Think you know everything about Grease? Well, think again! Here are some rarely known facts about the iconic film that will surprise even the biggest Grease fans.
1. The Film is Based on the Broadway Musical of the Same Name
While Grease was released in 1978, it was actually a Broadway musical that opened in February 1972. After the film became a box office hit, it was later revived in 1994 and 2007.
2. Grease Could’ve Been an Animated Film
Believe it or not, Grease was originally planned to be an animated movie. The film’s co-creator, Jim Jacobs, revealed that director Ralph Bakshi pitched it as an X-rated cartoon. However, the idea didn’t stick. Although the film eventually became a live-action production, the opening credits were kept as an animation as a nod to the original concept.
3. Olivia Newton-John Almost Didn’t Take the Role of Sandy
Before starring in Grease, Olivia Newton-John was already a successful singer. At the age of 28, she wasn’t sure about playing a high school student. She requested to do a screen test before accepting the part, and luckily, she realized she was convincing enough and took on the role.
4. Henry Winkler Was Offered the Role of Danny
Believe it or not, Henry Winkler, famously known as Fonzie from Happy Days, was offered the role of Danny before John Travolta. However, he decided to pass on the opportunity because he was content with his role in the sitcom. Winkler later admitted that it was one of the best decisions he ever made because Travolta was the perfect fit for the film.
5. Marty Couldn’t Dance
If you’ve noticed that Marty didn’t have any dance numbers at the high school prom, it wasn’t a coincidence. Actress Dinah Manoff couldn’t dance at all, so her character was left out of the dance scenes.
6. “Greased Lightning” Wasn’t Originally Sung by Danny
According to Vanity Fair, The Beach Boys were supposed to sing “Greased Lightnin'” as guest stars in the film. Surprisingly, it was originally meant to be Kenickie’s song. However, John Travolta wanted the song for himself and used his clout to secure it. He later admitted, “I wanted the number, and because I had clout, I could get the number.”
7. Elvis Presley Was Offered a Role
Elvis Presley was offered the part of the Teen Angel but turned it down. Frankie Avalon eventually took on the role. Fans may also remember the Elvis reference in the song “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” which was recorded on the same day that Elvis passed away.
8. John Travolta Got His Sister a Small Role
John Travolta’s sister, Ellen, played the diner waitress who says “Oh, there’s Danny and Sandy” while watching the High School Dance on TV. Although she is a trained actress, Travolta put in a good word for her with the Grease production team. Ellen later expressed how loose and fun the filming experience was and how she still receives residuals to this day.
9. The T-Birds Were Originally Called the Burger Palace Boys
In addition to changing some of the songs from the musical, the film producers also switched the name of the boys’ group from the Burger Palace Boys to the T-Birds.
10. Some Adverts Had to Be Digitally Removed
Grease initially had a product placement deal with Coca-Cola. However, when this fell through during post-production, shots featuring Coca-Cola products and advertisements had to be digitally removed or blurred out.
Now that you’re armed with these behind-the-scenes secrets, you can watch Grease with a whole new perspective!