The first time I saw Gene Kelley was in that movie. Who can forget that scene, where Gene and the skater dude dreams collide. The big band merges with The Tubes, and they open a roller rink ballroom. Or Olivia Newton John looking all hot. It was such a cool movie, that it was in dollar cinemas by the third week!
OK, its pure camp, but I would have loved to see it on a documentary to him, so…
a small fuck you (this is the PIT) PBS.
An obligitory link I just found. To Xanadu, not to PBS.org. Buttmonkeys don’t even put Xanadu in GK’s documentary.
Even though I grew up in the 80’s I somehow managed to never see Xanadu. It was playing at a theatre near me just earlier this week so I went to see it (double featured with The Apple- now that’s a weird freakin’ movie!).
Before arriving at the theatre and checking out the poster in the lobby, I didn’t even know Gene Kelly was in it! His acting (in this movie) was horrible, his dancing was much too brief (it’s Gene Kelly ferchrissakes! let him dance!), but he still had that magic in his eyes, that likeable demeanor, and general charm- I was so glad he was in the movie!
He was so much better than Michael Beck, who played Sonny. The movie should have been about the muse inspiring Gene Kelly’s character not the young guy!
Yeah, I thought it was pretty ridiculous that ONJ’s character had inspired so many guys throughout history, and never fell in love with any of them until she met that feathered-haired loser.
“K - E - double-L Y,” as Nora Bayes used to sing.
(dope slapping Eve)
Not every thread is a cue for a recollection of some star of the Teens, dear.
Harumph! 
I can’t tell you how much I loved this movie as a child. I think it was probably my first exposure to Gene Kelly also. I think I need to see this movie again, if only to be horrified with my childhood taste!
Yes. Yes it is—and “that’s all there is, there isn’t any more,” as Ethel Barrymore used to say.
Ditto. We had just gotten cable and this was on one of the movie channels ALL THE TIME. I was only about nine years old, but I was so in love with Olivia Newton John.