Today in Folding Laundry Theater, a special gift from the gods, as it were, AND it was actually on at 4:30. XANADU, from 1980, starring Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly.
To summarize, Olivia plays "Kira", a magical sprite in legwarmers, be-ribboned barrettes, and occasionally roller skates, who descends from a mural at the end of a alley in Santa Monica to inspire the dreams of Sonny, played by Michael Beck (perfect feathered hair). She's a muse (and daughter of Zeus), and therefore not meant to fall in love and stick around on Earth. He's employed by a record company to paint the giant blow-ups of album covers to hang outside Tower (there seems to be an entire staff of artists thus employed). Apparently his dream is to team up with Danny McGuire (GENE KELLY) to open up a fantastic nightclub. Called Xanadu. "Kira" is really Terpsichore, the muse of dance, which I guess makes sense because people will be dancing at a nightclub? Don't think about it too hard.
Did I mention much of the music is by E.L.O.? You put together E.L.O. and Olivia Newton-John and you have some deliciously cheesy and delightfully magical songs. Like "Magic". The soundtrack actually did better than the film, with a double platinum album and five hit singles. Yes, I checked Wikipedia.
Also thrilling are special effects simulating neon lights, outlining Kira and others as they zip off to Mount Olympus (or where ever), which seem to me now to be a direct precursor to the visual style of "Tron".
This might be my favorite bad movie ever. It's a musical, it's got Gene Kelly, E.L.O., O. N.-J., neon, art deco, legwarmers, rollerskates, animation, dream sequences. I just don't know what more this girl could ask for. It has just the right touch of absolute lunacy, and yet an air of innocence. I mean, nobody ever really bought O.N.-J. as the bad girl, right?
Other random things that are awesome about Xanadu-
- The Tubes appear in a fantasy musical sequence (aren't they all). Remember the Tubes?
- Olivia Newton-John gets to dance with Gene Kelly, damn her.
- Sony and Kira turn into goldfish and songbirds in a romantic animated sequence by Don Bluth.
- Gene Kelly has a fashion montage as Sonny and Kira help him pick out an outfit with enough "glitz" for the big nightclub opening. Set to "All Over the World", one of the best, most roller-disco-iest E.L.O. songs. And he dances inside a giant pinball machine.
- O. N.-J. has five costume changes in the final musical number, from 1930's satin tap pants, to tiger-striped lame', to fringed jacket and cowboy hat, to outer-space disco goddess, to off the shoulder silk with leg warmers.
I think this movie must be among required viewing for designers and staff at American Apparel. Sonny even wears a hoodie with white drawstring and white zipper. Looks like he bought it yesterday. Or tomorrow. And lots of bodysuits. And legwarmers.
I loved this movie when I was 9. I betcha it doesn't hold up so well now. I do recall that the Andy Gibb lookalike dude had the most '70s job ever: album cover airbrush artist!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the business proposal for Xanadu? A nightclub based in a cavernous art deco building that takes up an entire city block, that employs dozens of swing dancers, break dancers, roller boogie skaters, and Solid Gold dancers and two tightrope walkers. Were the fire eaters and mimes off on opening night?
Cocaine.