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Grease: The Director's Notebook
Comprehensive and beautifully designed, Grease: The Director's Notebook also includes all new exclusive interviews with the key cast members and crew, including Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, and Stockard Channing, original script pages, call sheets, conceptual images, and more.
Grease is the word . . . Released more than four decades ago, the film version of Grease is one of the highest-grossing musicals of all time and a bona fide global sensation with legions of devoted fans across generations. For the first time ever, the film’s director, Randal Kleiser, looks back at the making of this legendary cultural landmark.
Created in conjunction with Paramount Pictures and authorized by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey (via his Estate), the creators of the original musical stage play, Grease: The Director’s Notebook features rare and never-before-seen imagery from the studio’s archives, as well as Kleiser's production notes, dialogue changes, and more. The book’s heart is Kleiser’s own heavily annotated shooting script, along with his storyboards and sketches—including lines from the play that were added to the film’s script.
Grease: The Director’s Notebook is a fitting tribute to this revered international phenomenon and the one book the movie’s adoring fans will want.
TM & © 2019 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
TM & © 2019 James H. Jacobs Trust and Trust Under The Will of Warren Casey. All Rights Reserved.
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208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2019
17 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 8, 2020
I absolutely looove Grease so getting a behind the scenes look at how the film was created so fun and interesting❤️
May 17, 2020
4.5 stars. This was really cool to read from the director himself and a small bio on each cast member. Also has the written script for the “famous” scenes and reasons to why lines were changed and scenes were cut. A lot of the actors ad libbed some
famous lines. For example, in the scene where Sandy reveals “bad Sandy,” Olivia improvised the line, “tell me about it, stud.” She also did her Hopelessly Devoted to You scene in one continuous take.
famous lines. For example, in the scene where Sandy reveals “bad Sandy,” Olivia improvised the line, “tell me about it, stud.” She also did her Hopelessly Devoted to You scene in one continuous take.
January 19, 2020
I received this as a Christmas present and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Not your typical scrapbook, coffee table, gift book you might expect but a pretty engaging and detail-filled book. If you're interested in the movie, you'll enjoy this.
January 12, 2020
I thought I knew all there was about this movie, as it’s my favorite, but I was thrilled to learn some fun facts about the production. If you’re a die hard Grease fan, you will really enjoy this.
September 12, 2022
If you love this movie, you’ll love this book! I didn’t think I could learn anything more about this movie but I did! I just wish there were more photos and maybe a “where are they now” kinda thing.
July 29, 2021
Grease was my favorite movie of all time, until the gorgeous Leo came along in Titanic in 1997, so it has a very special place in my heart. I remember watching it every time I would visit my grandparents and blasting the songs in their den. I love the soundtrack still, especially Those Magic Changes.
I enjoyed learning all the details I didn’t know about the film, like lines that were adlibbed or how an effect took place. I couldn’t really see the photos well bc I read this on my kindle app on my phone. I think it’s a fun and quick read for any Grease fan who wants to know more about the film and lasting legacy.
I enjoyed learning all the details I didn’t know about the film, like lines that were adlibbed or how an effect took place. I couldn’t really see the photos well bc I read this on my kindle app on my phone. I think it’s a fun and quick read for any Grease fan who wants to know more about the film and lasting legacy.
August 4, 2020
This book was a wonderful insight into the making of this iconic movie. I liked all the extra behind the scenes tidbits of how they made such a great film from the broadway show. Adaptations sometimes work in movies and sometimes they really don’t. Of course it worked well with Grease! There are comments from cast members and the director and pictures from the set in the pages designed somewhat to look like an old Yearbook or Director’s script. The book is nicely laid out in a coffee table style format. I read it cover to cover! And yes Grease is still the word.
