Grease: what whims did John Travolta allow himself during filming?

Released in cinemas in 1978, the cult movie greaseworn by John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Jeff Conaway, will be rebroadcast on Sunday May 29, 2022, from 9:05 p.m. on 6ter. Directed by Randal Kleiserthis feature film began in the summer of 1958. Portrayed on screen by Olivia Newton Johnthe character of Sandy Olsson, an Australian high school student on vacation in the United States, meets that of Danny Zuko, the leader of the gang of T-Birds, interpreted by John Travolta. Their love is however interrupted by the end of the holidays, because Sandy must return to Australia. However, by chance Sandy stayed in America, and that she enters Rydell High School in her final year, the same establishment as the one where Danny studies.

There she meets a group of girls, the “Pink Ladies“, led by Betty Rizzo, played by Stockard Channing. Without knowing that they are very close, Danny and Sandy tell, each on their side, their love of holidays to their friends. Danny and Sandy eventually meet and decide to resume their relationship, although everything is against them at school. If John Travolta had already gained some notoriety for his role in Saturday night fever, it was really his performance in grease which made him a real star of the big screen. In the United States, however, he was already known on television thanks to the series Welcome Back, Kotter, which is unprecedented in France.

Grease: the improbable demands of John Travolta on the set

Thus, John Travolta allowed himself a few whims during the filming of grease. The actor notably demanded to be taken to the set in an armored car. He also asked to be protected at all times by a bodyguard and two policemen. Finally, he also imposed on his playing partner Jeff Conaway, who is a few centimeters taller than him, to stand a little leaning over, so that he is more credible in his image as a gang leader. For the record, Olivia Newton-John was 28 at the time of filming in the summer of 1977as she plays the role of an 18-year-old high school girl.

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