MovieChat Forums > Grease (1978) Discussion > Horrible moral message

Horrible moral message

posted a year ago by esshor (119)
26 replies | jump to latest

That if you want to be liked, accepted, and loved by others, then you must change yourself to fit in with their ideas of what is likable, acceptable, and lovable. Sandy was perfectly happy with her way of being, but in order to be loved by Danny she had to change everything that she was.

Something tells me that’s not a very good moral message, especially for kids: “If you want people to like you, dress like a slut and screw guys.” It also seems like a fairly bad way to begin a long-term relationship, completely subjugating your own needs to the will of another.

[–] Redsfan001 (6144) a year ago

The mating game was different back then, women had to try. Sandy didn't have a dating app with 10,000 young men to choose from.

I don't think Sandy really changed everything thing she was, she just did that to bait her man to fit the song. "The one that I want!" (She was successful)

I just read a article where a reporter noticed the vast majority of women at college now seemed not to be even TRYING to look pretty for men(sweats/ no makeup to classes).

This might be due to the effect of no beautiful women on billboards or in ads in the past decade or so. Along with dating apps where a young women has the ease of access to pick from 10,000 eligible men.

[–] N2Far (51) 6 months ago

Lol that reporter is full of shit. I mean yeah, if you go to 8 am classes on a Friday most of the girls will be dressed that way. Contrast that with 8 PM that night and you’ll see a major difference in how they look. It’s all about context. I mean it’s not like men are walking around in 3 piece suits all the time either.

[–] Redsfan001 (6144) 6 months ago

It was the reporters alma mater, in which she returned to about a decade later, women used to try to look hot and wear makeup to class back then.

Cultural shifts do occur. It is a interesting observation. Of course WHY this shift occured is a more interesting question.

[–] javie (2216) a year ago

I was 16 and I was getting drunk. I just thought there'd be more coming along.

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

That if you want to be liked, accepted, and loved by others, then you must change yourself to fit in with their ideas of what is likable, acceptable, and lovable. Sandy was perfectly happy with her way of being, but in order to be loved by Danny she had to change everything that she was.

Danny still wanted her before the change, he even tried changing himself for Sandy too and it didn't work so maybe that's not the message you're supposed to take away. They BOTH tried to change for the other before they made it work so maybe the message you're supposed to take away is relationships are about being willing to compromise with each other.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

But Danny's attempt to change for her wouldn't get him pregnant!

Seriously, the moral of the film ought to have been either "Find someone compatible", or "If you really want to get it on, make sure you have more protection than a re-used condom".

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

But Danny's attempt to change for her wouldn't get him pregnant!

Unless you think they she was just going to go full slut mode after Sandy had her makeover then I'm not really sure what your point is. Changing her outfit doesn't mean she has changed her morals.

Seriously, the moral of the film ought to have been either "Find someone compatible", or "If you really want to get it on, make sure you have more protection than a re-used condom".

They were compatible, they both proved that by attempting to change for the other then realising they didn't need to because they both wanted each other already.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

Oh honey, there's more to a relationship than "wanting each other".

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

Irrelevant to the movie and to subject at hand.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

Dude, the whole plot of the movie qas about Sandy and Danny being incompatible, and the second leads having inadequate birth control.

Therefore, not irrelevant.

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

None of Danny and Sandy's arcs involve birth control, dude.
Do you remember how the movie ends? Did it end with them being incompatible? No it didn't, so stop talking shite.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

80% of the movie is Sandy and Danny trying to work out their differences, and appearing to be incompatible! They just don't like or aspire to the same things, and in real life their friends and families would be telling them to find someone more suitable, and stop trying to make themselves into a different person just to please that jerk.

And the movie ends at the point where they're going to need birth control.

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

80% of the movie is Sandy and Danny trying to work out their differences, and appearing to be incompatible!

The movie ends with them being compatible though so the appearing is irrelevant.

They just don't like or aspire to the same things, and in real life their friends and families would be telling them to find someone more suitable, and stop trying to make themselves into a different person just to please that jerk.

