One of the best musical fantasies ever created. I truly believed that if it had premiered a year earlier than it did it would've been a massive hit, but cult classic is a nice title to have.
See she didn't die she just finished her task and went back home with her sisters to await the next time she is needed. She will always be here and a part of us all.
Just for a moment, imagine how long it must have taken to paint the Muses' "glow" onto each frame...BY HAND! This film was released in 1980, meaning well before the emergence of CGI. I remember reading a special fan magazine for the film in which there was an article detailing how this particular scene was filmed...and that is how they achieved the effects.
Citation needed. I want to read that magazine article. Can you remember the name of that magazine? It can't have been by hand (That's Rotoscoping). They performed in front of a blue or green screen to produce a matte (silhouette) and the glow was made from the boundary between the light and dark areas. When one dancer passes in front of another there's no boundary there to glow because they're BOTH in front of the screen.
@jsl151850b Apologies, but I cannot remember the name of the company which published this magazine or specifically what it was called. My guess is that if there any any copies still in existence, they're either in the hands of collectors or (even more likely) hidden away and forgotten in an attic or basement somewhere. I'm aware that the scene with the Muses was created using a blue screen -- this was also covered in the article. In fact, each one of the Muses had to be filmed *individually* in front of the blue screen in order to pull off the effect of the painted version becoming the live-action version. For obvious reasons, once they were "off the wall", the dancers no longer needed to be filmed individually. However, I distinctly remember the article stating that the "glow" was added in after the filming and was not a result of the filming. To whatever degree that it was the result of rotoscoping, the artist only had to draw a frame around each dancer's body. I think the most likely reason why they didn't draw the glow around any parts of the bodies crossing those of another dancer is because that would have made the visuals too messy. Let me direct your attention to 3:39 in which we see Kira approaching Sonny for the first time with a yellow glow surrounding her (I imagine that the reason why the glow was pink before and is now yellow is one of those questions we're not supposed to ask!) This shot is obviously not in front of a blue screen and therefore it cannot be what you implied -- it can only have been hand-drawn around her in every frame.
I love how the sisters are all different ethnicities!! Muses coming to life before our eyes! I know a lot of people may find this movie corny but it really is so unappreciated! You have Olivia Newton John looking as GORGEOUS as she ever has! You have her amazing voice singing these awesome songs, AND you have ELO who made this movie even more MAGICAL!!
i dun care its a nice feel good movie in a way i love the start where she skates up to him kisses him thn skates away the look on his face is priceless :)
I watched this as a child with my parents and the incredible music and the idea of goddesses coming to life from a mural really appealed to my imagination, the impact this movie had on me is still fresh in my memory years later.
Rest in peace, Olivia Newton-John. Our favorite muse returned home this morning at the age of 73 after living with cancer for 30 years. Condolences go out to her husband "Amazon" John and her daughter Chloe.
God I can't believe she's gone!! I'm a 54 year old man, and this breaks my heart to tears. I had a HUGE crush on her since the very first time I saw her on Grease when it first came out. She was so perfect. A transcending angelic voice, incredible beauty that could never be matched. She really did make this world a better place. We love you Olivia!! 😢
I'm a 50 year old woman. I so loved watching her in movies and listening to her records and songs on the radio. I think I drove my Mom and dad nuts singing the songs.
I'm 51 and my first crush was Olivia. My first girlfriend was a cute blonde girl I knew since first grade. She's stil cute now that we're old. Her name was Gidget. I still think about her from time to time.
I love this scene because you see how much they all love the mortal realm and being in it. They love to be a part if it. Breathing the air, their senses are in overload and they just can't contain their joy.
At least as I interpreted it, the Muses are goddesses of inspiration...and it's difficult to either inspire other or be inspired yourself when you're feeling ambivalent or depressed or tired. They're probably excited to have an opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which they were created...especially since Kira's reaction when she's released from the mural suggests that she and her sisters actually don't get to be corporeal very often.
@@OreadNYC That's exactly what they are. The Muses come to Earth very often to help inspire people. I wish the movie had showcased the rest of them more.
