| | | | Grease 2
(1982) |
hile working at a video store in Allston,MA (known as the Student Village), we used to battle over who chose the movie of the evening.
Inevitably, if it was a rainy evening, after a long day of classes -"Grease 2" was the choice.
Picking up somewhere around 2-3 years or so after the last rash of Rydell High graduates we came to know so well in "Grease", it's very clear that the 60's are here with a vengance. Thrown into the mix of hairspray, slinky skirts, and massive hormones is elegant Micheal Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield). Conveniently, he happens to be Sandy's cousin -an Australian 'fish outta water' who is polite (oh no!) and handsome, but doesn't quite fit in...
This family connection, and Didi Conn being Frenchy again, is about all this film has in common with the original Grease. Sure, we have Principal McGee and her ever loyal assistant Blanche, but this is a brand new world.
You see, the conservative 50's and all their innocence is shattered by the hit and run impact of the 60's. Sex, the "bad-girl" pastime in Grease, is the focus of this movie. You see, in the 50's if you fooled around, you were shunned for being loose, here, in the 60's forget it, if you wore the Red Letter of V-for virgin-you were a goody-goody and had no social life.
Pretty Pink Lady Stephanie disagrees. Making out and fooling around was fun, but she wants more, she just isn't sure what "more" is. You see, the people who surround her are all into belonging with rules and codes.
For example, a Pink Lady cannot date anyone who isn't a T-Bird, and vice versa. The Pink Ladies consist of Marilyn Monroe wanna-be Paulette, which contrasts nicely with Sharon-who idolizes Jackie Kennedy, Bookwormish Rhonda, and of course Stephanie. They are about as close knit as any clique is-which pans out to very shallow. They seem to hang out together because belonging to a group is cool!
Viewing the male collective that is The T-Birds, I can see where Stephanie wants more. A group of vapid, idiotic jerks, who seem to only want one thing -'IT' ('IT' apparently being sex) They also seem to bask in the fact they are dumb, often mispronoucing words, skipping class and being incompetent -which to them means you are cool.
Enter Micheal, who is immediatly infactuated with Stephanie. Not because he wants "IT" but because he can tell she is a deeper person than everyone else realizes. He asks Frenchy about her (Frenchy apparently has taken 3 years to go back to school, go figure) and Frenchy picks up on the fact he likes her, but tells him it's a hopeless no go, because he isn't a T-Bird, no can do.
So what DOES it take to be a T-Bird he wonders? He needs a Motorcycle and some 'tude (and also a lower IQ, but he is willing to ignore that for now). Stephanie admits to him (via song, this IS a musical after all) that she wants a "Cool Rider", a badass who doesn't care for rules and can speed her away from the hollow life that surrounds her.
So, falling into the Grease history of conforming for the pleasing of the masses -he starts up an underground homework writing business, writing lucid homework for the T-Bird's and saves up money for a bike, and learns how to ride it well, extremely well considering no one is around to show him how, but then again he is a genius.
During all this, in the background of the film, are plently of songs, most of which have sex as a theme. To give a hint, among the titles are "Score Tonight", "Do IT for our country" and "Reproduction"-yes I am serious. There is also a rather odd concept of a Talent Show that decides who will be King and Queen of the end of the year Luao (which baffles me, how do you chose a King and Queen from a Multi-cast act?)
Somewhere amongst this mish-mash is introduced "The Mystery Guy", ie: Micheal showing up as a mysterious biker who defeats Balmudo's evil biker gang (I can only gather that they are so mean due to bitterness of being 3 years out of high school and still a biker gang with severe acne)
After kicking biker butt, he ends up with Stephanie enarmored with him, and she is so into this guy, she doesn't realize that Micheal, whom she befriends while having him help her work on a term paper, is the same guy. She hopes to see him again and he picks her up one day from her gas station job and they go on a wild ride, intriguing her even more.
Not pleased with this guy showing up, Johnny, Stephanie's ex, is pretty ticked off. Johnny is so focused on getting back with Stephanie, he ignores the flaky, but good hearted Paulette who pursues him. Johnny is so full of himself, a bloated ego kinda guy, with no reason to be so. He is supposed to be the Danny Zucco of the gang but fails miserably.
Meanwhile (yes, the plot tangents are all over the place) Louis is trying to convince Sharon to go all the way, and she's not sure she wants to. Rhonda is there for an unknown reason, as she does NOTHING, but she does portray a mean tree (remember the talent show I mentioned?)
Grease 2 was marketed as another Grease of course, but nothing can replace the original. Get past the songs (although a couple are good) and you get a pretty decent story.
Everyone talks about how cool they are, how much "scoring" they do, but it's all shallow and based on thier insecurites. The ending is baffling, but pretty good stunts. And everyone seems to resolve their issues and be happy.
Of course they would be happy, this is the 80's and this is a movie about teenagers that isn't a ABC after school special, how else could it end?
