Xanadu (1980)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Robert Greenwald

Writers:

Richard Christian Danus (writer)
Marc Reid Rubel (writer)

Release Date:

8 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The Music, The Film, A Place Where Dreams Come True. [UK]

Plot:

The story of a girl who makes dreams come true.

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Muse | Disco | Inspiration | Clothing Store

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 21

6:20 AM

MAX

Cast

Olivia Newton-John	...	Kira
Gene Kelly	...	Danny McGuire
Michael Beck	...	Sonny Malone
James Sloyan	...	Simpson
Dimitra Arliss	...	Helen
Katie Hanley	...	Sandra
Fred McCarren	...	Richie
Ren Woods	...	Jo
Sandahl Bergman	...	Muse 1
Lynn Latham	...	Muse 2
Melinda Phelps	...	Muse 3
Cherise Bates	...	Muse 4
Juliette Marshall	...	Muse 5
Marilyn Tokuda	...	Muse 6
Yvette Van Voorhees	...	Muse 7

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (London premiere Print) | Dolby

Certification:

Austria:10 | Norway:10 | Colombia:12 | France:-12 | China:13 | Germany:6 | Denmark:7 | Australia:G | Ireland:PG | New Zealand:PG | Canada:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | USA:PG | Norway:7 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Despite the failure of the film at the box office, the soundtrack was an enormous success. The song "Magic" went to #1 on the U.S. pop singles chart.

Goofs:

Continuity: While pouring champagne at the end of a week of building Xanadu, Danny pours into Sonny's glass then goes to pour into his, when the camera switches mid sentence, Danny is filling Sonny's glass again.

Quotes:

Female Heavenly Voice: [after Kira's "Suspended in Time"] Maybe just one moment, darling.
Male Heavenly Voice: Well, maybe just one moment. Or forever. I keep getting them mixed up, too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Talk Derby to Me (#3.7)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Don't Walk Away

Not "good", but can be a great deal of fun!

I originally saw "Xanadu" when it was released in 1980. Gene Kelly was in it, so I had to see it. It didn't hurt that Michael Beck was in it as well. Wow - was I disappointed! I love musicals, especially Kelly's, and "Xanadu" really did not appeal to me - at all.

It really isn't a very good movie. It has almost no plot at all and no real antagonist. What little plot there is, I always felt was just lifted from "Down to Earth" (1947) with Rita Hayworth, and "Cover Girl" (1944) with Hayworth, and Gene Kelly (in which he also plays a character named Danny McGuire, which was a nice homage). The soundtrack is great though, and it is nice to see that Kelly can still dance.

Fast forward to 2006. I got a chance to see "Xanadu" again, on a big screen. Specifically, the wonderful Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The print was gorgeous, and the crowd, which filled the theatre almost to capacity, was incredible.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! The crowd really got into the movie and I just had a blast! What a great experience! The music is still great, and it was a really, really fun movie.

Anyway - "Xanadu" still isn't a "good" movie, but if you can see it under the right circumstances (ie., on a big screen with an audience) it is a great deal of fun.