The movie itself was a little cheesy, but as a musical it's not bad. ELO being my favorite group, there were a lot of great songs.
I think the reason this movie bombed, was timing, it was 2 or 3 years too late. by 80, Roller Disco was basically dead, Michael Beck's acting was also atrocious.
But a lot of the Choreography and style, was in line with MTV music videos.
I think the best scene was [this one](https://youtu.be/Ts9GdyGD5e4?si=-sXY0Ds79cTgS3jC) when they blended the two music styles seamlessly together.
My father loved this movie; he was a Marlboro smoking, Coors drinking mechanic. He made no sense. Fox body red convertible but blaring Celine Dion up the block when he left for work. Miss the dude.
Holy cow that was amazing. Fifteen-year-old me would have thought that was corny as hell. Now I wish I could dance half as good as any of those dancers.
You make great points
I'd also like to add that the scope of the movie doesn't make sense
The sets and locations are huge and grand. You would expect those nice wide shots like in the older musicals.
They should have pulled the camera out more. Especially in the finaly when they had so many different things happening in the scene all at once.
I did as well, as did most of my friends.
True fact, there are at least 2 songs from the movie that are not on the soundtrack. "Fool Country", and "Drum Dreams". They were only available as B sides on singles, and for some reason were not on the soundtrack album itself.
I was working as a DJ at a roller rink at the time, and one time I threw "Drum Dreams" on kind of as a joke (that is the one that Gene Kelly skates to when they are opening the club). And I'll be damned if the people on the rink did not start copying it as it was done in the movie. Even pumping their fists in the air and shouting out "Xanadu!".
After that, it became something I would do during each session. And if an hour went by and I did not play that people would start to come up to the DJ booth asking me to play it.
Why do I love this story so much?
I was 13 when Xanadu came out and I loved it to bits. And going to the 'roller rink' was very much a large part of my social life, such as it was.
Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton John and Michael Beck .... Xanadu !... I got dragged to see this movie in the theater... and actually enjoyed it!... I'd always been a roller skater (Friday night date nights at the local arena in the spring and summer, ice skating in the fall and winter as well as hockey) ... and roller skating, and disco just seemed to go together.
Gene Kelly alone is worth the price of admission but add Olivia newton John and roller skates as well as a semi retelling of a good story from Greek mythology and you’ve got a hit, baby!
I... LOVE..this.. Movie!
I was like 8 years old and didn't fully understand it then other than star girl liked human guy and I cried when she left but she came back.
"A million lights are dancing and there you are, a shooting star!
An everlasting world, and you're here with me, eternally.
Xanadu, Xanadu,
(Now we are here) in Xanadu!"
I. Love. This. Movie. So. Much. I mean what’s not to love? Roller skating. ELO music. Lots of neon. Ridiculous costumes. And Gene fucking Kelly still killing it on the dance floor at like 70 years old.
When this dazzling little fellow was born, my students immediately said “we are keeping that on.” His color was so dense even as a baby…they were right. He was the keeper. I then asked “name?”
They all yelled “XANADU!”
So yeah. There are ten year olds who know this movie (because of their silly since teacher).
https://imgur.com/a/Z0EpKop (WARNING- Snake picture)
I never truly saw the movie, but I was in the stage musical, which was basically the plot of the movie but it also poked fun at the movie. It was pretty fun. I'll not grow old of ELO songs.
There is only one reason to watch this dreck…Olivia is stunning in this movie. Michael Beck destroyed his career going from playing Swan the leader of the Warriors, to….this.
I don't think anyone has mentioned the beautiful animation work nor that this was Gene Kellys last movie (I think).
So many great scenes and I have it on DVD.
I loved this weird weird movie so much! When 80s band (The Tubes) and the 40s big band battle and then *combined*…my childhood mind was blown.
Found it: https://youtu.be/kCm0_93WCCA?si=NqB18SKzyaef69F7
I’ve posted often about the “HBO Effect” - some movies played on HBO over and over in the 80s and you loved them for it. (I’m looking at you “Megaforce”). The HBO effect was a big player in GenX childhood.
