Xanadu (1980)

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:

1980s | Pinball | Big Band | Ballroom | 1940s

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

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
Teri Beckerman	...	Muse 8
Marty Davis	...	Male Guard
Bebe Drake	...	Female Guard (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
Mickey McMeel	...	The Accountant
Aharon Ipalé	...	The Photographer
Lise Lang	...	Popcorn Girl / Xanadu Dancer
Melvin Jones	...	Big Al
Matt Lattanzi	...	Young Danny McGuire / Xanadu Dancer
Ira Newborn	...	40's Band Leader
Jo Ann Harris	...	40's Singer #1
Cindy Leake	...	40's Singer #2
Patty Keene	...	40's Singer #3
Fee Waybill	...	80's Rock Singer (as John 'Fee' Waybill [rock group])
Stephen Pearlman	...	Foreman
Church Ortiz	...	Worker #1
Randy T. Williams	...	Worker #2
David Tress	...	Nick
Madison Arnold	...	Vargas
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Male Heavenly Voice (voice)
Coral Browne	...	Female Heavenly Voice (voice)
Marla V. Langston	...	Dizzy Heights
Clyde J. Barrett	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cheryl Baxter	...	Xanadu Dancer
Hilary Beane	...	Xanadu Dancer
Annie Behringer	...	Xanadu Dancer
Judith Bernett	...	Xanadu Dancer
Teda Bracci	...	Xanadu Dancer
Ellen Cadwallader	...	Xanadu Dancer
Stelio Calagias	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lonny Carbajal	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Lonny Carabajal)
Hillary Carlip	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lynda Chase	...	Xanadu Dancer
Contessa Cohn	...	Xanadu Dancer
Derrick Cross	...	Xanadu Dancer
Gary Dion	...	Xanadu Dancer
Marisol García	...	Xanadu Dancer
Miranda Garrison	...	Xanadu Dancer
Sandy Gray	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jei Guerrero	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cheryl Hangland	...	Xanadu Dancer
Yolanda Hernandez	...	Xanadu Dancer
Susan Inouye	...	Xanadu Dancer
Veda Jackson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael James	...	Xanadu Dancer
Deborah Jenssen	...	Xanadu Dancer
Leroy Jones	...	Xanadu Dancer
Fred Kirby	...	Xanadu Dancer
Brenda Lee	...	Xanadu Dancer
Dale Leeche	...	Xanadu Dancer
Victoria Marisi	...	Xanadu Dancer
Yvette Matthews	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tykin Mikals	...	Xanadu Dancer
Glenn Nash	...	Xanadu Dancer
Christine Nazareth	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tim O'Brien	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jeff Osser	...	Xanadu Dancer
Shelley Pang	...	Xanadu Dancer
Sally Pansing	...	Xanadu Dancer
Arlette Patterson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Alan Peterson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lena Pousette	...	Xanadu Dancer
Vic Prim	...	Xanadu Dancer
Melody Santangello	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Melody Santangelo)
Tony Selznick	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Tony Selesnick)
Kathy Singleton	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cindy Spooner	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Springer	...	Xanadu Dancer
Re Styles	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jim Thompson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Francisco Torres	...	Xanadu Dancer
Bobby Walker	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Watkins	...	Xanadu Dancer
Adria Wilson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Darcel Wynne	...	Xanadu Dancer
Noreen Xavier	...	Xanadu Dancer
Mark Ziebell	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tom Sachelle	...	Xanadu Dancer
Paul Sachelle	...	Xanadu Dancer
Kyle Hanford	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Donley	...	Xanadu Dancer
Robert Winters	...	Xanadu Dancer
Rick Anderson	...	Member of The Tubes
Michael Cotten	...	Member of The Tubes
Prairie Prince	...	Member of The Tubes
Bill Spooner	...	Member of The Tubes
Roger Steen	...	Member of The Tubes
Vince Welnick	...	Member of The Tubes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judith Burnett	...	Raven
Debbie Fresh	...	Actress / Skater Performer
Jack Lindine
Joe Mantegna	...	(scenes deleted)
Adolfo Quinones	...	Xanadu Dancer
The Tubes	...	Rock Band
Patrick Reynolds	...	Dance sequence (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Greenwald

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Christian Danus		writer
Marc Reid Rubel		writer

Produced by
Brendan Cahill	....	co-producer
Lawrence Gordon	....	producer
Lee Kramer	....	executive producer
Terence Nelson	....	associate producer (as Terry Nelson)
Joel Silver	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Barry De Vorzon

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Dennis Virkler

Production Design by
John W. Corso

Set Decoration by
Marc E. Meyer Jr.