One of my all-time favourites as a child was watching Xanadu. Imagining that one day you could be like ONJ; actress, singer, dancer, beautiful inside & out. This should never have bombed out at the box office - it was another masterpiece by Olivia. Rest In Peace now, you fought so bravely for three decades, you've more than earned your wings, but you will be so very missed 💔
I will love this movie forever. I was 11 when It came out - my mother took me to see it in the movie theater. I was a rollerskating fanatic at the time, and wore those barrettes with the ribbons. I wanted so bad to have a collection of dresses like Kira and the muses. As an adult, I own the soundtrack and VHS. I remember they screened this at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood for the 30th anniversary and I went to see it...I had this song played at the beginning of my wedding reception while everyone was being seated.
I was a little older, I paid to see this in the theater. The film has just two saving graces. One, it would be unwatchable without ELO's soundtrack. It grounds the film and provides a consistent atmosphere. And it had Olivia Newton John. You can't look away from her. RIP, sweet and beautiful angel.
my favorite scene in the movie. I was entranced. Despite not being a good film it has lived on in the hearts of many. We're still talking about it all these years later, and not just because Olivia passed. This "bad" movie became a hit Tony nominated musical too and the soundtrack was a smash.
By any means this is a bad film. It's a fantasy musical with excellent music and dancing. Shame that so many narrow-minded people with bad taste couldn't understand what this film was about.
Oh my God, those barrettes she’s wearing…my friends and I used to make them in every possible color combination. I remember bugging my mom to go to the fabric store again and again to get more of those little skinny ribbons. Olivia is glorious, and this movie, although bizarre, was really a feast for the eyes.
I keep forgetting just HOW beautiful she was, then i see a clip like this and it hits me like a ton of bricks., She was beautiful as a person as well. Just lovely lovely lovely
RIP Olivia Newton-John :-( I was in Ireland in 2017 on a business trip and heard she had just performed there and I missed it. As soon as I got home, I heard she was launching a tour in the US. The first concert was in my hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas. How awesome! It was a lifelong dream to hear her sing. I'm happy I got to hear her sing! She is so beautiful!
This movie was made for dreamers just for them and for me. The music, one of the best at that time, the effects the colors. This movie screamed the beginning of the new decade. The decade that defined everything. The decade that stoned the beauty, fantasy, wishes, dreams. The decade that I was so happy and still for being a teenager. Was the the time when you can make from impossible to POSSIBLE. I wanna go back to those times. Thank you for posting this
I still have wonderful memories of this movie and this takes me back to a better, innocent time. It would have done better had it come right on the heels of Grease, but I suppose it did (movies took forever to get made back then). By 1980, disco was dying/dead, but rollerskating was still huge and our roller rink was a bit like Xanadu. I will never understand the people who despise a movie about love and dreams. There's so much to like in this movie -- always has been one of my guilty pleasures. And Olivia was smoking hot in this movie -- and so were the Muses. Sandahl Bergman dancing at 1:58 still gets my blood boiling every time I see her. Just an amazing, talented woman in her own right. I wish she had done more movies. As the one professional/competitive dancer in this clip, you can see how she inspires and leads the other models.
@@bryanchandler3486 exactly. And it takes a stab at styles that haven’t quite been defined at the time. You can see influences of disco, punk, electronica, pop-n-lock/breakdancing, early metal, and notes of big band/swing. You can even see transitioning hairstyles and clothing.
There are many reasons to love Xanadu (Olivia, ELO, the Soundtrack, the innocence at its heart), but it is a disaster as a film. The script and storyline are poorly developed. A director and editor can do wonders with limited material and just didn't in this case. The script writers and director had no idea how to develop a character-driven narrative (whereas Grease had a simple narrative that also delivered memorable characterizations and songs, by comparison). The 2007-8 Broadway musical satire did a much better job of telling the story by adding "villain" muses and making the whole thing a celebration of the disco-fied Greek mythology. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot about Xanadu -- I have listened to the Xanadu soundtrack and its songs regularly since its release (I have the vinyl, cassette, CD, and even a 45 single of Magic) -- but it is a painful film to sit through whenever Olivia is *not* on screen singing.
Jeff would be a great one for Dolly Parton to make a rock album with. Besides bringing Olivia into the progressive rock world he was the mastermind behind The Traveling Wilberies. I think a collaboration between Jeff and Dolly would be Xanadu level of musical brilliance.