January 1, 2022
Current read: #Grease - The Director's notebook by Randall Kessler
Genre: #Nonfiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verdict: This is perfect for any grease fan, and I spent my New Year’s Eve reading this all in one go staying up till 4 am to finish it. It’s so detailed about the preproduction of grease, Context around Hollywood at the time, the director’s influences, as well as the untold story behind the original Broadway with its in-depth character synopsis, its heavier, grittier themes and how it was adapted for a cinematic audience and how it was translated and became branded as a feel-good film - This journal shows fans what was cut from the film and why. Which off the cuff moments were left in and how important it was for actors to influence their storylines/traits and history so they could create three-dimensional characters that we’d love. This method was even extended to the background dancers and extras by choreographer Pat Birch who insisted that before choreography, there must be context with every scene and every small interaction. There are so many unseen photos; it’s a treasure trove. I’m proud to say this is my first book of 2022. ❤️🎶🚘 (One book down and a hundred more to go! In reality, the initial number of a hundred books is the minimum goal because, in fact, I consistently exceed my reading goals! So do you think this year I could beat my personal best of a hundred and forty books? follow along to find out. @goodreads @netgalley #goodreadschallenge) | @readbybeth @lifeofbeth761 @lilyanns_library @littlefreelibrarybythebeach @lottiesbooksandlattes @littdreams_ @kindleblogger @bookstabookclub @thewriterswarmth @librosandvino @librosandvino @bookstagramrepresent @emilybookedup @letslibrarian @erinsgottaread @littleredlibrary @lottiesbooksandlattes @thebookblondie @th_e_bookthief @whenelizabethreads #instabooks
#booksofinstagram
#readingtime
#bookobsessed
#readersofig
#hyggelifestyle
#bookaholics
#bookaddicts
#Ukbibliophiles
#booknerd
#ilovebooks
#lovereading
#booksarelife
#readingchallenge
#readingrainbow
#booksonbooks
#Hyggebookclub
#bibliophage
#literature
#cosybookclub
#Hyggebookclubapproved
Genre: #Nonfiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verdict: This is perfect for any grease fan, and I spent my New Year’s Eve reading this all in one go staying up till 4 am to finish it. It’s so detailed about the preproduction of grease, Context around Hollywood at the time, the director’s influences, as well as the untold story behind the original Broadway with its in-depth character synopsis, its heavier, grittier themes and how it was adapted for a cinematic audience and how it was translated and became branded as a feel-good film - This journal shows fans what was cut from the film and why. Which off the cuff moments were left in and how important it was for actors to influence their storylines/traits and history so they could create three-dimensional characters that we’d love. This method was even extended to the background dancers and extras by choreographer Pat Birch who insisted that before choreography, there must be context with every scene and every small interaction. There are so many unseen photos; it’s a treasure trove. I’m proud to say this is my first book of 2022. ❤️🎶🚘 (One book down and a hundred more to go! In reality, the initial number of a hundred books is the minimum goal because, in fact, I consistently exceed my reading goals! So do you think this year I could beat my personal best of a hundred and forty books? follow along to find out. @goodreads @netgalley #goodreadschallenge) | @readbybeth @lifeofbeth761 @lilyanns_library @littlefreelibrarybythebeach @lottiesbooksandlattes @littdreams_ @kindleblogger @bookstabookclub @thewriterswarmth @librosandvino @librosandvino @bookstagramrepresent @emilybookedup @letslibrarian @erinsgottaread @littleredlibrary @lottiesbooksandlattes @thebookblondie @th_e_bookthief @whenelizabethreads #instabooks
#booksofinstagram
#readingtime
#bookobsessed
#readersofig
#hyggelifestyle
#bookaholics
#bookaddicts
#Ukbibliophiles
#booknerd
#ilovebooks
#lovereading
#booksarelife
#readingchallenge
#readingrainbow
#booksonbooks
#Hyggebookclub
#bibliophage
#literature
#cosybookclub
#Hyggebookclubapproved
May 27, 2022
Grease is my favorite movie so of course I'm going to give this a 5 star review. It's packed full of information as to how they made the movie, including the script with revisions made, sketches and custome details. I catch myself singing the songs and envisioning the parts of the movie, knowing what was coming next. Loved this.
December 29, 2020
This book was MUCH more detailed than I thought it would be! As a lifelong fan of Grease, I was so excited to receive this as a gift. The never-before-seen photos and behind the scenes info from the perspective of the director was a beautiful addition to a timeless, well-loved movie.
December 27, 2020
My favorite parts of this book included a peek at the original scrips and the scene sketches. For die hard fans like me, this book will not disappoint.
August 18, 2021
Had Me A Blast...
Love this movie and learned a ton of behind-the-scenes info I didn't know. It felt like I was just hanging with the cast and crew, reminiscing.
