Happy 74th Birthday, Randal Kleiser! Born today in 1946 as John Randal Kleiser, this American screenwriter, producer and film and television director was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He the son of Harriet Kelly (née Means) and John Raymond Kleiser, and was raised in the Pennsylvania Dutch community in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Kleiser later attended Radnor High School.
As a freshman at the University of Southern California, Kleiser appeared in George Lucas' student film.
This was the three-minute 1966 American black and white drama/thriller short film 'Freiheit'. (Kleiser also lived in the house that Lucas was renting at the time.)
In the late 1970s, Kleiser directed the 1976 American made-for-television drama/romance film 'The Boy in the Plastic Bubble' starring John Travolta.
Two years later, Kleiser directed the film of which he is best known. This was the 1978 American musical romantic comedy film 'Grease'.
This infamous musical-play turned film had been adapted and co-funded by American producer and manager of stage for the Allan Carr and Australian-born British-resident music entrepreneur, film producer and impresario Robert Stigwood.
Chartering the summer-tastic rock 'n' roll era of the 1950s at Rydell High, Grease' allowed the viewer to experience the friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the late 1950s.
Set in the summer of 1958, the film follows wholesome, sugary sweet exchange student Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) and a leather-clad Danny Zuko (John Travolta), the leader of the T-Birds. Both have a summer romance, but worry that it will cross clique lines.
The film also co-starred American actress Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo, the leader of the Pink Ladies.
'Grease' had been based on the titular 1971 musical by American actor, composer, lyricist, and writer for the theatre Jim Jacobs and American theatre composer, lyricist, writer and actor Warren Casey.
On a budget of $6 million, 'Grease' grossed $396 million at the box office. Released on June 16, 1978, 'Grease' was successful both critically and commercially.
It later became the highest-grossing musical film ever at the time; an iconic pop-culture phenomenon that worked for every generation.
Its soundtrack album ended 1978 as the second-best-selling album of the year in the United States, behind the soundtrack of the 1977 American dance/drama film 'Saturday Night Fever' (which also starred Travolta'.
The following year, the soundtrack for 'Grease' earned the film its lone Oscar nomination for "Hopelessly Devoted to You".
However, the son lost the Oscar nomination for Best Original Song to Donna Summer's "Last Dance" from the American musical disco comedy film 'Thank God Its Friday'. This occurred at the 51st Academy Awards in early April 1979.
Three years later, a sequel, being the 1982 American musical romantic comedy film 'Grease 2' was released.
Originally titled 'More Grease', Carr and Stigwood and directed and choreographed by American dancer, choreographer, film director, and theatre director Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film and the Broadway musical.
The film It takes place two years after the original film at Rydell High School, set in the 1961–1962 school year, with an almost entirely new cast. These were led by actors Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer in her first starring role.
Released on June 11, 1982, 'Grease 2' was released theatrically and grossed over $15.2 million against a production budget of $11.2 million.
The film, now best known for being the breakout roles for Pfeiffer and American actor Christoper McDonald was otherwise poorly received Grease co-creator Jacobs did not have any involvement with 'Grease 2', as he was particularly displeased with it.
At the start of the 21st century, Kleiser's house was used in Wes Craven's the 2000 American slasher horror/mystery film 'Scream 3'.
In the mid-2000s, Kleiser was the main force in planning and filming the 2006 American musical/adventure film 'Red Riding Hood'.
It was this particular film work that broke new ground in digital cinematography through the extensive use of interactive virtual sets.
In the late 2010s, the straight-to-series musical of 'Grease' hailed from Paramount TV to produce Fox's Emmy-winner with the 2016 American televised musical romance Grease: Live (stylized as Grease Live!)
As of 2019, an HBO Max series entitled Rydell High, of which is based on the film, is in production. Four decades later, and Grease is the word...again.
Also as of 2020, a Paramount+ series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, based on Grease, and a prequel, titled Summer Lovin', are in production According to his personal life, Kleiser currently serves as a judge on the Student Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and also as chairman of the Academic Subcommittee for the Directors Guild of America. He is also openly gay.
Kleiser has been active from 1962–present.
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