasons" – Sharon, Paulette, Rhonda, and Stephanie
- "(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time" – Stephanie and Michael
- "Rock-a-Hula Luau (Summer Is Coming)" – Cast
- "We'll Be Together" – Michael, Stephanie, Johnny, Paulette, and Cast
Featured as background music at Rydell Sport Field:
- "Moon River" (The Spirit of Troy- University of Southern California Marching Band)
Featured as background music at the bowling alley:
- "Our Day Will Come" – Ruby & The Romantics (Grease 2 takes place in 1961-62 and "Our Day Will Come" did not come out until 1963)
- "Rebel Walk" – Duane Eddy (this was the B-side of his biggest hit "Because They're Young")
Featured at the beginning:
- "Alma Mater" – Instrumental (this song was played at the beginning when Principal McGee and Blanche put up the 1961 Rydell flag)
Release
Box office
The sequel took in just over $15 million after coming at fifth on opening weekend behind E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Rocky III, and Poltergeist.[2]
Critical reception
As of July 2018[update], the film had a rating of 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 30 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The site's consensus states: "Grease 2 is undeniably stocked with solid songs and well-choreographed dance sequences, but there's no getting around the fact that it's a blatant retread of its far more entertaining predecessor."[20]Janet Maslin for The New York Times condemned the film as "dizzy and slight, with an even more negligible plot than its predecessor had. This time the story can't even masquerade as an excuse for stringing the songs together. Songs? What songs? The numbers in Grease 2 are so hopelessly insubstantial that the cast is forced to burst into melody about pastimes like bowling."[21]Variety, on the other hand, commended the staging of the musical numbers, writing that Patricia Birch has come up with some unusual settings (a bowling alley, a bomb shelter) for some of the scenes, and employs some sharp montage to give most of the songs and dances a fair amount of punch."[22]Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2 stars out of 4, saying: "This movie just recycles Grease, without the stars, without the energy, without the freshness and without the grease."[23]
However, Pfeiffer received positive notices for her first major role. The New York Times review cited her performance as the "one improvement" on the original film: "Miss Pfeiffer is as gorgeous as any cover girl, and she has a sullen quality that's more fitting to a Grease character than Miss Newton-John's sunniness was."[21]Variety wrote that she was "all anyone could ask for in the looks department, and she fills Olivia Newton-John's shoes and tight pants very well."[22] Pfeiffer told the Los Angeles Times three years later:
.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}
That film was a good experience for me. It taught me a valuable lesson. Before it even came out the hype had started. Maxwell and I were being thrust down the public's throat in huge full page advertisements. There was no way we could live up to any of that and we didn't. So the crash was very loud. But it did teach me not to have expectations.[24]
Barry Diller of Paramount said that the film "on no level is as good as the first. The quality isn't there."[25]Jim Jacobs described it at the time as "awful ... the pits."[26] In an interview 27 years later, Jacobs noted that Grease 2 "still brings a brief frown to his face."[27]
Accolades
Pfeiffer was nominated for a 1983 Young Artist Award in the category of Best Young Motion Picture Actress.
The film was nominated for a Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for Worst Picture.[28]
Remakes
The film's screenplay was adapted in the Kannada (South India) feature film Premaloka, starring Ravichandran and Juhi Chawla, released in 1987, which went on to become a blockbuster.
Plans for a third film
In 2003, Olivia Newton-John confirmed that a second sequel was being developed. "They're writing it, and we'll see what happens. If the script looks good, I'll do it. But I haven't seen the script, and it has to be cleverly done." [29]
In 2008, it was reported that Paramount was planning a new sequel to Grease that would debut straight to DVD.[30] However, the project never came to fruition.
Stage musical
The film was later adapted into a musical, "Cool Rider", with the script re-written and modified for the stage.[31]
References
^ "GREASE 2 (A)". British Board of Film Classification. June 14, 1982. Retrieved September 26, 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ ab "Grease 2 (1982) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com.
^ "The Maxwell Caulfield Picture Pages". www.superiorpics.com.
^ Maxwell Caulfield trivia Archived October 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. at movietome.com
^ http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/Bio_014.htm Archived July 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
^ http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/Bio_013.htm Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
^ Alumni: Donna King at millermarley.com, accessed 8 April 2018
^ ab Hofler 2010, p. 136.
^ ab Hofler 2010, p. 144.
^ abcd Grease 2 Trivia at the Internet Movie Database
^ Heimel, Cynthia (March 22, 1983). "The Next Overnight Sensation". New York: 45. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
^ 'Taxi' brings back Jeff Conaway Beck, Marilyn. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 08 Sep 1981: a5.
^ Hollywood 'drug war' is mostly talk Beck, Marilyn. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 16 Mar 1982: c12.
^ "New Again: Michelle Pfeiffer - Interview Magazine". May 9, 2012.
^ LORNA LUFT'S ROAD GETS SMOOTHER: LORNA LUFT'S ROAD Rosenfield, Paul. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 07 Mar 1982: m25.
^ MOVIES: 'HEY, WHAT FLOOR AM I ON?!' A FRENETIC DAY IN CHICAGO FORA PRODUCER BORN TOO LATE Popson, Tom. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 20 June 1982: f20.
^ Adelson, Suzanne (June 20, 1983). "T.j. Hooker's Adrian Zmed Looks to a Serious Future Beyond Beefcake and Bad Boys". People. 19 (24). Retrieved August 31, 2016.
^ https://www.discogs.com/Various-Grease-2-Original-Soundtrack-Recording/master/143686
^ https://www.discogs.com/Various-Grease-2-Original-Soundtrack-Recording/release/1802763
^ Grease 2 at Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed April 27, 2018.
^ ab Maslin, Janet. Movie Review: Grease 2 (1982): More Grease, The New York Times, 11 June 1982.
^ ab Grease 2 review, Variety, 1 January 1982.
^ Ebert, Roger. "Grease 2". Chicago Sun-Times.
^ MOVIES: PFEIFFER'S GOT A CULT OF HER OWN Mann, Roderick. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 03 Mar 1985: u21.
^ Hollywood Sequels Are Just the Ticket: Superman VII? Maybe. But studios risk going to the well once too often. Hollywood Sequels: Just the Ticket By LESLIE WAYNE. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 18 July 1982: F1
^ Playwright a hit at Taft High: 'Grease'-er revisits scene of his teens 'Grease'-er visits scene of his teens Clifford, Terry. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 12 Apr 1983: d1
^ "Bring back our own, original R-rated 'Grease'". 8 January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ "1982 5th Hastings Bad Cinema Society Stinkers Awards". Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
^ Scott Holleran (9 September 2003). "Olivia Newton-John: Grease Goddess". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
^ Sciretta, Peter (August 21, 2008). "Mean Girls 2? Naked Gun 4? Road Trip 2? Grease 3?". Slash Film. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
^ "Cool Rider! The Stage Adaptation of Cult Sequel Grease 2 to Return to the West End".
- Bibliography
.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{list-style-type:none;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>dd{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100{font-size:100%}
Hofler, Robert (2010). Party Animals: A Hollywood Tale of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Starring the Fabulous Allan Carr. Philadelphia: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81655-0.
Tropiano, Stephen (2011). Grease. Music on Film. Milwaukee: Limelight Editions. ISBN 978-0-87910-389-7.
External links
 | Wikiquote has quotations related to: Grease 2 |
Grease 2 on IMDb
Grease 2 at Box Office Mojo
Grease 2 at Rotten Tomatoes