Love this movie and learned a ton of behind-the-scenes info I didn't know. It felt like I was just hanging with the cast and crew, reminiscing.
June 27, 2022
I loved this book!
May 10, 2021
1st Line: "In late 1976, after I signed on to direct the movie, producer Allan Carr organized a trip to Chicago to attend the road company production of the iconic stage musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey."
Prose (Story): Director Randal Kleiser takes readers through a detailed, bird's-eye view of his experiences directing the now-iconic film musical Grease, still as popular 40+ years after its release as it was in its original run - with new interviews/thoughts from members of the cast, including Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, Stockard Channing, and more.
Don's (Review): I was a teenager when Grease hit theaters in 1978, and instantly fell in love with the film's songs nd choreography, humor, 50's slice-of-life, and the brilliant chemistry of the cast - Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta especially, but the entire cast was letter-perfect. Having listened to the soundtrack so much, I know every song on it by heart - watched the film so often, I can quote entire scenes worth of dialogue from memory - and read/heard so much trivia about the film and its cast over the years, I was more than a little curious as to other insights director Kleiser could, or would, reveal here. Turns out, it's a lot. This is a freaking amazing book of memories, in which Randal Kleiser puts it all out there for fans - his original production notes, original script pages (including plenty of scenes or bits of business that never made it into the film), never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos, and so, so much more - as he takes us literally from the film's beginning, with the opening Frankie Valli theme and where/how the opening animated credits came about, then continues dropping his bread crumbs as we follow along, scene by scene through the film via his eyes, to the accompaniment of the aforementioned script pages, images, call sheets, costume design details, thoughts on cast members ... my God, there is so much here, for what is actually a pretty short book, and I read it slowly, devouring every word and absorbing all this new information like a sponge. Truly, it was like watching the film all over again, but with new eyes and from behind the scenes; easily a five-star read, and an absolute must-have for any fan of the film. Forty-three years after its opening, this love letter of a book (which includes a forward by John Travolta) reminds you that Grease is - will always be - the word. 5/5 stars
Prose (Story): Director Randal Kleiser takes readers through a detailed, bird's-eye view of his experiences directing the now-iconic film musical Grease, still as popular 40+ years after its release as it was in its original run - with new interviews/thoughts from members of the cast, including Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, Stockard Channing, and more.
Don's (Review): I was a teenager when Grease hit theaters in 1978, and instantly fell in love with the film's songs nd choreography, humor, 50's slice-of-life, and the brilliant chemistry of the cast - Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta especially, but the entire cast was letter-perfect. Having listened to the soundtrack so much, I know every song on it by heart - watched the film so often, I can quote entire scenes worth of dialogue from memory - and read/heard so much trivia about the film and its cast over the years, I was more than a little curious as to other insights director Kleiser could, or would, reveal here. Turns out, it's a lot. This is a freaking amazing book of memories, in which Randal Kleiser puts it all out there for fans - his original production notes, original script pages (including plenty of scenes or bits of business that never made it into the film), never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos, and so, so much more - as he takes us literally from the film's beginning, with the opening Frankie Valli theme and where/how the opening animated credits came about, then continues dropping his bread crumbs as we follow along, scene by scene through the film via his eyes, to the accompaniment of the aforementioned script pages, images, call sheets, costume design details, thoughts on cast members ... my God, there is so much here, for what is actually a pretty short book, and I read it slowly, devouring every word and absorbing all this new information like a sponge. Truly, it was like watching the film all over again, but with new eyes and from behind the scenes; easily a five-star read, and an absolute must-have for any fan of the film. Forty-three years after its opening, this love letter of a book (which includes a forward by John Travolta) reminds you that Grease is - will always be - the word. 5/5 stars
January 6, 2024
GREASE... IS THE WORD.....
Anyone who loves the movie GREASE will get a kick out of reading this behind the scenes book by director Randal Kleiser.
It sheds light on favourite scenes and how the movie came from stage to theatre in a short period of time.
Has lots of pictures of the cast and crew throughout.
An awesome read for a true fan.
Anyone who loves the movie GREASE will get a kick out of reading this behind the scenes book by director Randal Kleiser.
It sheds light on favourite scenes and how the movie came from stage to theatre in a short period of time.
Has lots of pictures of the cast and crew throughout.
An awesome read for a true fan.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews