A Conn Game

In Grease, a 1978 musical film about ‘50s-era high school kids (played by actors in their late 20s and early 30s!), certain characters evolve, showing signs of growth … some in drastically different ways than others.

During the animated intro, we’re tickled pink to meet a lengthy cast of characters, including Frenchy, played by Didi Conn.

When animation segues to live action, Conn’s character name remains the same. The proof is written in her clothes — literally. The first time we see Frenchy, a “coat check” reveals her first name stitched in cursive on the left breast of her Pink Ladies jacket.

In the end credits, however, Frenchy, like cursive in many elementary school curriculums, has disappeared. Frenchie is the word. Why? It’s got no groove. It’s got no meaning.

Good girls and greasers can change between the beginning and the end of summer, so I suppose a ne’er-do-well beauty school dropout can be one person at the start of a movie and another altogether at its conclusion. Then again, Sandy didn’t become Sandie, and Danny didn’t change to Dannie.

It’s my duty, therefore, to do some Grease lightening, reducing the number of letters by one. I’m hopelessly devoted to y, so let’s French-kiss ie goodbye.

Frenchy, you’re the one that I want.