<P> Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on the 1971 musical of the same name . Written by Bronte Woodard and directed by Randal Kleiser in his theatrical feature film debut, the film depicts the lives of two high school seniors: a bad boy (played by John Travolta) and a good girl (played by 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, and earned the film its lone Oscar nomination for "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (which lost the Academy Award for Best Original Song to Donna Summer's "Last Dance" from Thank God It's Friday at the 51st Academy Awards). </P> <P> A sequel, Grease 2, was released in 1982, starring Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer as a later class of greasers . Few of the original cast members reprised their roles . </P> <P> In the summer of 1958, greaser Danny Zuko and sweet Australian girl Sandy Olsson meet at the beach and fall in love . When the summer comes to an end, Sandy, whose family is returning to Australia, worries that they might never meet again, but Danny tells her that their love is "only the beginning ." At the beginning of the new school year at Rydell High School ("Grease"), Danny reunites with his fellow gang members, the T - Birds, of whom his best friend Kenickie, along with Doody, Sonny, and Putzie are members . Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Danny, Sandy arrives at school, with her family's plans having changed, with her new friend Frenchy, a member of the Pink Ladies . Other Pink Ladies Rizzo, Marty, and Jan also arrive, excited to be seniors, as does Patty Simcox, a high - achieving cheerleader . </P> <P> At lunch, Frenchy introduces Sandy to the other Pink Ladies while Danny and the T - Birds make fun of practicing football players, including the handsome Tom Chisum . Each group asks Danny and Sandy, respectively, about their summers and they each independently describe their romance without using the other's name, with Sandy's description far more innocent than Danny's ("Summer Nights"). Headed back to class, Sandy reveals that it was Danny Zuko she met, and Rizzo teases that perhaps she'll meet him again . </P>

What year did the movie grease take place