Name & Surname: MOISE A KASONG KASONG
Student Number: 22111696
RDTV466 (FILM GENRE)
THE MUSICAL
Grease (1978) is the film I chose for this presentation.
Grease is a musical romantic comedy set in the 1950s at Rydell High School. The film mainly
tells the love story between two main characters, Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko. Their
relationship begins in the summer at the beach, but, to their surprise, they find themselves
studying at the same school when the holiday is over.
At school, Danny is known as a cool and tough guy by all his friends, but that image doesn’t
quite fit with a love story with a girl like Sandy. However, as the film progresses, Sandy
becomes more and more confident as a girl, which obviously fits with Danny's personality and
image.
As time goes by, the final carnival arrives, which is a musical and dancing carnival broadcast on
national television, where many high school teenagers from all over the country participate.
Their performance at the final carnival was amazing to watch, and I really enjoyed it.
After the carnival, the relationship between Sandy and Danny sadly falls apart when Danny
proposes to her, but she refuses and runs away. That part really marks a key turning point, as
Danny has a conflict with one of his friends, Kenickie.
As the film nears its end, both Danny and Kenickie agree to race to prove who has the fastest
car. Not only that, but the race will also determine who holds the "cool guy" status in front of
their friends and Sandy. Not surprisingly, the winner is Danny, whose car, in my opinion, wasn’t
very beautiful or well-equipped.
In the end, the movie concludes with a joyous finale, as Danny and Sandy drive off together in a
flying car, signaling that their love story, despite its ups and downs, has a happily-ever-after.
My favorite part of the film was the race at the end between Danny and Kenickie because this
part highlights the competition, fun, and camaraderie among the characters, while also pushing
the plot forward with Danny’s and Sandy's developing relationship.
Grease (1978) connects with many things we learned in class, such as:
• The ideological and utopian quality of backstage musicals: groups of people working
together, fearlessly working for success, coming together through singing and dancing.
• Happy endings: musical genres often finish well despite the issues the main characters face ,
which Grease(1978) perfectly did .
• Traditional gender roles.
• Harmony between music and dance: In Grease (1978), I really enjoyed each part when
singing and dancing were involved because they did it so well. The music they chose was
emotional, and all the dances went with it.
• Story and theme: Grease (1978) takes place in a show world, where music and dance are the
only ways characters can show their deepest emotions.
• Environment, conflict, characters: Grease (1978) includes professional competition,
competition in love, and competition between same-sex characters. It also involves groups of
people sharing the same space, passions, goals, and living the same life. Conflicts are solved
without violence but through deep love, power, and determination.
• At the center of the story, two heroes of the opposite sex: Grease (1978) highlights this
perfectly.
• Iconography: (dancing shoes, dressing rooms, microphones, spotlights, etc.) are featured in
Grease (1978).
Grease (1978) is a lighthearted, nostalgic musical about teenage love and identity set in a
1950s high school, focusing on fun and youthful rebellion. In contrast, West Side Story
(2021) is a tragic, intense musical set against racial tensions and gang violence in 1950s New
York, exploring themes of prejudice and the destructive nature of love.
