Xanadu (Film)

Xanadu is an American musical film directed by Robert Greenwald. He appeared in 1980; its main characters are Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly.

Action

The film tells the story of a summer love romance between the young artist Sonny Malone ( Beck) and Kira ( Newton-John ), a temporarily into earthly existence called Muse.

Sonny paints enlarged album cover, which serve as shops advertising. On one of the covers he discovers a beautiful woman ( Newton-John ) who is recently met him in the park. In search of her he met the aging orchestral musician Danny McGuire ( Kelly). While Danny has lost his muse in the Big Band era of the eyes, Sonny has not yet found his.

On roller skates puts Sonny his search for the woman of the album cover on. He met her several times, the two fall in love, but the woman is out of her first name Kira nothing about themselves. You can help Sonny find for the now friendly with him Danny a building that can be converted into a dance hall. An old sports hall in the Art Deco style proves on closer inspection as a object of desire for this project and Danny wins Sonny as a business partner. The dance hall is given the name Xanadu on Kira's suggestion ( the name of the summer residence of Kublai Khan from a poem by Coleridge ).

Shortly before the opening of the premises admits Kira Sonny that she is a muse again and have to return to Helicon, the legendary place where she is at home. It overcomes her pain of separation and makes its announcement true. Sonny does not want to come to terms with the sudden loss of his dream girl looking at the roller skating for ways to see them again. By frontal heading toward a wall on which the Muses are represented, he is taken by Helikon. Zeus will not let his daughter go Kira; Mnemosyne tried to persuade him to allow the young woman a guest stay on earth at least.

As it seems, is set by Mnemosyne: The spectacular opening night of the dance hall Kira is the star in the middle of a glamorous roller skating show. At the height of it stands on a pedestal from which they eventually rising into the sky. Sonny, who has the show up to that observed delighted, shows depressed now. Could he have all just a dream? Danny tries to cheer him, and ordered him a drink. The waitress ( Newton-John ), he recognizes his muse Kira again.

Background

The film flopped at the box office; very successful, however, was the soundtrack with music from Olivia Newton -John and the Electric Light Orchestra. He sold the world 7 times platinum, making it one of the most successful film scores ever.

Awards

Xanadu awarded the 1981 Razzie Award ( Razzie ) for Robert Greenwald as worst director; he was also nominated in the categories " Worst Actor " (Michael Beck), " Worst Actress " ( Olivia Newton-John ), " Worst Song," " Worst Picture " and " Worst Screenplay ". In 2005 he was nominated for the special " Worst Musical of our first 25 years."

Reviews

" A mix of old Hollywood musical with a new sound and modern choreography, Phonstärken and light effects by Disco Style. Well staged, but burdened by penetrating Kitsch burglaries. "

" What Robert Greenwald has called staging in his screen debut, is not beyond organizational measures. This substance, which needs the magic merry rapture is, roughly woven. Jute instead of iridescent silk. No trace of atmosphere. The athletic dancers of advanced age, so Gene Kelly, looks downright chic midst of this spindly environment. At each local roller rink you can see more talented runner than the youthful troupe that mimics vibrancy here. "

" But, but! What other movie is already equipped with Olivia Newton-John as roller skating traveling light bulb? "

" [ ... ] The weak film to help the efforts of Gene Kelly and the songs of Electric Light Orchestra [ ... ] very little ' ( Score: 1 ½ stars = default). "

" [ ... ] If Olivia Newton -John and Michael Beck turn into a love scene abruptly in cartoon characters, their sweetness even Disney would have embarrassed the highlight of the kitschy imbecility is reached. And a low point in the history of musicals. "

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