<P> Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's musical of the same name . Written by Bronte Woodard and directed by Randal Kleiser in his theatrical feature film debut, the film depicts the life of Rydell High School students Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy (Olivia Newton - John) in the late 1950s . Grease was successful both critically and commercially . Its soundtrack album ended 1978 as the second - best selling album of the year in the United States, behind the soundtrack of the 1977 blockbuster Saturday Night Fever . </P> <P> A sequel, Grease 2, was released in 1982, with Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer playing leads . Only a few of the original cast members reprised their roles . </P> <P> In the summer of 1959, Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and vacationing Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton - John) met at the beach and fell in love . When the summer comes to an end, Sandy, who is going back to Australia, frets that they may never meet again, but Danny tells her that their love is "only the beginning". The film moves to the start of the seniors' term at Rydell High School ("Grease"). Danny, a greaser, is a member of the T - Birds, consisting of his best friend Kenickie (Jeff Conaway), Doody (Barry Pearl), Sonny (Michael Tucci), and Putzie (Kelly Ward). The Pink Ladies, a popular clique of girls, also arrive, consisting of Rizzo (Stockard Channing), Frenchy (Didi Conn), Marty (Dinah Manoff), and Jan (Jamie Donnelly). </P> <P> After her parents decide to move from Australia, Sandy enrolls at Rydell and is befriended by Frenchy, who considers dropping out of school to become a beautician . Unaware of each other's presence at Rydell, Danny and Sandy tell their respective groups the accounts of events during the pair's brief romance, without initially mentioning the other's name . Sandy's version emphasizes the romance of the affair, while Danny's version is more sexual (and therefore presumably less honest) ("Summer Nights"). </P>

The names of the pink ladies from grease