Grease is Still the Word in 2010

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John starred in Grease in 1978. Olivia Newton-John had been successful in the music industry for several years prior to Grease, but it catapulted her to all-new level of fame and put her on the map permanently as a movie star. John Travolta had been in movies, such as playing a supporting role in Carrie, before Grease, but it's the movie musical that established his ongoing status as a movie star as well. Most of the cast members of Grease playing the high school students were not actually teenagers when they made the movie. (In fact, lovely Olivia was 30, although she didn't look a day over 18.) Yet, the acting, music and magic of the movie was such that it all came off as quite believable.

Now, Grease is doubly nostalgic. It's 1950's tribute is obvious, but now it also has that 1970's pop culture nostalgia as well, for the way that John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were on top in show business at the end of the decade. Its music is timeless and just doesn't get old. The love story is appealing in its simplicity, and the characters are believable. It's just a movie where everything seemed to go very right.

It's really no surprise that Paramount Pictures has announced that there will be a Sing-A-Long version of Grease released at select theaters nationwide on July 8, 2010. It seems like a great step. Sing-a-long versions of movies like The Sound of Music and Mamma Mia were extremely popular in limited release, and Grease, being the most successful movie musical of all time, is the perfect choice to get the sing-a-long treatment.

Its initial screenings are selling out in some cities in advance of the release date, and there's a contest where fans are actively competing to get the sing-a-long version to their city. Fans can check out GoGrease.com to get tickets and see all the screening locales.

Paramount has also partnered with Developer 505 Games to release two video games of the Grease. There's a game for the Nintendo Wii that features 16 songs from the unforgettable soundtrack. It has several different modes, which allow you to compete, sing and dance. There's also a video game for the Nintendo DS, which allows you to place a photo of yourself as one of the characters and featured 10 songs from the movie.

Paramount also has several items of Grease memorabilia available in its online store. Check out Olivia Newton-John's website (OliviaNewton-John.com) for your own Pink Ladies jacket. Memorabilia that dates all the way back to the movie's 1978 release is often vied for on eBay. The character of Sandy herself has been made into several dolls, including ones by Franklin Mint, Mattel and Madame Alexander. The legend of the movie goes on and on. Deservedly so.

Sources cited:

Grease Website [[http://www.gogrease.com}]
John Travolta Official website [{http://www.travolta.com/}]
Olivia Newton-John Official Website [{http://www.olivianewton-john.com}]
Olivia Blog [{http://www.olivianewton-john.info}]
Grease Video Game [{http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/06/22/go-grease-and-win-nintendo-ds/}]