This movie was always my guilty pleasure. The music and dance is wonderful and Olivia, gorgeous as ever. I think it was perhaps not the right fit for its time but as a fantasy musical, it's original and unique, and has become somewhat of a cult classic now.
Definitely the most underrated music sound track of any movie. All concerned were at the top of their game, even Gene Kelly and show any other movie ever made when the biggest group of the day had FIVE hit songs in it.
Are you speaking about "Saturday Night Fever" when the Bee Gees had tons of hits on that soundtrack? For the movie "Xanadu", ELO had nothing to do with the songs "Magic" and "Suddenly" - both big hits for Olivia Newton-John and both written and produced by her longtime record producer and songwriter, John Farrar.
@Haven SMM Umn, no. There were four hits from both Saturday Night Fever and Grease and both movies, had their share of turkeys. Xanadu had five and would have had more if not for the critics as every song from it was good but then again, E.L.O. and OlIvia had five songs each. Olivia was also the number one artist for movie hit songs being the main singer in both Grease and Xanadu as well as in five other movies. She also had history's biggest selling song with "Physical" which was only overtaken by "Thriller".
@@murrayleewilson0755 Okay, I thought you were talking about one group having 5 songs from one Soundtrack and that would be the Bee Gees, since there were 5 singles from Saturday Night Fever and all were written and produced by the Bee Gees. The first 4 all went to #1 and I guess it depends if you consider “More Than a Woman” a hit. How Deep is Your Love Stayin’ Alive Night Fever If I Can’t Have You More Than a Woman Yes, Xanadu had 5 hits, but only 3 were written and produced by ELO. The other two were written and produced by John Farrar. I am very familiar with Olivia's discography. And as much as I love ONJ and her huge hit "Physical" which spent 10 weeks at number 1, it was not history's biggest selling song, nor was it overtaken by Thriller. Off the Thriller album, Beat It and Billie Jean were much bigger selling hit songs. Actually "You're the One That I Want" is listed as one of the best selling songs of all time.
@@murrayleewilson0755 The soundtrack was also part of their orginal plan what with the 80s take on a Big Band Musical movie. That said the sountrack was to be split 60/40 for ONJ and ELO which is mostly true with ELO having 4 songs, and ONJ 6 but Dancin' definitely had the Tubes playing 1/2 of that mashup but is credited to ONJ.
@marcisikoff I see. Actually, as good as Iluvia and E.L.O. were, I think that there is one other band that would have been brilliant for songs in a movie like these ones and that would be K.C. And The Sunshine Band. For this movie, E.L.O. was still the best pick because I think that they're the best band at singing a song with other artists but K.C. And The Sunshine Band would still be brilliant at both more up-tempo, fun songs and the slower, more serious ones such as their later hit, Please Don't Go. It's such a shame that their songs weren't on the one movie the same way. The Bee Gees were credited with making disco popular but that's wrong. What really made disco explode was K.C. And The Sunshine Band's song, "That's The Way. People went absolutely crazy over that song, largely because of it's opening, Joyful line but also because of the rhythmic, canting style disco beat. The Bee Gees first semi disco song, I don't consider it disco actually, was their song "Jive Talking" which came just before. Up until then, you still had some song's such as "Born To Be Alive" but people's reaction to "That's The Way" was just crazy. Everyone just lived the opening and they couldn't help chanting along with the "That's the way. Un huh uh huh lyrics Catchy doesn't begin to say it, more like driven. The only other song that I've ever seen that got people going so much was Blondie's "Heart Of Glass.
You're already a more well-rounded person than many folks in your age range...and you'll only improve on that, as long as you keep that sense of nostalgia. ;) I'm not so sure it's nostalgia, though...I think a person can only have nostalgia for times or experiences that they've had, themselves. I think what you have is an affinity for the 80s! that's great! i entered junior high in 1980, so for me, the 80s were all about pop culture -- and enjoying it, 80s teen-style! :)
Una de las mejores canciones de la ELO...Me maravilló la primera vez que escuché la canción en el verano de 1980 y lo sigue haciendo...OBRA MAESTRA!!!...
I wonder how many people realize that this is a remake to the sequel to a well-known film. Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Xanadu (1980) are remakes of Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941) and it's sequel Down to Earth (1947) which somehow makes Xanadu sort of a sequel to Heaven Can Wait...