Costume Design by
Bobbie Mannix

Makeup Department
Harry Blake	....	makeup artist
Martin Samuel	....	hair department head
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist
Craig Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Terence Nelson	....	unit production manager (as Terry Neslon)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Cosgrove	....	dga trainee
Dan Kolsrud	....	first assistant director
Lisa Marmon	....	second assistant director
Venita Ozols	....	second assistant director

Art Department
James F. Allen	....	assistant art director
Michael Casey	....	assistant property master
Glenn Forbes	....	set dresser
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Peter Lamppu	....	construction foreman
Peg McClellan	....	illustrator
Carmen Oliver	....	color coordinator: animation sequence unit
Bert Rotter	....	stand-by painter
Marilyn Vance	....	artist

Sound Department
Milton C. Burrow	....	supervising sound editor
Walter A. Gest	....	sound re-recordist
Doc Goldstein	....	sound mix engineer
Robert Gravenor	....	sound mixer
Robert Gravenor	....	sound: Dolby stereo
William L. Manger	....	sound editor (as William Manger)
Thomas Meloeny	....	sound recordist (as Tom Meloeny)
Bill Nicholson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert A. Reich	....	sound editor
Jerry Rosenthal	....	sound editor
Douglas J. Schulman	....	playback operator
Douglas J. Schulman	....	utility sound
Mark Server	....	boom operator
Jerry Trent	....	choreo and dance foley
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects crew
Burt Dalton	....	special effects
Andy Evans	....	special effects (as Andy C. Evans)
Dorse A. Lanpher	....	special effects: animation sequence unit
Wayne Rose	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	animation designer: special visual effects unit (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Louis Goold	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit
Richard Greenberg	....	special visual effects
Robert M. Greenberg	....	special visual effects producer (as Robert Greenberg)
Joel Hynek	....	optical photography supervisor: special visual effects unit
Jeffrey Kleiser	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit
John Lindahl	....	animation camera operator: special visual effects unit
Liz Maihock	....	assistant animator: special visual effects unit
Sandra Payne	....	assistant animator: special visual effects unit
Janos Pilenyi	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit (as Janos O. Pilenyi)
Larry Plastrik	....	additional optical supervisor: special visual effects unit
Larry Plastrik	....	visual effects editor
Mark Plastrik	....	animation camera operator: special visual effects unit
Ruth Smerek	....	visual effects editorial supervision
Kenneth Stytzer	....	animation design supervisor: special visual effects unit
James Szalapski	....	model photography: special visual effects unit (as Jim Szalapski)

Stunts
Eurlyne Epper	....	stunt double
Richard Epper	....	stunt double
Richard Epper	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Garrett Brown	....	steadicam operator
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician
Gary Goldman	....	camera planning: animation sequence unit
Joe Jiuliano	....	animation camera operator: animation sequence unit
Stephen Johnstone	....	electrician
Joe Kelly	....	grip
David Morton	....	electrician
Michael Orefice	....	rigging gaffer
Louis Schwartzberg	....	time-lapse photographer
Bernie Schwartz	....	grip
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator (as Bob Thomas)
Richard Walden	....	additional assistant camera
Chuck Warren	....	animation camera operator: animation sequence unit
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Don Bluth	....	animator: animation sequence unit
Jim Coleman	....	background artist: animation sequence unit
Lorna Cook	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit (as Lorna Pomeroy)
Fred Craig	....	production associate: animation sequence unit
Milton Gray	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Heidi Guedel	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Bruce Heller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Emily Jiuliano	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Skip Jones	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Dan Kuenster	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Diann Landau	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Linda Miller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Steve Muller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Vera Pacheco	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit (as Vera Law)
Dave Spafford	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Olga Tarin-Craig	....	production associate: animation sequence unit (as Olga Craig)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Curtis	....	set costumer
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer
Mark Peterson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Lisa Day	....	first assistant editor
Doreen A. Dixon	....	assistant editor
Tina Hirsch	....	additional editor
Dennis Michelson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Richard Hazard	....	orchestrator: Barry De Vorzon
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Michael Tronick	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Frank Khoury	....	driver

