The most notorious fan theory suggests that Sandy is in fact dying throughout the movie and the story only plays out in her imagination. Arguably one of the most famous movie theories of all time, it offers a completely different perspective on the movie's otherwise mostly upbeat tone, adding darkness to the musical's joyous light. And while the theory has its detractors, it remains incredibly popular, because it is tied to the film's strangest mystery: what its end really means. It is precisely because of that ending's weirdness and one particularly pertinent line from Grease's first big musical number - "Summer Nights" that a fan theory suggested a grim undercurrent to the classical musical including a dying teenage girl living her last moments "down in the sand". The fantasy sequences of "Greased Lightnin'" and "Beauty School Dropout", which very much play out in the imaginations of the characters singing those songs. The former is the T-Birds imagining their triumphs and how well the car will boost their boyish boasts of machismo, while the latter is Didi Conn's Frenchy imagining the bleakness of her future if her dream fails. Both are very much tied to dreams, but that makes the final sequence of Grease all the more confusing, because when Danny and Sandy fly off from the carnival in Greased Lightnin' it happens in real-time in the real world. Sandy's shock is nothing compared to that of the audience, who have just watched a fairly conventional high-school musical that operates within normal rules of reality end with a car literally flying off into the distance. In that respect, it was no wonder that there was an opportunity for a fan theory to fill in the gap in logic. The starting point of the theory, which was initially posted on Reddit, is one of the lines in "Summer Night" dedicated Sandy and Danny telling each of their listening audiences what happened during their holiday romance at the beach. While the Grease prequel, 'Summer Lovin', will tell the actual story of what happened during that tryst, the only account the audience can trust is the mention of the young couple bowling in the arcade, holding hands, and drinking lemonade. Crucially, the lyrics suggest that Danny and Sandy met when she got a cramp while swimming and Danny saved her from drowning, before showing off "splashing around". While it might sound like empty bragging, the theory suggests that Sandy actually did drown and everything that follows is Sandy fantasizing about what her life could have been as she dies. From the prolog onwards, every event that happens plays out in Sandy's mind, and the reason everything wraps up so perfectly for every character, despite all of the conflict on the way to the finale is that it's all Sandy's tragic wish fulfillment. As a newcomer to Rydell High, Sandy would have been an outsider, but her reality plays out just as a dream would; she is immediately accepted by the coolest group (the Pink Ladies), meets the boy of her dreams (again), and overcomes every issue. And it's not just her: Rizzo's pregnancy scare, the dance competition that Danny wins (albeit with Cha-Cha), the drag race on Thunder Road Everything ends with a happy ending, no matter what the seeming obstacles. It's all a little too convenient and then when Greased Lightnin' takes off for its maiden flight, the reason becomes clear. It's all a fantasy. The theory also suggests that Sandy's mournful reprise of "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" and the final two lines "Take a deep breath and sigh, Goodbye to Sandra Dee..." specifically secretly confirm that Sandy lost her battle to live. In that respect, the image of Greased Lightnin' flying off with Danny alongside Sandy at the end of Grease is actually symbolic of her ascending to the afterlife and her transformation is not one of self-realization, but of death. That metaphorical rise, then, is her rising to heaven in the final moments of her life eking out with her final breaths on the sand. It's tragic and dark, but there is a hint of beauty to it. The theory gained enough attention that stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John both commented on it. The former called it fun, though told USA Today that he knew "the writers of Grease, and I was around in the original days. I can't take it too far." Sandy's actor, Olivia Newton-John herself called it "hilarious" and reveled in the idea of Grease being the first ever zombie musical. Unfortunately for fans of the theory, the most notable respondent to the theory was Grease creator Jim Jacobs, who wasn't as big a fan and poured water on the idea of Sandy being dead. He told TMZ that "Whoever made up the theory must have been on acid. Sandy was very much alive." But then, it's rare that the wishes of the creator are taken into account when fans come up with theories, and this one in particular actually does improve the Grease viewing experience, true or not.
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
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This film's opening prologue states: "After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy steamed south, unleashing their fire on Darwin, a city in the Northern Territory of Australia. 'The Territory' was a land of crocodiles, cattle barons and warrior chiefs, where adventure and romance was a way of life. It was also a place where Aboriginal children of mixed-race were taken by force from their families and trained for service in white society. These children became known as the Stolen Generations."
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The word "billabong" comes up often, especially regarding Lord Ashley's murder. A billabong is a small lake, especially one formed by a U-shaped bend in a river.
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Nicole Kidman and Baz Luhrmann agreed not to work together again after this film because their collaborations always collided with strong personal experiences. Luhrmann's father died on the first day of shooting Moulin Rouge! (2001). Kidman had her only successful pregnancy while making this film.
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In the scene after Sarah makes the herd to the boat, she heads for the pub that has a "no woman" policy, which was overruled. A grizzled, old drunk is leaning of the bar and makes a toast. That is actor Max Cullen, who would later play Travis the farmer in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine".
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In an interview that aired October 16, 2008, Hugh Jackman told 60 Minutes (1979) that Nicole Kidman agreed to star in the film without reading the script. According to Jackman, she told him at a Super Bowl party that she had to be in the movie. When Jackman told her he didn't even have a script, Kidman told him to forget the script, because Baz Luhrmann was directing.
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Several endings were filmed. An ending that featured the death of Hugh Jackman's character was screened for a test audience, but proved unpopular.
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Hugh Jackman's character is given no first or last name. He is only referred to as "The Drover" or simply "Drover".
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Fifteen babies were born to cast and crew during production, including Nicole Kidman's younger daughter.
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The Wizard of Oz is a persistent motif throughout the film. "Oz" is an Australian nickname for Australia (from the first syllable of the continent's name).
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WILHELM SCREAM: During the bombing of Darwin, when a resident goes flying.
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This is Hong Kong actor and stuntman Wah Yuen's English language film debut.
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Baz Luhrmann searched Australia for over a year for a young boy to play Nullah. After a series of workshops at Fox Studios Australia, Luhrmann and his team traveled to Broome and camped with Brandon Walters' family at 80 Mile Beach, Western Australia. Luhrmann decided to cast Walters during the camp-out.
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The final scene features "Nimrod" from Edward Elgar's "Enigma" variations.
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The film's $100 million budget reportedly increased to more than $150 million.
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Heath Ledger was originally cast, but backed out to do The Dark Knight (2008).
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Nicole Kidman and David Wenham have known each other since they were 14 years old, when they attended the same drama classes in Sydney. They later played a married couple in Lion (2016).
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The production spent several weeks in Kununurra, Western Australia, with temperatures as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.7 degrees Celsius).
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Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman sang as penguin couple Norma Jean and Memphis, parents of Mumble, in the 2006 animated film "Happy Feet."
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While promoting the film, Nicole Kidman angered Aboriginal groups after she tried to play a didgeridoo on a German talk show. Traditionally, Aboriginal groups do not allow women to play the instrument. Some Aboriginal groups believe playing the instrument makes women infertile. Kidman's next child was born via surrogate.
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Australia - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
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