Xanadu (1980)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Robert Greenwald

Writers:

Richard Christian Danus (writer)
Marc Reid Rubel (writer)

Release Date:

8 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The Music, The Film, A Place Where Dreams Come True. [UK]

Plot:

The story of a girl who makes dreams come true.

Plot Keywords:

Muse | Artist | Disco | Hollywood Sign | Reference To Errol Flynn

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Olivia Newton-John	...	Kira
Gene Kelly	...	Danny McGuire
Michael Beck	...	Sonny Malone
James Sloyan	...	Simpson
Dimitra Arliss	...	Helen
Katie Hanley	...	Sandra
Fred McCarren	...	Richie
Ren Woods	...	Jo
Sandahl Bergman	...	Muse 1
Lynn Latham	...	Muse 2
Melinda Phelps	...	Muse 3
Cherise Bates	...	Muse 4
Juliette Marshall	...	Muse 5
Marilyn Tokuda	...	Muse 6
Yvette Van Voorhees	...	Muse 7
Teri Beckerman	...	Muse 8
Marty Davis	...	Male Guard
Bebe Drake	...	Female Guard (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
Mickey McMeel	...	The Accountant
Aharon Ipalé	...	The Photographer
Lise Lang	...	Popcorn Girl / Xanadu Dancer
Melvin Jones	...	Big Al
Matt Lattanzi	...	Young Danny McGuire / Xanadu Dancer
Ira Newborn	...	40's Band Leader
Jo Ann Harris	...	40's Singer #1
Cindy Leake	...	40's Singer #2
Patty Keene	...	40's Singer #3
Fee Waybill	...	80's Rock Singer (as John 'Fee' Waybill)
Stephen Pearlman	...	Foreman
Church Ortiz	...	Worker #1
Randy T. Williams	...	Worker #2
David Tress	...	Nick
Madison Arnold	...	Vargas
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Male Heavenly Voice (voice)
Coral Browne	...	Female Heavenly Voice (voice)
Marla V. Langston	...	Dizzy Heights
Clyde J. Barrett	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cheryl Baxter	...	Xanadu Dancer
Hilary Beane	...	Xanadu Dancer
Annie Behringer	...	Xanadu Dancer
Judith Bernett	...	Xanadu Dancer
Teda Bracci	...	Xanadu Dancer
Ellen Cadwallader	...	Xanadu Dancer
Stelio Calagias	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lonny Carbajal	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Lonny Carabajal)
Hillary Carlip	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lynda Chase	...	Xanadu Dancer
Contessa Cohn	...	Xanadu Dancer
Derrick Cross	...	Xanadu Dancer
Gary Dion	...	Xanadu Dancer
Marisol García	...	Xanadu Dancer
Miranda Garrison	...	Xanadu Dancer
Sandy Gray	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jei Guerrero	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cheryl Hangland	...	Xanadu Dancer
Yolanda Hernandez	...	Xanadu Dancer
Susan Inouye	...	Xanadu Dancer
Veda Jackson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael James	...	Xanadu Dancer
Deborah Jenssen	...	Xanadu Dancer
Leroy Jones	...	Xanadu Dancer
Fred Kirby	...	Xanadu Dancer
Brenda Lee	...	Xanadu Dancer
Dale Leeche	...	Xanadu Dancer
Victoria Marisi	...	Xanadu Dancer
Yvette Matthews	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tykin Mikals	...	Xanadu Dancer
Glenn Nash	...	Xanadu Dancer
Christine Nazareth	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tim O'Brien	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jeff Osser	...	Xanadu Dancer
Shelley Pang	...	Xanadu Dancer
Sally Pansing	...	Xanadu Dancer
Arlette Patterson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Alan Peterson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Lena Pousette	...	Xanadu Dancer
Vic Prim	...	Xanadu Dancer
Melody Santangello	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Melody Santangelo)
Tony Selznick	...	Xanadu Dancer (as Tony Selesnick)
Kathy Singleton	...	Xanadu Dancer
Cindy Spooner	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Springer	...	Xanadu Dancer
Re Styles	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jim Thompson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Francisco Torres	...	Xanadu Dancer
Bobby Walker	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Watkins	...	Xanadu Dancer
Adria Wilson	...	Xanadu Dancer
Darcel Wynne	...	Xanadu Dancer
Noreen Xavier	...	Xanadu Dancer
Mark Ziebell	...	Xanadu Dancer
Tom Sachelle	...	Xanadu Dancer
Paul Sachelle	...	Xanadu Dancer
Kyle Hanford	...	Xanadu Dancer
Michael Donley	...	Xanadu Dancer
Robert Winters	...	Xanadu Dancer
Rick Anderson	...	Member of The Tubes
Michael Cotten	...	Member of The Tubes
Prairie Prince	...	Member of The Tubes
Bill Spooner	...	Member of The Tubes
Roger Steen	...	Member of The Tubes
Vince Welnick	...	Member of The Tubes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judith Burnett	...	Raven
Alex Cole	...	Xanadu Dancer
Debbie Fresh	...	Xanadu Dancer
Jack Lindine
Joe Mantegna	...	(scenes deleted)
Adolfo Quinones	...	Xanadu Dancer
Patrick Reynolds	...	Xanadu Dancer
The Tubes	...	Rock Band

Directed by
Robert Greenwald

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Christian Danus		writer
Marc Reid Rubel		writer

Produced by
Brendan Cahill	....	co-producer
Lawrence Gordon	....	producer
Lee Kramer	....	executive producer
Terence Nelson	....	associate producer (as Terry Nelson)
Joel Silver	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Barry De Vorzon

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Dennis Virkler

Production Design by
John W. Corso

Set Decoration by
Marc E. Meyer Jr.

Costume Design by
Bobbie Mannix

Makeup Department
Harry Blake	....	makeup artist
Martin Samuel	....	hair department head
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist
Craig Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Terence Nelson	....	unit production manager (as Terry Neslon)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Cosgrove	....	dga trainee
Dan Kolsrud	....	first assistant director
Lisa Marmon	....	second assistant director
Venita Ozols	....	second assistant director

Art Department
James F. Allen	....	assistant art director
Michael Casey	....	assistant property master
Glenn Forbes	....	set dresser
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Peter Lamppu	....	construction foreman
Peg McClellan	....	illustrator
Vic Petrotta Jr.	....	property master
Bert Rotter	....	stand-by painter
Marilyn Vance	....	artist

Sound Department
Milton C. Burrow	....	supervising sound editor
Walter A. Gest	....	sound re-recordist
Doc Goldstein	....	sound mix engineer
Robert Gravenor	....	sound mixer
Robert Gravenor	....	sound: Dolby stereo
William L. Manger	....	sound editor (as William Manger)
Thomas Meloeny	....	sound recordist (as Tom Meloeny)
Bill Nicholson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert A. Reich	....	sound editor
Jerry Rosenthal	....	sound editor
Douglas J. Schulman	....	playback operator
Douglas J. Schulman	....	utility sound
Mark Server	....	boom operator
Jerry Trent	....	choreo and dance foley
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects crew
Burt Dalton	....	special effects
Andy Evans	....	special effects (as Andy C. Evans)
Wayne Rose	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	animation designer: special visual effects unit (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Louis Goold	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit
Richard Greenberg	....	special visual effects
Robert M. Greenberg	....	special visual effects producer (as Robert Greenberg)
Joel Hynek	....	optical photography supervisor: special visual effects unit
Jeffrey Kleiser	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit
Dorse A. Lanpher	....	special effects: animation sequence unit
John Lindahl	....	animation camera operator: special visual effects unit
Liz Maihock	....	assistant animator: special visual effects unit
Carmen Oliver	....	color coordinator: animation sequence unit
Sandra Payne	....	assistant animator: special visual effects unit
Janos Pilenyi	....	layout artist: special visual effects unit (as Janos O. Pilenyi)
Larry Plastrik	....	additional optical supervisor: special visual effects unit
Larry Plastrik	....	visual effects editor
Mark Plastrik	....	animation camera operator: special visual effects unit
Ruth Smerek	....	visual effects editorial supervision
Kenneth Stytzer	....	animation design supervisor: special visual effects unit
James Szalapski	....	model photography: special visual effects unit (as Jim Szalapski)