Landed here because of Olivia Newton John's recent passing. Beautiful, talented woman. She will be missed. I also appreciate that in 1980, the muses were diverse!
I can’t believe Olivia is gone. This song and movie brings back so many memories of roller skating in my basement pretending I was her. RIP icon Olivia. You were my idol. Heaven gained a beautiful angel. ❤️
I believe the fourth Muse to step out of the painting is Sandahl Bergman. That's definitely her at 1:57. I've had a crush on her for over 30 years, having seen in movies like Conan The Barbarian and Hell Comes To Frogtown, and also a great episode of Hart To Hart, where she plays a scuba diving assassin. I didn't realize she was in thsi movie until I saw it again a few years ago, and spotted her name in the closing credits. I never knew she was a dancer also. I had to go back to this sequence and watch it slow motion.
I am so thankful to my mom for showing me all of the great music and movies from her time while I was growing up. Sad to see so many people my age and younger dismiss the classics.
RIP beautiful Queen Olivia (Kira!) My dad took 6 year old me to the theater to see this movie - I think because he had a crush on you, sweet Olivia lol! Thank you for being such a positive ray of beauty and sunshine in my childhood. You fought a good fight, now rest in paradise. We will all miss you so much 😞
😪Today we have lost Miss Olivia Newton John. What an exquisite voice! Kira, you will be forever loved, Sandy, we will forever be hopelessly devoted to you! Thank you Miss Olivia!!❤ May you rest in peace!!😪❤
I was 7 y.o. when Xanadu came out, this scene when the muses come to life impressed me so much that I still remember it vividly. And obviously I became one among the thousands who fell in love with Olivia NJ.
I know this movie got horrible reviews, but my daughter and I loved Xanadu, this was one of my favorite scenes, I also got to see ELO a few years back for the first time, it was amazing. My daughter loved Gene Kelly and I had the biggest crush on Michael Beck.
Muses from left to right in the mural: Marilyn Tokuda, Debbie Fresh, Juliet Marshall, Cherise Bates, Olivia Newton-John, Sandahl Bergman, Yvette van Voorhees, Lynn Latham , Teri Beckerman. (Trivial brain)
Do you know why Debbie Fresh's replacement for the finale, Melinda Phelps, was given screen credit, instead of her? Seems strange, considering Debbie is more prominently featured in the wall sequence.
Such joyful dancing! Terrific choreography, and yes, muses from all sorts of ethnicities. And Olivia makes roller blading along the seafront look pretty good, too!
Just……… pure magic I watched this movie 44 years ago when I was a kid (12) The music, the dancers, the costumes, the choreographers……… This movie puts me in other dimension ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I always look for odd stuff about movie and music stars after they pass away, this scene where she "come alive" as a ghost(sort of) on the day she died, movie came out on the same day 1980. Creepy odd.
Some other fun facts: Juliette Marshall (Third from left - First one to come to life) was Miranda's attorney in Mrs. Doubtfire. Marilyn Tokuda (First from left) is still acting today. Debbie Fresh (Second from left) appears only in this scene. She had to drop out of the production and was replaced by Melinda Phelps
Matches RIGHT UP with a Caffiene-POT trip, I'M AUTOMATICALLY CERTAIN! LOL. Gene Kelly passed on in 1989- the same year as Lucille ball... Olivia's with them now- I look forward to in hopefully at least another *_*whopping 38 years from now-_** to see them in concert, in the clouds, with my passed mother.
I went to the glow along for this movie in 2020 before COVID and then a couple years ago at the Alamo Drafthouse and it was an absolutely amazing experience.
I had just got out of High School in 1980 and I wanted to be an artist. This inspired me to believe it was possible regardless of all the circumstances against me. 40 years later. I'm a live Artist. Thank you Beautiful Angelic Muse. Olivia Newton John. RIP.
Me too! and I was Kira for Halloween that year but no one knew who I was supposed to be during trick-or-treating 🎃 😂 I had to keep explaining it! I was also sooo mad at my brother because he didn’t want to shine a flashlight 🔦 behind me skating. Hahaha!!!
As a boy who was in 5th grade at the time, I really liked that look on the girls. And it was magical to go to our local skating rink and hear this music. Great times!
