Gene Kelly in Xanadu - Story

Translation from Dutch:

Hollywood veteran Gene Kelly (68) makes a great comeback in the latest musical film sensation Xanadu. But he has his daughter to thank for his return to the silver screen...

I actually only took that role in Xanadu to please my daughter, Bridget, confesses Gene Kelly. “When it turned out Olivia Newton-John was going to play the lead, the kid nagged me. My daughter is a huge fan of the Grease star, and the prospect of becoming best friends with Olivia on the set seemed like the perfect opportunity for her.”

Gene’s hesitation about appearing in that big-budget musical came as no surprise to anyone. Twenty years earlier, he had given up on the once-popular film genre. At the height of his career, he suddenly disappeared from the scene. Gene Kelly understood that the golden age of the musical film was over, and he didn’t want to fall from his pedestal.

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

Because his daughter wanted it so badly, Gene Kelly returned to the genre that had made him world famous. On the condition, however, that he didn't have to dance or sing.

During the filming, the legendary dancer was carried away by Olivia Newton-John's enthusiasm. Eventually, he gave in, with the result that we see Gene dancing again in Xanadu. You can't really call it real dancing, he says very modestly. I move my arms and legs, but it's not at all serious. And as for roller skating, it's just like riding a bicycle. Once you get the hang of it, you never forget. I let the children do most of the dancing. But it was an incredible experience. I never thought I'd be able to experience it all again.

Xanadu is a magical word that means something like, the biggest dream of your life. We all run after a dream, but what is Mister Kelly's Xanadu?

For myself, I don't want anything more, Gene answers without hesitation, but I want to make my children as happy as possible.

Since his wife died of blood cancer in 1973, Gene Kelly has been raising his two children, Tim (18) and Bridget (15), all by himself. For seven years now, he has been both their father and mother. But it is an incredibly difficult task.

Jeanne died in my arms, ​​says Kelly with a trembling voice, and I knew that no one could replace her. But the heart is a lonely hunter, and for a few months now I have been in a stable relationship with the ex-wife of singer Tony Bennett. Whether I ever marry her depends entirely on my children. They must decide for themselves whether Sandi will become their second mother. They'll get along just fine, and I think it will work out. I suppose Jeanne would have wanted it that way, too.

Gene Kelly does everything for his children. They've also influenced his career. In recent years, he hasn't taken on films that require him to be away from home for extended periods.

I've always made sure I was home when my children came home from school. Honestly, I can't imagine anything scarier than children coming to an empty house. They want to express their emotions of the day, and I've always tried to accommodate them as best I could. It's quite possible that I'll make a film in Europe next year, but I only do that if the shooting takes place during the holiday months. That way I can take my children with me.

For many years, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were mentioned in the same breath as everything Hollywood had to offer in terms of shows. Does he see a worthy successor in the current generation?

John Travolta, of course! He has the most potential as an actor-singer-dancer. But the question is whether he will continue to make the effort to perfect himself. Travolta has to practice daily to maintain the level expected of him. The life of a dancer is a constant battle against the clock and against age. A dancer has so little time. It is a life of complete dedication, and I doubt whether Travolta can muster that self-discipline. I sincerely hope so, because he is a very talented boy.

Gene Kelly may be 68 years old, but in his heart burns the fire of eternal youth. He will forever remain associated with the exciting world of Hollywood, where the most exciting dreams still come true. Xanadu is further proof of that.