Grease is the Word at Presidio's 8th Annual Film in the Fog
Presidio of San Francisco (September 16, 2009) — Put on your poodle skirts, slick back your hair, and grab your leather jacket as the Presidio Trust and the San Francisco Film Society present the 8th annual Film in the Fog. Join Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Kenickie, Frenchy, and the rest of the gang at Rydell High for a special, sing-along screening of Grease on Saturday, September 26, at 5 pm on the lawn of the Main Post Theater, 99 Moraga Avenue in the Presidio. Admission is free.
At first glance, the height of the disco era might seem an odd time for an imaginative, nostalgic fantasy about teenage angst in the rock ‘n roll 50’s, but Grease, which was released in 1978, would, for a time, become the third highest grossing film of all-time behind only Jaws and Star Wars. Directed by Randal Kleiser, the film tells the story of Danny and Sandy, two love-struck teenagers who spend their “Summer Nights” becoming “hopelessly devoted” to each other. Rather than being re-kindled when the pair unexpectedly re-unites at the same high school in the fall, the romance flickers and fades as Danny and Sandy split, reconcile, then split again against a backdrop of pep rallies, dances, drive-ins, slumber parties, a drag race, and a climactic carnival. Fresh off his breakout performance in Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta cemented his superstar status as Danny while Olivia Newton-John raised her career to new heights playing Sandy. The movie also features a scene-stealing Stockard Channing as Rizzo, and appearances by 50’s icons Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Edd “Kookie” Byrnes, and Frankie Avalon. This version of the movie has the song lyrics subtitled karaoke-style, so be prepared to sing along!
Grease begins at sunset (approximately 7 pm). Pre-show entertainment begins at 5 pm and includes a short film, a classic cartoon and a performance by the Pi Clowns physical comedy troupe. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and arrive early to reserve a choice spot. Food and beverages will be available for purchase or you can bring a picnic.
The San Francisco Film Society is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to celebrating film and the moving image in all its glorious forms. Its year-round programs and events are concentrated in four core areas: Celebrating Internationalism, Inspiring Bay Area Youth, Showcasing Bay Area Film Culture and Exploring New Digital Media. The Film Society hosts the annual San Francisco International Film Festival (April 22-May 6, 2010), the longest running festival in the Americas; shows the best of world cinema on its SFFS Screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas; and publishes a daily online magazine which features a broad array of news and features on Bay Area film and media. The Film Society’s acclaimed media literacy programs reach more than 8,000 students between the ages of 6-18 each year; and it provides crucial support to the Bay Area filmmaking community through SFFS Filmmaker Services including FilmHouse Residencies, Fiscal Sponsorship, the SFFS/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grants, the Herbert Family Filmmaking Grants, the Hearst Screening Grant, the Djerassi/SFFS Screenwriting Fellowship, SFFS Film Arts Forums and professional-level filmmaker classes.
The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to oversee the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It also comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District.