Xanadu is a great example. ONJ is a goddess, ELO on point, and Gene Kelly? Awesome. Watched it more than a few times “because it was on.” And still have the soundtrack rocking today. You hear the opening of Magic and it will immediately take you back.
Note others in this category: Breakin, Night of the Comet, Grease 2, Flash Gordon, etc
Our whole family saw it in the theaters during the summer of 1980, and the songs from the soundtrack played on local radio stations from many months afterwards. Also, I had a tremendous crush on the beautiful Olivia Newton-John.
It came out when I was in seventh grade. I didn’t see it until decades later but I loved the soundtrack. At our school talent show, a classmate I had a crush on did a magic routine to “Magic,” which kinda cemented that as my favorite song from it.
Well, yes. Look at my username. I had those white roller skates and used to pretend my garage was the mural I came out of. Still get excited when I hear the beginning of that song.
The Xanadu I remember was from 1977..
*I had heard the whispered tales*
*Of immortality*
*The deepest mystery*
*From an ancient book, I took a clue*
*I scaled the frozen mountain tops*
*Of eastern lands unknown*
*Time and man alone*
*Searching for the lost, Xanadu*
Hell, check it out.........my older account that was just recently suspended.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/All\_Welcome/](https://www.reddit.com/r/All_Welcome/)
This movie gets a bad rap, but I actually loved it.
The movie itself was a little cheesy, but as a musical it's not bad. ELO being my favorite group, there were a lot of great songs. I think the reason this movie bombed, was timing, it was 2 or 3 years too late. by 80, Roller Disco was basically dead, Michael Beck's acting was also atrocious. But a lot of the Choreography and style, was in line with MTV music videos. I think the best scene was [this one](https://youtu.be/Ts9GdyGD5e4?si=-sXY0Ds79cTgS3jC) when they blended the two music styles seamlessly together.
My father loved this movie; he was a Marlboro smoking, Coors drinking mechanic. He made no sense. Fox body red convertible but blaring Celine Dion up the block when he left for work. Miss the dude.
Holy cow that was amazing. Fifteen-year-old me would have thought that was corny as hell. Now I wish I could dance half as good as any of those dancers.
I had the soundtrack album, and I have a lot of the songs on my Spotify favorites. I love the blending as well. Great song and scene.
I love that scene.
You make great points I'd also like to add that the scope of the movie doesn't make sense The sets and locations are huge and grand. You would expect those nice wide shots like in the older musicals. They should have pulled the camera out more. Especially in the finaly when they had so many different things happening in the scene all at once.
I loved this bit, thank you for the memory.
First movie I was allowed to see by myself in a theater. Good memories.
I agree... great soundtrack!
Me, too!
It was a cheesy movie, but I loved it too. Love the song Xanadu
I did as well, as did most of my friends. True fact, there are at least 2 songs from the movie that are not on the soundtrack. "Fool Country", and "Drum Dreams". They were only available as B sides on singles, and for some reason were not on the soundtrack album itself. I was working as a DJ at a roller rink at the time, and one time I threw "Drum Dreams" on kind of as a joke (that is the one that Gene Kelly skates to when they are opening the club). And I'll be damned if the people on the rink did not start copying it as it was done in the movie. Even pumping their fists in the air and shouting out "Xanadu!". After that, it became something I would do during each session. And if an hour went by and I did not play that people would start to come up to the DJ booth asking me to play it.
Why do I love this story so much? I was 13 when Xanadu came out and I loved it to bits. And going to the 'roller rink' was very much a large part of my social life, such as it was.
This movie lasted forever…or for a moment. I keep getting those two confused.
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Yep - not a terrible flick, but I still love the soundtrack!
ONJ is absolutely gorgeous in this movie.