 Don't forget that Grease 2 is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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(my husband offered this one) "Grease was about the innocence of the 50's and Grease 2 ignores that, take out the innocence and you lose the chemistry that made Grease work" I agree. Although I find it interesting that sex is described and mentioned, for all this talk, there is no action. Sex was still new, the sexual revolution a few years away and although everyone thought it was cool, it scared them immensely.
I will note that not one person actually HAS sex in this movie, it's never even implied. They are high school kids who want to talk the talk, but can't walk the walk.
I would watch this with any kid over 12 and below the age of 16, so that I could explain what the hell was going on. After 16, they would pretty much get the idea anyway.
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I was a movie extra in the 1970s and 80s and I worked on about 100 movies in the 1980s. The cast and crew and Patricia Birch, the director, were always focused but still courteous while they worked on the film. John Housman (from Paper Chase) came by to visit at the bowling alley one day. He was an old friend of Patricia's. The young actors sat around with him and talked and asked many questions. Houseman was about 80 at the time but he was right at home with the young crowd.  -Thanks to Tom WillettI was the bowling alley manager in the "Score Tonight" scene from Grease 2. It was great to work about two weeks with the young cast. None were well known. Lorna Luft was probably the most famous then (near Christmas of 1981 and into the New Year of 1982). All of the cast was friendly and nice to be with. The hours were long and they danced vigorously.
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Maxwell Caufield's best moment (I think), is in "The Boys Next Door", with Charlie Sheen. -Thanks to Becky
Most talk show hosts interviewing Pfeiffer will refer to The Fabulous Baker Boys as the first role in which Pfeiffer sang. But we all know better.
Maxwell Caulfield was also in Empire Records, as Rex 'Sexy Rexy' Manning. As a dried up old TV/Singer who wears a terrible wig etc. -Thanks to Polly
One of the patron saints of the 80's, Maureen Teefy, was in Grease 2 as a pink lady, virgin whos boyfriend tries to convince her to "do it for our country." She also appeared in 1980's "Fame" and 1984's "Supergirl",
Recently, Didi Conn, bought the television rights to Grease on television and rumors of a sequel set in the 70's at a reunion of Rydell High are out there now, with Conn as producer. One wonders who, of the original cast, would agree to participate (particularly Newton-John and Travolta).
There is an Olivia connection in the movie -- one of the dancing prep boys is Matt Lattanzi, Olivia Newton-John's husband, whom she met on the set of "Xanadu.
The secret identity component of Caulfield's on screen personas in Grease 2 was not lost on the screenwriters who included a reference to Superman in the script. Ironically, Teefy went on to play Lois Lane's sister in 1984's "Supergirl".
Maxwell Caulfield later starred in the evening soap "The Colby's". (There must be a rule that at least one Grease alumni join an evening Soap Opera, Lorenzo Lamas from Grease starred in "Falcon Crest".)
Maxwell Caulfield also appeared in the film "Empire Records" as Rex Manning, an egotistical pop star. He makes an appearance at the record store to sign autographs and promote his hit song, complete with girls chanting "Oooohh Rexy, you're so sexy!" The crowning touch was when he actually made out with one of the record store employees on top of the copy machine... Not his finest moment! -Thanks to Erin
Maxwell Caufield played a character Brenda (Shannen Doherty) dated on the very first season of "Beverly Hills 90210". He was an older college student. He is also married to Juliet Mills who plays Tabitha on the NBC soap opera "Passions" and the maid Winnie in "The Other Sister". She is 18 years older than him and is the sister of Hayley Mills ("Parent Trap", and Miss Bliss on the early days of "Saved by the Bell"). -Thanks to Carolyn Gubala, Natalie And Rachel
T-Bird, Goose McKenzie, was played by comedic actor Christopher McDonald, aside from his infamous role as Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, he was of course an 80s legend as James in "Breakin" with Lucinda Dickey. -Thanks to Charlie
Lorna Luft (Pink Lady) and Christopher McDonald (T-Bird) later did the 80's movie "Where the Boys Are 84" a remake to the 60's version. Their characters in the movie were written to have an affair only after onr of the writers found out they did Grease 2 together and wanted to make a connection between the two actors. -Thanks to Lisa
In 'Where The Boys Are 84', at one point (IIRC) Christopher calls her by her character name from Grease 2 and she slaps him. -Thanks to Sean D
Lorna Luft, the blonde sexy Pink Lady who emulates Marilyn Monroe is Liza Minnelli's sister and Judy Garland's daughter. -Thanks to Barry Freiman And Robert Arnold
Adrian Zmed, of "Bachelor Party" fame portrayed Danny in the Broadway production of Grease before being cast as Johnny. -Thanks to Amy
Adrian Zmed has done a great deal of Broadway and off-Broadway work since this movie, namely Jesus in "Godspell" (how's THAT for a stretch). He does have an amazing voice and I hear his stage presence is great. Adrian also appeared on T.J. Hooker from 1982-1985. He played Officer Vince Romano, T.J.'s partner. -Thanks to Erin
Adrian Zmed also appeared in the 80's movie "Bachelor Party" starring Tom Hanks. -Thanks to Andrea Banner
Eve Arden, Dody Goodman, Didi Conn, Sid Ceaser and Eddie Deezen all reprised their roles from the original "Grease" movie.