How many here recognize Sandahl Bergman in there? She's the fourth muse to come to life (the one that does the high kick after "awakening"). If you recognize the name, you've probably watched Conan (1982) or Red Sonja movies.
Of course, the question we're not supposed to ask is... Why is it that Olivia Newton-John is supposed to be portraying Terpsichore (the Muse of Dance) -- especially since Sandahl Bergman is obviously the true dancer in this lineup! -- when she really ought to be Euterpe (the Muse of Song)? Later in the film, when Kira reveals who she really is to Sonny, she tries to tell him that "Kira" is actually not her real name. She says "my real name is T-" and that's when Sonny stops her. There were only two Muses whose names began with T -- Terpsichore (dance) and Thalia (comedy) -- and it's obvious that she's not Thalia, or else Xanadu would have been a comedy club.
My mother and I used to watch this and when ahe passed away i always play this song and/or watch this film to remember the good time, seriously everyone be happy to be alive and appreciate this gem of a musical and ONJ!
Kissed by a Muse; Xanadu is just a so-so movie, but the soundtrack is glorious and ONJ was so beautiful in it as well----RIP, see you on the other side.
For me it is a masterpiece. Making a movie and bringing together Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton John and the Electric Light Orchestra was magical. ❤
(overflowing can not speak)
Don’t forget Andy Gibb!
I was just thinking this sounds like Electric Lights Orchestra!
@@paulflack5033 That was NOT Anydy Gibbs. Sorry bud
@@Tealyz Oh, so you figured out it IS ELO?
I don't care what anyone says. This is a masterpiece. Thinking about you Olivia.😢
❤ one of the best movies ever made👍
She will be dearly missed by so many fans who were touched by her music and her beauty.
She made it a masterpiece
One of the best musical fantasies ever created. I truly believed that if it had premiered a year earlier than it did it would've been a massive hit, but cult classic is a nice title to have.
@@Ciclopea2 100% YOU ARE CORRECT!!
See she didn't die she just finished her task and went back home with her sisters to await the next time she is needed. She will always be here and a part of us all.
I needed to read that. Thank you.
Great comment, thank you. She was ... is ... a Muse.
Overheard in the overhead... "Now we are here... in Xanadu!"
I’m not crying; you’re crying ❤
It did amaze me that she went back home on the 42nd anniversary of the movie's premiere.
Just for a moment, imagine how long it must have taken to paint the Muses' "glow" onto each frame...BY HAND! This film was released in 1980, meaning well before the emergence of CGI. I remember reading a special fan magazine for the film in which there was an article detailing how this particular scene was filmed...and that is how they achieved the effects.
Citation needed. I want to read that magazine article. Can you remember the name of that magazine?
It can't have been by hand (That's Rotoscoping). They performed in front of a blue or green screen to produce a matte (silhouette) and the glow was made from
the boundary between the light and dark areas. When one dancer passes in front of another there's no boundary there to glow because they're BOTH in front of the screen.
@jsl151850b Apologies, but I cannot remember the name of the company which published this magazine or specifically what it was called. My guess is that if there any any copies still in existence, they're either in the hands of collectors or (even more likely) hidden away and forgotten in an attic or basement somewhere.
I'm aware that the scene with the Muses was created using a blue screen -- this was also covered in the article. In fact, each one of the Muses had to be filmed *individually* in front of the blue screen in order to pull off the effect of the painted version becoming the live-action version. For obvious reasons, once they were "off the wall", the dancers no longer needed to be filmed individually. However, I distinctly remember the article stating that the "glow" was added in after the filming and was not a result of the filming. To whatever degree that it was the result of rotoscoping, the artist only had to draw a frame around each dancer's body. I think the most likely reason why they didn't draw the glow around any parts of the bodies crossing those of another dancer is because that would have made the visuals too messy.
Let me direct your attention to 3:39 in which we see Kira approaching Sonny for the first time with a yellow glow surrounding her (I imagine that the reason why the glow was pink before and is now yellow is one of those questions we're not supposed to ask!) This shot is obviously not in front of a blue screen and therefore it cannot be what you implied -- it can only have been hand-drawn around her in every frame.
@@jsl151850b Agreed. also, too clean. Green screen.
They were awesome
Like Tron, pretty much.