Other crew
Bill Butler	....	technical assistance in skating sequences
Kathy De Armond	....	assistant: Carol Shapiro Jansen
Richard Greenberg	....	titles
Betty A. Griffin	....	script supervisor
Brendan Higgs	....	assistant: Jeff Lynne
Gus Hill	....	caterer
Judy Lynn	....	technical assistance in skating sequences
Judy Merl	....	assistant: Robert Greenwald
Kenny Ortega	....	choreographer
Alex Romero	....	assistant choreographer
Dana Sharpe	....	assistant: Olivia Newton-John
Jerry Trent	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CBS Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• R/Greenberg Associates (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Don Bluth Productions  animation sequence
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Panavision  Panaflex cameras and lenses by
• R/Greenberg Associates  titles and opticals
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  post production sound services by

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:

Ireland:PG | Brazil:Livre | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:PG | Colombia:12 | Norway:10 | France:-12 | Germany:6 | Austria:10 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | China:13 | Denmark:7 | Philippines:PG-13 | 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:

Olivia Newton-John fractured her coccyx while filming the dance sequence "Suddenly".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Sonny discovers Kira skating on the floor of the Xanadu building, he calls "You!" from the balcony above. Kira's repartee is "Me," which she says as her face is set towards the ground. Immediately after, she looks up at Sonny and can be seen silently mouthing the same line.

Quotes:

Kira: In Xanadu, did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree...
Danny McGuire: "Where Alph, the sacred river, ran through caverns measureless to man, down to a sunless sea." Yes, Xanadu.
Kira: I'm Kira.
Danny McGuire: Yes, Kira. But...
Kira: But?
Danny McGuire: Don't I know you?
Kira: I don't think so.
Danny McGuire: Are you sure? Because...
Kira: Because?
Danny McGuire: Never mind.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "It Takes Two: Series 3 Grand Final (#3.10)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Don't Walk Away

Give XANADU a Chance!

XANADU is one of the most critically and commercially panned films in Hollywood history, a 'Nouveau Art' musical with Art Deco themes, a weirdly conceived animated interlude, and performances of such widely varying caliber that a viewer might wonder if the actors were all reading from the same script! But all that being said, I would like to offer a minority opinion, and say that I didn't find the film THAT terrible, and there are some aspects of it I actually enjoyed...

First and foremost, it offers the legendary Gene Kelly, in his last musical, as charming and wonderful as ever. As retired musician/businessman Danny McGuire, Kelly has the film's best moments, including a 'classic' song-and-dance scene with Olivia Newton-John and some silly but endearing 'post-disco' routines with the talented young dancers of the cast (including future CONAN star Sandahl Bergman). Seeing him on roller-skates again, leading everyone around the club he builds, to the music of the Electric Light Orchestra, makes one realize just how irreplaceable he is. Kelly could do it all, and with style!

The premise of the film, of a Muse coming from Olympus to inspire an artist, is far-fetched, but had been done on film several times in the past (ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, with Ava Gardner and Robert Walker, and DOWN TO EARTH, with Rita Hayworth, are the examples most often cited), and while Olivia Newton-John is oddly cast in the role, she tackles it gamely, with a smile and a wink, and isn't THAT bad. On the other hand, Michael Beck, best-known as the gang leader in cliched but powerful THE WARRIORS, is totally miscast as the artist she falls in love with. An actor with limited range and no singing or dancing talent, Beck lacks the charisma to pull off the role (one wonders why British pop star Cliff Richard, who voices Beck's animated duet with Newton-John, 'Suddenly', wasn't utilized to play the part).

While the film often veers off in bizarre directions, the 'Battle of the Bands' scene between popular 80s rockers, the Tubes, and a 'Tommy Dorsey/WWII'-style orchestra (as Beck and Kelly envision what the 'look' and 'sound' of their club, XANADU, should be), actually works, and is fun to watch. The entire score, by Barry De Vorzon and John Farrar, and Jeff Lynne (with ELO) is terrific (and made the soundtrack album a hit).

Sure, the ending is hokey, but it was also the same ending of ONE TOUCH OF VENUS and DOWN TO EARTH, so XANADU can't be totally faulted!

All in all, XANADU isn't the WORST film ever made, and if you give it a chance, you might find it a guilty pleasure!