John Travolta four decades of Grease
John Travolta visited Panama last April for the 2024 IFF Panama as part of a whirlwind trip focused on the film Grease (1978). After 46 years, the Panamanian public had the opportunity to revisit the film on the big screen, with its fabulous leading man in the same theater.
By Alexa Carolina Chacón
Photos: Paul Castillero
Ten minutes was long enough to confirm John Travolta’s star status. Well-mannered, he has a calm flat voice that is anything but boring. Although I was nervous on arrival, his way of speaking immediately put me at ease. It was just him, me, and my crew… in a room full of IFF members. Travolta looked me in the eye and answered my questions with anecdotes that made my work feel complete even before I’d committed it to paper. He knows himself inside out, knows how he likes to have his photo taken, and is relaxed in the process.
We talked about his career, the film he starred in with Olivia Newton-John, and Pulp Fiction (1994) —a film that couldn’t be more different from Grease, demonstrating that for Travolta, versatility is as important as success.
P. It’s been 46 years since the premiere of Grease. What does it mean to you to be here, presenting the film to this audience? Did you ever imagine it would have this effect and become such a legend?
R. The answer to that question is very simple: yes, I predicted that it would be iconic and that it would become a timeless piece. Did I predict that it would keep the level of interest it enjoyed at the beginning? No. But I knew it would always be a special film that would ascend into the stratosphere, incomparable to anything else. It is unique. The festival chose the film, and I don’t blame them. It’s endlessly entertaining, it never fails to make people happy, and that makes me happy.
P. You have managed to expand your career in several genres and build iconic characters, one after another. Which of these achievements are you most proud of?
R. Collectively, I’m proud of my career, because I was always like a muse for writers and directors; they used me to create. I never had a fixed idea that I would only do one type of character or one thing. And I was genuine about it, which means I never worried about changing roles; on the contrary, I was excited about it. I’ve played a president, a lawyer, a woman, a gangster… and the public has invited me to do it, but that also comes from my desire to explore those roles. It’s the difference between agreeing to do The Taking of Pelham 123 and Hairspray. Is it the same guy? Is it possible? These dichotomies define your career. It’s what I always wanted, because I always felt that, if I was allowed to explore at a strong level, I would do well. A studio head-Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures-once told me, “Audiences will go where you want them to go.” She was amazed by that.
This all starts with the actor; we have to know that versatility is possible. They can’t be scared; they have to go for it.
P. There is a great element of inspiration in presenting a film almost fifty years later. What would you like the audience to take away from this screening?
R. What they have brought out every time they have seen it. The only difference would be that it will be shown on a giant screen, just like when it was first released. The version where the audience is invited to sing along with the film is epic, for example. I just want them to leave with the reaffirmation that it’s their favorite movie.
Q. How does it feel to revive Grease and everything related to it, especially after Olivia Newton-John’s passing in 2022?
Olivia left us a legacy, not only with Grease, but with everything in her life. She was what Taylor Swift is today. People often forget how great she was; she was the world’s greatest singer for years. Who can describe what chemistry is or why things work the way they do? But I knew Olivia and I would be magical together; I just knew it. She intrigued me. Every guy’s dream of having a girlfriend would be Olivia, and I thought she would be perfect for Grease. I had the opportunity to choose who would play the role opposite me. She wasn’t convinced she could do it and asked for a screen test, so she saw that she could do it. When I saw it, I saw exactly what I expected. The right chemistry, the right look, me with dark hair and her blonde. It was perfect: she was natural, funny, a great singer and writer. A true star.
P. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Pulp Fiction. How would you describe the film to a younger audience?
A. Wow, that’s a loaded question! How would you describe Quentin Tarantino? Well, as an eclectic human being. And Pulp Fiction as a highly original narrative that has a naturally shocking order of magnitude. You watch it for entertainment, and it surprises you without warning; it doesn’t warn you at all, but not in a harsh way; it’s organic. It blows your mind and makes you say, “I can’t believe what I just saw.” There are many different moments where that is the reaction of the audience.
P. I wrote a line about how I would describe it and would like your opinion. I’d say Pulp Fiction is about smartly dressed men having philosophical discussions while working.
A. [Risas] I think that’s very good! And, in fact, I can say that Quentin was proud of the philosophical aspects of the film. That’s why he chose me, because I was helping him in an analytical way with his finances and we talked a lot. I had no idea he was going to be in Pulp Fiction, but, as a young director, I was worried about him.
because he was just starting his career. The day after we had a twelve-hour meeting, he said, “I need that quality of conversation that John showed in the movie, this kind of philosophy,” and so he took Michael Madsen out of the fray and put me
in place, which is interesting. Quentin introduced me to From Dusk Till Dawn and Pulp Fiction, and I commented, “I’m not really a vampire person, the blood thing isn’t for me, but the other one is pretty interesting.” A week later, I was offered the role of Vincent Vega.
After presenting and watching the movie Grease, Travolta
posed on the blue carpet with Mari Carmen Aponte, U.S. Ambassador to Panama; Karla Quintero, director of IFF Panama; Pituka Ortega Heilbron and Bernardo Ordaz, president and member of the IFF Panama Foundation; and Pedro Heilbron of Copa Airlines.
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