Close Reading assingnment- Reason for selection

For my close reading assignment I decided to do the opening sequence of one of the most famous movies of all time- Grease!

"First day of school don't be a slob, don't get a job, go back to class you can pass" The very first thing we hear of the opening credits straight away telling us it's the first day of school. 

I chose the opening sequence for Grease because I love the way this movie introduces the characters and the setting to you. I think it is very well done. Their use of symbolism to show the characters (i.e. When introducing Sandy they put a deer in with her to symbolize innocence, and purity etc.) and the time that the movie is set in (the symbolisms of Marilyn Monroe, the cars that are shown, the microphones etc) is very cleverly put forward so that we already know a bit about the movie before it's begun. Also I thought it was interesting that they put the characters name along with the actors name. I thought that this was a very good idea as it meant that the lengthy and unnecessary introductions were not needed and the movie could begin straight away. I also thought that it has a lot of symbolism for the rest of the movie. Another reason I chose to do grease was because of one of the most famous songs of the movie happens to be in the opening sequence. This was an obviously effective choose of song because it is still extremely famous even to this day! I also chose this movie because it was a movie that had it's opening credits in cartoon and that I think is a very effective and enjoyable way of having the opening credits. I also love how effective these opening credits are even today considering that grease was filmed in 1978. I think that the grease opening credits are definitely memorable.

The opening of grease starts with a radio speaking and then changes to the song "grease is the word" with relates not only to the movie but to the title of the movie. Then we are introduced to Danny Zuko- bad boy and the protaganist of the movie played be John Travolta. He is introduced first as he wakes up for school he is scruffy and you do not see his face as his hair is covering it. He then walks into the bathroom where he puts "grease" into his hair. Then as a mirror appears we see his face and the name- Danny Zuko by John Travolta. We then move next to the other protaganist- Sandy Olsson played by Olivia Newton-John. Sandy is also introduced as she is waking up for school but in complete contrast. He face is visible and around her are animals such as birds( they put her dressing gown on for her) as well as deer and bunnies. Her face is also seen in a mirror and then Sandy Olsson by Olivia Newton-John is written. We then come to a sweat shirt trying to be pulled over a head. Once it is pulled over her neck is stretched and she to is getting ready for school. We then see the t-birds and they are standing in a line and clicking along with the music. They then drive to school and as they drive we pass billboards with their names( character and real) announced on the billboards. We then finally get to school and the animated school fades from animation to reality. Throughout this whole scen there has been flashes of things to do with the fifties such as Marilyn Monroe etc to make sure that we know that this movie is based in the fifties.

The opening fits really well with the whole film as it introduces the characters- So that we can get straight into it instead of learning characters, setting etc...
It also not only introduces the characters to us but it also gives us a good idea of what the characters are like eg with Sandy she is surrounded by birds, deer and bunny rabbits we are then given the idea that she is wholesome, nice etc.

This is also relating to the movie because it is the beginning of the movie. Everyone is getting up and getting ready for school but in different ways that shows characters, setting and gives us the start of the unfolding plot line.