Behind The Scenes Of Grease: Unveiling The Classic Musical's Journey

Grease was a huge hit when it came out in 1978 and has since become an American classic. But when the movie was being filmed in 1977, no one knew they were making what would become the highest-grossing American movie musical of the 20th century, including leads John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, who weren't the initial choices to play high school sweethearts Danny and Sandy. "Making it was fun, but you never know with movies if audiences are going to go with it or not, even if you love it," Newton-John told Forbes. "It is incredible that it is still going, but it's not even just that; it's showing no signs of stopping. You say 'Sandy and Danny' and people instantly know what you're talking about."

However, the road to creating the now-classic movie was not an easy one — the right actors had to be found for each part, filming had to be accomplished in difficult conditions, songs were added to and removed from the film, and personal dramas were confronted.

Finding the Right Cast: A Journey of Challenges

When looking for the main cast of Grease, producers faced several challenges. Originally, Henry Winkler, known for his role in Happy Days, was offered the lead role of Danny Zuko. However, when he turned it down, Travolta stepped in. This change proved to be crucial as Travolta brought a unique charm to the character.

Moreover, the casting process was complex. Producer Allan Carr initially selected a porn star to portray Coach Calhoun, but after studio objections, Sid Caesar was cast instead. For the role of Sandy, Carrie Fisher and Marie Osmond were also considered before Travolta suggested Olivia Newton-John, who was a country singer at the time. In 2018, Travolta remarked, "There is only one person that should play this role, and it's Olivia Newton-John… She's every guy's dream."

Overcoming Reluctance and Fears

Despite this, Newton-John was hesitant to join the cast. After a previous film of hers flopped, she was worried about her age. "I was 29 and worried that I didn't look young enough," she admitted. Ultimately, it was a successful screen test and the chemistry she felt with Travolta that convinced her to take the role. She later shared, "John and I had great chemistry from the first time we met." To make the character authentic, Sandy was transformed into an Australian girl named Sandy Olsson to allow Newton-John to use her native accent.

Another interesting casting choice was Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who was considered for the role of Rizzo. Unfortunately, she couldn't secure a contract in time, which led to Stockard Channing being cast. Channing was 33 years old at the time, leading director Randal Kleiser to conduct a "crow's-feet test" to ensure the cast looked youthful enough for their roles.

Challenges of Filming in California

The filming of Grease took place in California during the summer of 1977, providing a sunny backdrop but also presenting challenges with high temperatures. While shooting a high school dance scene, the gym became unbearably hot, and the windows couldn't remain open due to unpleasant odors from a nearby pork-processing plant. Director Randal Kleiser noted that crew members would lie down on the gym floor to cope with the heat.

Similarly, the final scene, "We Go Together," filmed on a football field, faced issues with extreme heat. Kelly Ward, who played Putzie, recounted how some cast members passed out from dehydration. "It was oppressively hot, and there was no place to hide," he recalled. To add some humor to the situation, one day the T-Birds decided to go sailing during a break but ended up stranded without wind. They only made it back in time for filming thanks to their captain's amusing "wind-summoning dance."

The Evolving Musical Numbers

Throughout production, the musical numbers were in constant flux. Channing almost missed the chance to perform the powerful song "There Are Worse Things I Could Do." Producer Allan Carr initially deemed it a "downer," but Channing argued that it was crucial to understanding Rizzo's character depth. "Otherwise, she's just all that surface stuff," she pointed out.

Another song, "Hopelessly Devoted to You," sung by Newton-John, wasn't included until after filming had wrapped. The iconic duet, "You're the One That I Want," was also a last-minute addition, with choreography being developed on the spot. Cast members ended up lip-synching, with Pearl, playing Doody, commenting, "It was a song we had never heard before."

Filming: A Labor of Love

The production of Grease was not without its emotional hurdles. Conaway had some resentment towards Travolta for taking the song "Greased Lightnin'" away from him. Meanwhile, Travolta was dealing with personal grief following the death of his girlfriend, actress Diana Hyland. Despite these challenges, the cast formed strong bonds during the 15-week shoot. Didi Conn, who played Frenchy, noted that the actors enjoyed themselves so much that they were ready to make a proposed sequel, Summer School.

However, producers were unaware of the film's eventual success. As time passed, Grease 2 was greenlit, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, but it did not capture the magic of the original. Before parting ways, the cast celebrated with a wrap party, where Conn shared that Channing brought "special brownies," leading to a fun and carefree night filled with laughter.