Stockard Channing as Rizzo
 

Stockard Channing plays Rizzo in GREASE with such command & such craft that it's impossible to think of anyone else in the role.

Consider the scene in which Rizzo, attired in black skirt, pumps, & sunglasses, presides over the gaggle of silly female geese (including Sandy & the Pink Ladies) like Cleopatra commanding her palace plebs & slaves. And she does so with the most minimal of means: a raised eyebrow here, a disdainful twitch of the mouth there, a "shove-off" with the shapely leg, & a bored bon mot delivered with perfect timing.

In later scenes, Ms. Channing acts the part right down to the ground, investing the essentially shallow character with anxiety & desperation. The emotional stature of her performance in the girls' bathroom, & her consequent betrayal by a "pal," is as resonant & stirring as the high trumpets in contrapuntal play with the full chorus in the Gratias agimus tibi propter of Bach's B Minor Mass.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e...rook/rizzo.jpg

Although I have tried over several viewings, & over several years, I cannot bring myself to appreciate GREASE. :sorry:

Whoa, I just got here. Don't break my mind David.

btw, I saw Grease the only place that counts...at a drive-in.
(I was but a child)

Stockard Channing is one of my favourite actresses and is consistently under-rated. I've seen afew interviews with her and which she still enjoys Grease and is greatful for it, she says the same old thing you always hear - that her other work has been overshadowed by it. She did song some of There are Worst Thing I Could Do in an interview recently though, it was great! I love Grease!

Check out her films with Mike Nichols, Smoke with Harvey Keitel and of course Stockard as Abby Bartlet in the amazing The West Wing! I love her in this!

stockard is afab actres, she was a wonderful rizzo~ man i love "grease", watched it 100's of times~

i also love her as the aunt in "practical magic"

There are Worse Things I Could Do is by far the best song on the soundtrack. I have seen Grease so many times over the years- I *love* it. First viewing was in the theater. :) Rizzo was such a bitch but she had a vulnerable and soft side, too.

I completely agree. I don't actually appreciate Grease very much. I think I've possibly seen it so many times it's lost its effect on me. Anytime I do watch t though I'm always amazed by Stockard's performance. Up until the moment she sings 'There Are Worse Things I Could Do' she does such a brilliant job of making me dislike/disapprove of her, then all of a sudden I'm empathising! Oh, and ''Sandra Dee' has to be one of the most hilarious songs/scenes ever!

She's been one of my favourite actresses since childhood. Ialso love her in the West Wing and Practical Magic (she makes that movie IMO).

Sorry did you say something?
I was too busy watching Stockard Channing on "The West Wing."

Whatever you said, I'm sure it was very nice and intelligent-sounding and -
Oh COOL she's in this scene! Gotta go!

http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/G...channing16.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZOIoSOCNnf...st+Wing+TV.jpg