Cool headcanon, it's not in the movie though.

And the movie ends at the point where they're going to need birth control.

So they would only have sex if Sandy dresses in leathers? Utterly irrelevant point.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

You are just arguing for the sake of being argumentative, and refuse to admit the obvious.

Well, I'm sick of that shit, goodbye!

[–] Miyagido (2944) a year ago

I disagree with your conclusions of the film. Maybe you misunderstood it, maybe I misundersood it, either way it's not exactly the end of the world. I am allowed to have a differing opinion to you, crazy notion I know! So go be butthurt that everyone doesn't agree with you elsewhere if you don't want to discuss Grease on the Grease discission page.

[–] MartyMoose1977 (193) 4 months ago

I just read your argument and you were way off base. Danny attempted to join a sports team even though he hated sports all because he wanted to impress the girl he loved. He failed spectacularly and the mere attempt to do it for her won her over. The movie isn't exactly Romeo & Juliet just a simple musical around a 50's high school love story. It had pretty bad but endearing acting. It had a 34 year old women attempting to pass as a High School Senior. Most importantly it had Olivia Newton John and John Travolta in their prime with catchy songs and good dancing.

[–] Where (1495) a year ago

Nobody gets this so I will explain it again here.

THEY BOTH CHANGED to make their relationship work. It’s about compromise, getting off your high horse, following your feelings, defying the peer pressure of your friends.

Why do people only think Sandy changed? Did no one see the scenes where Danny tried every sport then joined the track team? Danny went to practice every day for months, and presumably to track meets too since he got a letter jacket. Thats a huge change! Sandy curled her hair, put on lipstick, and wore a new outfit. Not a big effort on her part.

[–] LadyBug (133) a year ago

I noticed that too. Everyone wails about Sandy changing and says noting about Danny changing.

[–] SteveRes (506) 7 months ago

Great reply, this exactly. Snowflakes today just like getting offended by everything, even Grease ffs.

[–] mikethemartian (6710) a year ago

The lyrics of the song is literally her dictating to him that he has to “shape up”:

You're The One That I Want

I got chills, they're multiplying
And I'm losing control
'Cause the power you're supplying
It's electrifying!
You better shape up (do-do-do)
'Cause I need a man (do-do-do)
And my heart is set on you (and my heart is set on you)
You better shape up (do-do-do)
You better understand (do-do-do)
To my heart I must be true
Nothin' left, nothin' left for me to do (ooh)
You're the one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The one I need (the one I need)
Oh, yes, indeed (yes, indeed)
If you're filled with affection
You're too shy to convey
Meditate in my direction
Feel your way
I better shape up
'Cause you need a man, I need a man
Who can keep me satisfied
I better shape up (do-do-do)
If I'm gonna prove, you better prove
That my faith is justified, are you sure?
Yes, I'm sure down deep inside
You're the one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The one I need (the one I need)
Oh, yes, indeed (oh, yes, indeed)
You're the one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The one I need (the one I need)
Oh, yes, indeed (yes, indeed), ooh-ooh!
You're the one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The one I need (the one I need)
Oh, yes, indeed (oh, yes, indeed)
You're the

[–] Bucky (275) a year ago

Mad Magazine said the same thing.

[–] WandererFromYs (2308) a year ago

Everyone seemed to have missed the fact, they met, and got along fine over the summer. It wasn’t until they got around their friends, and have to live up to a reputation where their problems came up. My takeaway has always been to just be yourself

[–] strntz (12225) a year ago

They could have solved all this by having Danny *not* pitch his letterman's sweater and turn back into a greaser along with Sandy. It looks like they were both trying to change, and at the last second, Danny wins - he abandons the "conventional" look and Sandy dresses like a tramp to Danny's great enthusiasm.

The Broadway play that this was based on was written to be raunchy though.

[–] KiwiJim (1179) 7 months ago

The transformation was a metaphor for her sexual awakening. She was finally ready for sexytime, that’s it. Don’t overthink it.