I love how the sisters are all different ethnicities!! Muses coming to life before our eyes! I know a lot of people may find this movie corny but it really is so unappreciated! You have Olivia Newton John looking as GORGEOUS as she ever has! You have her amazing voice singing these awesome songs, AND you have ELO who made this movie even more MAGICAL!!
i dun care its a nice feel good movie in a way i love the start where she skates up to him kisses him thn skates away the look on his face is priceless :)
Top 10 soundtracks of all time
I watched this as a child with my parents and the incredible music and the idea of goddesses coming to life from a mural really appealed to my imagination, the impact this movie had on me is still fresh in my memory years later.
Truly a under rated film with Olivia Elton John in her prime and Gene Kelly final film.
A feel good musical fantasy. Ah... The early 1980's.
Rest in peace, Olivia Newton-John. Our favorite muse returned home this morning at the age of 73 after living with cancer for 30 years. Condolences go out to her husband "Amazon" John and her daughter Chloe.
Well said. She was a beautiful soul.
The world is a little less bright without her beauty and her grace.
She passed away 42 years after the release of Xanadu.
Sadly It Took Both OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AND DONNA SUMMER!!
Back then, after watching this movie, every girl wanted those ribbons in her hair and roller skates. If you lived back then, you know what I mean.
Yep! I had the rollerskates, leg warmers, ribbons in my hair LOL it was probably a hot mess and I loved it
i was born in 92 and i still want this whole aesthetic hahaha
That's a whole other vibe that breaths happiness
@@nicholediaz340 The early 80s were a happy time indeed.
sooooo true 💗😇⚘️💕❤️
SHE WAS A LEGEND!! R.I.P. OLIVIA!!😎🔥🔥🎥🤜🤛👍👍💐💐😘🤗🕊🕊🙏🥰
God I can't believe she's gone!! I'm a 54 year old man, and this breaks my heart to tears. I had a HUGE crush on her since the very first time I saw her on Grease when it first came out. She was so perfect. A transcending angelic voice, incredible beauty that could never be matched. She really did make this world a better place. We love you Olivia!! 😢
Me too. Her and Jane Seymour
@@bobmarsh8357 somewhere in time
I'm a 50 year old woman. I so loved watching her in movies and listening to her records and songs on the radio. I think I drove my Mom and dad nuts singing the songs.
I'm 51 and my first crush was Olivia. My first girlfriend was a cute blonde girl I knew since first grade. She's stil cute now that we're old. Her name was Gidget. I still think about her from time to time.
I love this song and scene so much. And it's nice to know that Jeff Lynne thought Xanadu was one of his greatest musical achievements.
I love this scene because you see how much they all love the mortal realm and being in it. They love to be a part if it. Breathing the air, their senses are in overload and they just can't contain their joy.
At least as I interpreted it, the Muses are goddesses of inspiration...and it's difficult to either inspire other or be inspired yourself when you're feeling ambivalent or depressed or tired. They're probably excited to have an opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which they were created...especially since Kira's reaction when she's released from the mural suggests that she and her sisters actually don't get to be corporeal very often.
Nice to see y’all under the muse enchantment 😊
Awe I never thought of this scene that way. You have great perception thanks for sharing❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
😊
@@OreadNYC That's exactly what they are. The Muses come to Earth very often to help inspire people. I wish the movie had showcased the rest of them more.
One of my all-time favourites as a child was watching Xanadu. Imagining that one day you could be like ONJ; actress, singer, dancer, beautiful inside & out. This should never have bombed out at the box office - it was another masterpiece by Olivia. Rest In Peace now, you fought so bravely for three decades, you've more than earned your wings, but you will be so very missed 💔
I will love this movie forever. I was 11 when It came out - my mother took me to see it in the movie theater. I was a rollerskating fanatic at the time, and wore those barrettes with the ribbons. I wanted so bad to have a collection of dresses like Kira and the muses. As an adult, I own the soundtrack and VHS. I remember they screened this at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood for the 30th anniversary and I went to see it...I had this song played at the beginning of my wedding reception while everyone was being seated.
I was a little older, I paid to see this in the theater. The film has just two saving graces. One, it would be unwatchable without ELO's soundtrack. It grounds the film and provides a consistent atmosphere. And it had Olivia Newton John. You can't look away from her. RIP, sweet and beautiful angel.
my favorite scene in the movie. I was entranced. Despite not being a good film it has lived on in the hearts of many. We're still talking about it all these years later, and not just because Olivia passed. This "bad" movie became a hit Tony nominated musical too and the soundtrack was a smash.
