Greaseis one of the most popular and beloved musical movies of all time, so much so that it made way for a wild theory about Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) being dead, but an even wilder theory claims it was Danny (John Travolta) who died. Based on the 1972 stage musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey,Greasewas directed by Randal Kleiser in his feature directorial debut.Greasewas a critical and commercial success, becoming a classic of musical cinema, and even though some elements haven’t aged well, it still has a loyal following.
Greasefollows Danny and Sandy, who fall in love over the summer. To Danny’s surprise, Sandy is the new girl at school, but Sandy isn’t ready for the dynamic at Rydell High School. Danny is the leader of the greaser gang T-Birds, while Sandy is more of a well-behaved girl and doesn’t really fit with her new friends from the greaser girl clique Pink Ladies. Despite this, the attraction between Danny and Sandy is undeniable, but a popular theory ends the romance right away by killing Sandy, but maybe it was Danny who didn’t make it to the end of the movie.
Grease Theory Claims Danny Died At Thunder Road
Danny Is Alive Through Most Of Grease, Though
The infamous“Sandy is dead”Greasetheoryoriginates from a line in the song “Summer Nights.” Throughout the song, Sandy and Danny tell their versions of how they met and how they spent the summer together, and they are very different versions. Danny mentions that Sandy got a cramp while swimming and he saved her, and so the theory suggests that Danny never actually helped her, and Sandy drowned. The entire movie, then, is Sandy’s dying thoughts imagining a happy ending for herself with the guy she met that summer.
The theory adds that Sandy’s reprise of “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” at Thunder Road is her way of confirming to the audience that she died, and that’s why everyone suddenly gets a happy ending in the next minutes. The theory uses the final scene inGreasewith Danny and Sandy in the Greased Lightnin’ car as it takes flight as further proof of Sandy’s death, interpreting this scene as Sandy literally going to heaven. Another version of the theory says Sandy killed herself after the Thunder Road race, so the ending was all in her head.
Danny wins the race, but according to the theory, he crashes and dies at Thunder Road.
Now, a different theory lets Sandy live throughout the entire movie but suggests that the one who died was Danny, and it’s similar to the second version of the Sandy theory. Shared onReddit, the theory claims that Danny died in the car race at Thunder Road. Originally, Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) was going to ride the car, but after being hit in the head with the car’s door, Danny takes over. Of course, Danny wins the race, but according to the theory, he crashes and dies at Thunder Road.
This explains Sandy’s sudden change from a good, well-behaved girl to a full-on greaser girl to impress Danny, as in Danny’s dying thoughts, Sandy would be his perfect girl in every way.
This means thateverything after the Thunder Road race inGreaseis in Danny’s dying thoughts, mirroring the Sandy theory. This explains Sandy’s sudden change from a good, well-behaved girl to a full-on greaser girl to impress Danny, as in Danny’s dying thoughts, Sandy would be his perfect girl in every way. The author of the theory points out that the school’s carnival is unrealistic due to the school’s budget and more, but it would make sense if it were part of Danny’s dying fantasy.
There’s also the car, which was damaged at the Thunder Road race, but atthe end ofGrease, it appears as Danny’s ideal car, just like he imagined it in the “Greased Lightnin’” musical number. Of course,there’s also how the car flies right at the end, which, just like in the Sandy theory, would symbolize Danny leaving limboand flying to heaven.
What Does The Flying Car At The End Of Grease Really Mean?
The Flying Car Has Been The Source Of Grease’s Wildest Theories
If it wasn’t for the Greased Lightnin’ car suddenly flying at the end ofGrease, neither the Sandy theory nor the Danny theory would have happened. Musicals aren’t fully realistic simply due to the fact that the characters break into songs at any moment and everyone around them knows the lyrics and dance steps. Leaving those details aside,Greaseis mostly a grounded musical, and it only has two full-on fantasy moments.First is the “Greased Lightnin’” musical number, where the T-Birds imagine the full renovation of Kenickie’s car into their dream one.
Then there’s “Beauty School Dropout”, starring Frenchy (Didi Conn). In it, Frenchy, who has dropped out of beauty school and returned to Rydell, is visited by her guardian angel, played by Frankie Avalon. The flying car at the end, then, comes as a surprise as the final musical number, “We Go Together”, isn’t a fantasy one, yet the car takes off, much to Danny and Sandy’s surprise. In reality, the flying car symbolizes Danny and Sandy’s happy ending.
Now on board Danny’s dream car,Danny and Sandy are literally flying into the sunset, as they are finally getting their happy ending.Even if the final musical number isn’t a fantasy one and is mostly realistic, the flying car does fit the dream-like vibe ofGrease, even if it takes the audience (and Sandy and Danny) by surprise.
The Problems With Sandy & Danny’s Death Grease Theories
Grease Doesn’t Need This Type Of Theories
Greaseis overall a feel-good movie, and I feel that its surprise ending with the flying car cements this.
While both theories about Sandy and Danny’s deaths could be believable to an extent,Greaseisn’t a movie that needs this type of theories (or any theories, really).As realistic as most ofGreaseand its musical numbers are, there’s still a dream-like quality to it, almost as if it were telling the nostalgic memories of someone who lived through all that. Even with its unpleasant moments, such as Sandy being bullied and Rizzo’s pregnancy scare, and elements that haven’t aged well,Greaseis overall a feel-good movie, and I feel that its surprise ending with the flying car cements this.
Unlike many other movies with similar theories,Sandy being dead or Danny dying in the third act doesn’t add anything toGrease, nor do they make it more fun or interesting. Ultimately, both theories have a lot playing against them, and while they could give a different perspective to the movie, they don’t add to it or take much from it, either.