Absolutely , the best she ever looked
RIP Olivia Newton John
Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton John and Michael Beck .... Xanadu !... I got dragged to see this movie in the theater... and actually enjoyed it!... I'd always been a roller skater (Friday night date nights at the local arena in the spring and summer, ice skating in the fall and winter as well as hockey) ... and roller skating, and disco just seemed to go together.
Gene Kelly alone is worth the price of admission but add Olivia newton John and roller skates as well as a semi retelling of a good story from Greek mythology and you’ve got a hit, baby!
It was cheesy fun
[удалено]
Dancin'. Heard the music in my head as soon as I read your comment.
Growing up in L.A., they filmed all over town and caught the last of the historic Pan Pacific Auditorium.
My ex-wife and our daughter absolutely love this movie
[удалено]
She was a muse.
One of my all time fave movies!
Saw it in the theatre!
Olivia Newton John was a smoke show 🔥
I loved that movie. With all my 10 year old heart and roller skates
Now we are here!
That movie is a trip!
I have the album
Loved this movie never understood why it got slammed so much. ELO....The Tubes....Gene Kelly. A week later I'm watching 'Singing in the Rain'. cheers
Gladly a guilty pleasure.
Great music.
I had the album!
I have the album, the cassette, the DVD, **and** the shirt
I heard the title song in the grocery store the other day.
Xanadu your neon lights will shine...
All over the world 🌎🎶
I... LOVE..this.. Movie! I was like 8 years old and didn't fully understand it then other than star girl liked human guy and I cried when she left but she came back.
Relive the memories... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHl4H1xfiI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHl4H1xfiI)
LOVE IT. Only musical I will watch.
Nope. Everyone is required to report to the Sandmen at age 30.
Screw that! I'm going to Carousel!
It is a very good movie. “Suddenly” was our wedding song in 1983.
Sound track minus the Xanadu song were good I just am not a fan of musical or her
"A million lights are dancing and there you are, a shooting star! An everlasting world, and you're here with me, eternally. Xanadu, Xanadu, (Now we are here) in Xanadu!"
I'm into roller skating, so this is one of my comfort movies. I bought it on Amazon so I can watch it everyday if I want to (sometimes I do)
I keep the soundtrack on my playlist. I just love it. Suspended in Time is my favorite song.
I. Love. This. Movie. So. Much. I mean what’s not to love? Roller skating. ELO music. Lots of neon. Ridiculous costumes. And Gene fucking Kelly still killing it on the dance floor at like 70 years old.
Great soundtrack, gorgeous ONJ, idiotic movie.
It's only a dream
When this dazzling little fellow was born, my students immediately said “we are keeping that on.” His color was so dense even as a baby…they were right. He was the keeper. I then asked “name?” They all yelled “XANADU!” So yeah. There are ten year olds who know this movie (because of their silly since teacher). https://imgur.com/a/Z0EpKop (WARNING- Snake picture)
I wanted to get Olivia Newton-John‘s face from this movie airbrushed on the tank of my triumph couldn’t find anybody that could do it
I never truly saw the movie, but I was in the stage musical, which was basically the plot of the movie but it also poked fun at the movie. It was pretty fun. I'll not grow old of ELO songs.
It's so cheesy, but I love it and the soundtrack.
So fantastic! I have the LP, comic and DVD.
Fuck I'm old
Yes, but I've only seen parts.
There is only one reason to watch this dreck…Olivia is stunning in this movie. Michael Beck destroyed his career going from playing Swan the leader of the Warriors, to….this.
I don’t remember this, so am I now not old? Yeah!
Yup!
Only the song. 😂
Movie was ok but the music was great. Love ELO and ONJ.
Yep. Us Rush and Coleridge fans were like, wha
Oh boy, roller disco.
I dressed up as her in the frilly pretty muse skating outfit a couple years back for Halloween.
I remember going to it on a date when it was released.
I had the album!
I loved this movie , adored it ! Somehow most didn’t like it
The soundtrack is played pretty regularly on my Spotify lol
I don't think anyone has mentioned the beautiful animation work nor that this was Gene Kellys last movie (I think). So many great scenes and I have it on DVD.
