Music and dance bring true magic to film Xanadu
By Scott Champion
In Xanadu did Kubla Kahn
A stately pleasure-dome decree,
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man.
Down to a sunless sea.
"Kubla Kahn" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Xanadu is a story of dreams, and the inspiration it takes to make us realize those dreams. In the movie of the same name, the dream is shared by an aspiring young artist and an old musician-turned-construction contractor. The inspiration is nothing less than a Greek goddess.
Olivia Newton-John, in a fairly good performance, plays one of the lead roles as the goddess Kira - one of the nine daughters of Zeus. The old contractor-musician, Danny Malone, is played by Gene Kelly and the aspiring artist, Sonny McGuire, is portrayed by Michael Beck.
At the start of the movie McGuire is an artist who has just failed a freelance effort and re-turned to his old job of enlarging record album covers for promotions. Malone is an aging musician who wants to have a nightclub of his own, as he did in the old days.
Kira is sent to inspire Malone and McGuire to combine their dreams and create the fabulous nightclub “Xanadu”.
The catch, which produces most of the plot, is Kira and McGuire’s love affair. Since Kira is a Muse (one of the nine mythological goddesses of literature and the arts and sciences) she must return to her eternal life. “Don’t you see,” she says, “Michelangelo has painted us; Beethoven has written sonnets for us. We’re not supposed to fall in love!”
Xanadu is not a movie to see if you’re looking for brilliant dialogue or Academy Award-winning acting. The aspect of this film that truly sets it apart from most released this summer is the music - performed by Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra and the choreography, a masterpiece in itself.
Xanadu is also a must for Gene Kelly fans, who can watch their hero dance and sing his way through the entire film as only a performer with his vast experience can.
Such hits as “Magic,” sung by Newton-John (written by John Farrar), the Electric Light Orchestra’s “I’m Alive,” (written by group member Jeff Lynne) and many others give this movie much of its true magic.
The dance scenes, which compose a good part of the film, in corporate everything from roller skating to slow dance. Choreographers Kenny Ortega and Jerry Trent deserve credit for their fine effort.
Xanadu is a film with appeal for almost everyone. The music ranges from Glenn Miller to the Tubes; scenes vary from huge modern dance masterpieces to animation. Although the transitions and writing are a bit silly at times, they are still fun.
This movie, along with her effort in Grease, reflect Newton-John’s flair for picking films destined to be big hits, even though they aren’t necessarily earth-shaking master-pieces. In many ways Grease and Xanadu are similar, both following the “boy and girl meet, boy and girl separate, boy and girl get back together and live happily ever after form.
The film, a Universal release, was produced by Joel Silver and Lee Kramer and directed by Robert Greenwald.
The movie soundtrack, which is well worth the money if you’re a Newton-John or Electric Light Orchestra fan, is available from MCA Records.