When A Man Is Called A Greaser

Tonight's marathon is both fun and classical. This is one of the rare lineups that strays away from the usual trend of action, drama, romance and just has fun with its title yet carries a touch of seriousness to it. It's iconic because of the films, the stars, the music, and it revolving around characters that are classified as "Greasers." The term Greaser means a subculture group of working class youth that originated as early as the 1950's that consisted of teenagers in the United States. Greasers introduced iconic celebrities such as Elvis Presley and spawned iconic looks with actors physical appearances such as Marlon Brando and James Dean. The story arc that runs through many of these films is a pretty yet goody and innocent girl who falls for the good spirited gentlemen that society classifies as a Greaser, bringing them together but also riling up tension with the societies around them. Whereas the beginning of the marathon starts off with Grease being lighthearted and fun, The Outsiders brings it to a fitting conclusion and shows the buildup of the tensions between the normal rich kids and greasers with the ultimate message about the need for acceptance and better understanding of the two different sides. For tonight's fun and special marathon, we have on the following menu:

      Grease 1978, Cry Baby 1990, Grease 2 1982, Stand By Me 1986, and The Outsiders 1982

Here lies a marathon that's cool, it's slick, it's hip, and brings back a great deal of nostalgia for lots of people while showing great actors and stars at an early stage of their careers before their rise to far greater fame. There is no doubt that many of the people in these movies have had a great deal of fun making them and have given audiences fond memories of watching them, but it also reflects a time where there wasn't any real fears in society and people just enjoyed themselves and got into innocent trouble. Grease gave birth to John Travolta with the help of Saturday Night Fever, while Grease 2 introduced Michelle Pfeiffer, Cry Baby helped get Johnny Depp notice, Stand By Me began the short yet spectacular career of River Pheonix, and Outsiders was the platform for the beginning of the careers of Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, and Ralph Macchio. Star rise is also an undisclosed tool in connecting these movies together along with the music and the theme of greasers being casted out of society. The first movie of the night is the 1978 blockbuster musical classic titled Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Song, the film focuses on two lovers from the past who reunite and rekindle their romance upon discovering that they are in the same high school together. The twist lies that Sandy is an innocent and pure girl and her ex lover Danny is a greaser, spawning a clash between the two sides group of friends due to cultural differences. Grease is fun and exciting romance that returns to its original form but comes with a lot of catchy songs and a huge dose of energy. The second movie of the lineup is the 1988 classic titled Cry Baby starring Johnny Depp. The film is also set in the 1950's very much like Grease where a Greaser with a heart of gold falls for a goody girl promoting the jealous and wealthy boyfriend to seek revenge. Cry Baby did not achieve the same kind of success that Grease received but it helped put Johnny Depp on the map after a strong debut in Wes Cravens Nightmare On Elm Street. It is a fun, sweet, and silly film that shouldn't be taken seriously and enjoyed for what it has to offer which is a lot of heart. The third movie of the evening is the not so well received 1982 sequel to the 1978 classic Grease titled Grease 2 starring Michelle Pfeiffer. This sequel puts Maxwell Caulfield as a young English student at a 1960's American High School who has to prove himself to the leader of a female gang whose members are allowed to date nothing but greasers. Grease 2 never achieved any of the critical acclaim or box office of it's predecessor but was the film that helped begin Michelle Pfeiffers career. It's biggest criticism was that it repeated too much of the same storyline of the first movie with nothing new to offer, but received praise for its music and well choreographed dance sequences. The fourth movie of the marathon is the Stephen King novel turned reality titled Stand By Me starring River Phoenix. It is here where the marathon takes a more dramatic and serious tone but still maintains the fundamentals of a greaser theme. The story centers around a writer recounting a boyhood journey that led to the discovery of a body after learning about the death of one of his friends. The screenplay earned the film a well deserved Oscar nomination but also serves as the perfect prelude into the fitting conclusion The Outsiders. Both films introduce a group of friends that must overcome obstacles as a team but the strength of their friendships are ultimately tested. The Outsiders centers around a group of friends classified as Greasers getting into a rift with another group called the rich Socs, after one of the greasers named Johnny kills a member of the other side. Based on S.E. Hinton's classic novel, this is the film and the story that gives a fun and classy marathon an emotional climax. There is a powerful message within this film about family, friendship, acceptance, and the need for two sides to put aside their differences and live in harmony together. If The Outsiders wasn't included in this marathon as the finale, then there would be no When A Man Is Called A Greaser night. Period.

So what is the message behind all of these films when you put them all together as one for a fun and emotionally uplifting evening by the nights end? This marathon tests the boundaries of relationships and friendships within all its charm, heart, and music. Great loves are rekindled although social classes in High School challenge that love. The truth is that love is love and nothing as silly as a social difference is going to end something as powerful as a great love returning to form. Both Grease and Cry Baby relate to that message. You should never judge someone based off what other people say and feel about them. A Greaser who you think would be the worlds biggest loser or jerk can turn out to be more true of a person than your actual friends. Friendships are important and real ones will carry with you throughout your life as shown in Stand By Me. The Outsiders ultimate message is that a rift between two sides over social status is ridiculous and can result in a tragedy such as the passing of the iconic character Johnny. Life is too short to hold grudges or despise someone because they are different.