The twins in the movie are Jean and Liz Sagal who in the 1980's were the Spearmint Twins and were in the tv show 'Double Trouble'. They are the sisters of Katey Sagal, aka Peg Bundy from 'Married With Children'. -Thanks to Brenda And Jason Fortier
Dennis C Stewart, (Balmudo), died from complications from the AIDS virus in 1994. He also featured in the original Grease as Leo, the leader of the Scorpians. -Thanks to Laura
Peter Frechette played a character on Thirty Something. He was also a regular in the hit tv series 'Profiler'. -Thanks to Barry Dominey, Jr.
Connie Stevens, who played Miss Mason in Grease 2, the come-hither, cleavage-baring teacher seducing Mr. Stuart, is well-known for her numerous guest appearances on "The Love Boat", her slue of tv shows in the 1960s, her sexy kitten-voice (that most men over 50 are more familiar with than their own wives'; akin to Ann Margaret's), and her role in "Back to the Beach", playing herself, a former beach blanket betty, who threatens to woo Frankie Avalon from Annette Funicello, but is really just a sweetheart in a sex pistol's body. She was married to Eddie Fisher once upon a time, then again, who wasn't? Actress, Joely Fisher, is her daughter. -Thanks to Chelsea
When Mrs. Megee is walking Mr. Stuart out of her office after the song "Reproduction", two girls walk in and one of them asks to talk to Mrs Megee, because she missed her last two periods, so it is actually implied that, while none of the main characters seem to be having sex, someone in the school is. -Thanks to Emily
Dick Patterson who plays the nervous wreck teacher Mr. Spears in GREASE 2, was also in GREASE 1. He can be found at the danceoff scene walking around with his clipboard. -Thanks to Brian
Maxwell Caulfield had a cameo in "Calendar Girl" starring Jason Priestly and Jerry O'Connell. He was at one of the houses the guys think might be Marilyn Monroe's house. -Thanks to Lindsay
Maxwell Caulfield was in 'Casualty' a hospital drama in England. He joined 14th September 2003 and left 28th December 2004. He played Jim Brodie a member of the A&E team. He died heriocally in the program. -Thanks to Rachael
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The role of Stephanie Zanoni was originally slated for Pat Benatar, which is why the song "Cool Rider" has such an early 80's, hard rocker chick sound to it.
According to Olivia Newton-John, while at one point, studio talk of Grease 2 included John and Olivia and the original cast, she was never officially asked to participate in Grease 2.
Michelle Pfeiffer had this as one of her first castings as an unknown and she sang all her songs.
The twins who played the overly happy cheerleaders were living their adult lives seperately; one in LA and one in New York, both unaware that the other was auditioning for the same movie until they were brought together on the set. -Thanks to Melissa
In the scene where Balmudo is "alone," while Johnny and the guys are walking to the door, he lights a cigarette. When he asks for a comb, the cigarette is gone and it was freshly lit so he wouldn't have thrown it on the ground, and when he goes to comb his hair there is a clear shot of the hand without the comb and without the cigarette. -Thanks to Kelley
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|  |  |  | | Grease 2
Locations |
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Excelsior High School in Norwalk, California was used (corner of Alondra and Norwalk Blvd.) [Thanks to Desiree Marriott]
The Malt Shop Auto Shop in Coorider Garenda [Thanks to Joe]
Can you help? Do you know any of the Los Angeles, S. California filming locations used for Grease 2? [Please send them in]
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Some of the songs are fun (Cool Rider and Back to School) some make no sense at all (just about the rest of them). Track listing is as follows:
1. Back To School Again
2. Cool Rider
3. Score Tonight
4. Girl For All Seasons
5. Do It For Our Country
6. Who's That Guy?
7. Prowlin'
8. Reproduction
9. Charades
10. (Love Will) Turn Back The Hands Of Time
11. Rock-A-Hula-Luau (Summer Is Coming)
12. We'll Be Together
Tab Hunter, the former 50s idol who sings "Reproduction" in the film, had some hit songs of his own in the 50s, including "Young Love".
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| | "Grease is STILL the word..."
| | Year:
| 1982 | Studio:
| Paramount Pictures | Director:
| Patricia Birch | Starring:
| Michelle Pfeiffer,
Didi Cohn, Maxwell Caulfield, Eve Arden, Sid Ceaser,
Adrian Zmed, Lorna Luft, Maureen Teefy | | - | - | Genre:
| Dance / Musical | | | | + | The age old "don't judge a book by it's cover" lesson, and the restraint shown by kids who decide they may not be ready for sex | - | Sex is mentioned a lot, and some of the songs are unbearable. The conformity factor still bugs me, personally I would have taken bookish Michael any day over an idiot with a ego issue and a leather jacket |
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