Confessions time. I first saw this film in the theater in 1980 when my best friend turned 13. It was the highlight of our celebration, as was singing along to the soundtrack when we got home. Believe me, we really got into it!
Let's be honest. Xanadu is no Academy Award winner and it doesn't pretend to be. It's an attempt at a musical that's somewhat successful thanks to Olivia Newton-John and Jeff Lynn's ELO. Listen to most of the songs today and you can definitely still enjoy them. How Gene Kelly got hooked into this is beyond me but he looks like he's having a good time.
The concept is pretty simple. Painter Sonny (Michael Beck) teams up with Gene Kelly to open up Xanadu, a "radical" new club with the best of the old and new. Add into the mix Kyra (OJN), a Greek muse who comes along to make the dream come true. She's gorgeous, can dance, sing and probably make julienne fries. Naturally, Sonny's in love with her and soon, the trouble arises. Kyra, as a muse, can't hang out on earth with mortals forever. She has to go on to her next mission (dreamer).
Okay, so Beck is a somewhat lame hero. But when we were 13, we bought into it. And the angst, love and music were all a teen could want. The one scene we all loved was when the Glenn Miller-era musicians/dancers met up with the oh-so-rad rockers.
Of course, seeing it as a 35-year-old woman, I groan to look at the fashions we were ga-ga for then (esp. the velour tops on the men). The roller boogie aspect is particularly shaming but at the time, it was indeed all the rage. But you know, it brings back some good memories and the songs stand up today pretty well.
Xanadu is a guilty pleasure I indulge in now and then like Ben and Jerry's. And my best friend is still my best friend! We both love Xanadu.