Stunts
Eurlyne Epper	....	stunt double
Richard Epper	....	stunt double
Richard Epper	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam operator
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician
Gary Goldman	....	camera planning: animation sequence unit
Joe Jiuliano	....	animation camera operator: animation sequence unit
Stephen Johnstone	....	electrician
Joe Kelly	....	grip
David Morton	....	electrician
Michael Orefice	....	rigging gaffer
Louis Schwartzberg	....	time-lapse photographer
Bernie Schwartz	....	grip
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator (as Bob Thomas)
Richard Walden	....	additional assistant camera
Chuck Warren	....	animation camera operator: animation sequence unit
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Emmanuel Vouniozos	....	(on-set-technician (uncredited))

Animation Department
Don Bluth	....	animator: animation sequence unit
Jim Coleman	....	background artist: animation sequence unit
Lorna Cook	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit (as Lorna Pomeroy)
Fred Craig	....	production associate: animation sequence unit
Milton Gray	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Heidi Guedel	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Bruce Heller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Emily Jiuliano	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Skip Jones	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Dan Kuenster	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Diann Landau	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Linda Miller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Steven Muller	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit (as Steve Muller)
Vera Pacheco	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit (as Vera Law)
Dave Spafford	....	assistant animator: animation sequence unit
Olga Tarin-Craig	....	production associate: animation sequence unit (as Olga Craig)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Curtis	....	set costumer
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer
Mark Peterson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Lisa Day	....	first assistant editor
Tina Hirsch	....	additional editor
Dennis Michelson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Doreen A. Dixon	....	assistant music editor
Richard Hazard	....	orchestrator: Barry De Vorzon
David J. Holman	....	music recording & mixing
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Michael Tronick	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Frank Khoury	....	driver

Other crew
Bill Butler	....	technical assistance in skating sequences
Kathy De Armond	....	assistant: Carol Shapiro Jansen
Richard Greenberg	....	titles
Betty A. Griffin	....	script supervisor
Brendan Higgs	....	assistant: Jeff Lynne
Gus Hill	....	caterer
Judy Lynn	....	technical assistance in skating sequences
Judy Merl	....	assistant: Robert Greenwald
Kenny Ortega	....	choreographer
Alex Romero	....	assistant choreographer
Dana Sharpe	....	assistant: Olivia Newton-John
Jerry Trent	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• R/Greenberg Associates (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Don Bluth Productions  animation sequence
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Panavision  Panaflex cameras and lenses by
• R/Greenberg Associates  titles and opticals
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  post production sound services by

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (London premiere Print) | Dolby

Certification:

Austria:10 | Norway:10 | Colombia:12 | France:-12 | China:13 | Germany:6 | Denmark:7 | Australia:G | New Zealand:PG | Ireland:PG | Canada:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | USA:PG | Norway:7 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Olivia Newton-John turned down a role (which eventually was played by Valerie Perrine) in Can't Stop the Music (1980) to star in this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: In "Whenever You're Away From Me" Kira and Danny begin to dance in front of a large wall mirror, yet in the next shot it has completely vanished, and they are just dancing in front of a plain white wall.

Quotes:

Female Heavenly Voice: [after Kira's "Suspended in Time"] Maybe just one moment, darling.
Male Heavenly Voice: Well, maybe just one moment. Or forever. I keep getting them mixed up, too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Free Enterprise (1998)

Soundtrack:

Whenever You're Away From Me

Not "good", but can be a great deal of fun!

I originally saw "Xanadu" when it was released in 1980. Gene Kelly was in it, so I had to see it. It didn't hurt that Michael Beck was in it as well. Wow - was I disappointed! I love musicals, especially Kelly's, and "Xanadu" really did not appeal to me - at all.

It really isn't a very good movie. It has almost no plot at all and no real antagonist. What little plot there is, I always felt was just lifted from "Down to Earth" (1947) with Rita Hayworth, and "Cover Girl" (1944) with Hayworth, and Gene Kelly (in which he also plays a character named Danny McGuire, which was a nice homage). The soundtrack is great though, and it is nice to see that Kelly can still dance.

Fast forward to 2006. I got a chance to see "Xanadu" again, on a big screen. Specifically, the wonderful Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The print was gorgeous, and the crowd, which filled the theatre almost to capacity, was incredible.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! The crowd really got into the movie and I just had a blast! What a great experience! The music is still great, and it was a really, really fun movie.

Anyway - "Xanadu" still isn't a "good" movie, but if you can see it under the right circumstances (ie., on a big screen with an audience) it is a great deal of fun.