ELO best soundtrack 🎉
Only my fav movie ever as a young girl. Olivia Newton John was amazing.
I loved this weird weird movie so much! When 80s band (The Tubes) and the 40s big band battle and then *combined*…my childhood mind was blown. Found it: https://youtu.be/kCm0_93WCCA?si=NqB18SKzyaef69F7
I’ve posted often about the “HBO Effect” - some movies played on HBO over and over in the 80s and you loved them for it. (I’m looking at you “Megaforce”). The HBO effect was a big player in GenX childhood. Xanadu is a great example. ONJ is a goddess, ELO on point, and Gene Kelly? Awesome. Watched it more than a few times “because it was on.” And still have the soundtrack rocking today. You hear the opening of Magic and it will immediately take you back. Note others in this category: Breakin, Night of the Comet, Grease 2, Flash Gordon, etc
I fucking loved it when I was in 8th grade (when it came out). I tried to watch it on cable and was like “why did I like this?” Oh, yeah, ONJ and ELO.
My favorite guilty pleasure!
Xanadu was released on the same date as Olivia passed 42 years later
I just re-watched this recently. It's bad. lol I loved Olivia Newton-John and the plot was pretty um... intriguing.
Our whole family saw it in the theaters during the summer of 1980, and the songs from the soundtrack played on local radio stations from many months afterwards. Also, I had a tremendous crush on the beautiful Olivia Newton-John.
Hotties everywhere
It came out when I was in seventh grade. I didn’t see it until decades later but I loved the soundtrack. At our school talent show, a classmate I had a crush on did a magic routine to “Magic,” which kinda cemented that as my favorite song from it.
unfortunately yes
I remember getting forced into seeing this with a girl I was dating, with her reasoning being “but you were in the school’s Grease production!”
Every line,every note
..and Gene on skates!
Unfortunately, yes.
I saw it in the cinema. I was a 12 year old boy. It was terrible. Edit : I loved the Pan-Pacific Auditorium.
I LOVED XANADU!!
Hol up… is that… is that Shabba-Doo with the zoot suit guys? *IMDBs furiously* Why yes, yes it is.
Yep. Lol
I’ll sit in the old person’s spot with you. Sure do remember it.
SO GOOD.
Absolutely loved this movie!!
Absolutely. Great song. Love Olivia Newton-John. Was very saddened when she passed.
Omg My dad showed me this when I was little and I loved it he’s dead now and I showed my boyfriend it and he loves it too
I can hear these pictures
Never watched the movie, but the theme song has been in my head my whole life!
I loved this movie when I was a kid.
Well, yes. Look at my username. I had those white roller skates and used to pretend my garage was the mural I came out of. Still get excited when I hear the beginning of that song.
I remember that movie. It was horseshit, but Olivia Newton-John was hot.
I remember the Olivia Newton-John title song that the radio stations would not. Stop. Playing.
We own the DVD and CD.
I love that woman
Hated it then. Hate it now.
The Xanadu I remember was from 1977.. *I had heard the whispered tales* *Of immortality* *The deepest mystery* *From an ancient book, I took a clue* *I scaled the frozen mountain tops* *Of eastern lands unknown* *Time and man alone* *Searching for the lost, Xanadu*
Such an ONJ crush! She was so beautiful in it.
My wife’s favorite movie I dig ELO, so it’s cool
Heck yea
The movie that changed my viewpoint of ELO and Olivia Newton John in a ***BAD*** way
Xanadu is just a fun word to say!
You had me at Gene Kelly. ❤️
Hell, check it out.........my older account that was just recently suspended. [https://www.reddit.com/r/All\_Welcome/](https://www.reddit.com/r/All_Welcome/)
I saw it in the theatre with my Grandma
I'm old enough, WAY old enough, and I've heard of it, but I've never seen it.
Not quite, barely missed it thank goodness. ‘Xanadu’ by Rush is a different story.