I saw the show on Broadway years ago and loved it! And the movie is amazing in my mind 🙂
What makes this movie bad?
@@manawizard It’s rather cheesy and the dialogue isn’t great but I loved it!
By any means this is a bad film. It's a fantasy musical with excellent music and dancing. Shame that so many narrow-minded people with bad taste couldn't understand what this film was about.
Oh my God, those barrettes she’s wearing…my friends and I used to make them in every possible color combination. I remember bugging my mom to go to the fabric store again and again to get more of those little skinny ribbons. Olivia is glorious, and this movie, although bizarre, was really a feast for the eyes.
Olivia Newton John is just so beautiful!!! I have loved her since the 70’s.
I keep forgetting just HOW beautiful she was, then i see a clip like this and it hits me like a ton of bricks., She was beautiful as a person as well. Just lovely lovely lovely
Man, if I could only go back to 1980! Not to rule the world, but to relive this awesome incredible time to be ALIVE!
The 80s were so awesome. No wonder we get nostalgic 🥰
If you find a way. I'll come. I truly truly miss the 80s
I was 10 when this movie came out. Didn’t see it in theaters but it played on HBO constantly. This is my favorite scene in the entire movie 😊
Save me a ticket!..... PLEASE 🙏
Can I come too?
This isn't the only part of the movie that gives me real chills...
She literally is the most precious human being without bows and with bows she’s more precious.
These effects must have been ground breaking for 1980
cutting edge!!!
They were bad lol
The Empire Strikes Back came out the same year. So. . .yeah, even for 1980, they were pretty cheesy, LOL.
They were - believe me, I was 20 years old then 😁
Actually, it was hand rotoscoped animation. A very old film technique.
RIP Olivia Newton-John :-( I was in Ireland in 2017 on a business trip and heard she had just performed there and I missed it. As soon as I got home, I heard she was launching a tour in the US. The first concert was in my hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas. How awesome! It was a lifelong dream to hear her sing. I'm happy I got to hear her sing! She is so beautiful!
That's awesome! I'm glad the timing worked out.
Love her! Love ELO! Used to pretend to be Kira roller dancing down in my basement.
I used to rollerblade near Santa Monica hoping someone would run into me and kiss me.
Haha, when I wasn't pretending to be Stevie Nicks I was Kira 😀
I first saw Xanadu at 4. This scene made me become a dancer. I love you now and forever, my beloved Olivia.
I always loved Olivia Newton John/music films...I even need my daughter Kira after her playingnim film love it all ..music is brilliant in this film.
this should be included in next Garudians of Galaxy movie
Omg yessssss
Get that petition going, I'll sign it.
Hell yeah.
This movie was made for dreamers just for them and for me.
The music, one of the best at that time, the effects the colors.
This movie screamed the beginning of the new decade. The decade that defined everything. The decade that stoned the beauty, fantasy, wishes, dreams.
The decade that I was so happy and still for being a teenager.
Was the the time when you can make from impossible to POSSIBLE.
I wanna go back to those times.
Thank you for posting this
I still have wonderful memories of this movie and this takes me back to a better, innocent time. It would have done better had it come right on the heels of Grease, but I suppose it did (movies took forever to get made back then). By 1980, disco was dying/dead, but rollerskating was still huge and our roller rink was a bit like Xanadu. I will never understand the people who despise a movie about love and dreams. There's so much to like in this movie -- always has been one of my guilty pleasures. And Olivia was smoking hot in this movie -- and so were the Muses.
Sandahl Bergman dancing at 1:58 still gets my blood boiling every time I see her. Just an amazing, talented woman in her own right. I wish she had done more movies. As the one professional/competitive dancer in this clip, you can see how she inspires and leads the other models.
It's so liminal cause it references both the dying 70s and the coming 80s.
@@bryanchandler3486 exactly. And it takes a stab at styles that haven’t quite been defined at the time. You can see influences of disco, punk, electronica, pop-n-lock/breakdancing, early metal, and notes of big band/swing. You can even see transitioning hairstyles and clothing.
There are many reasons to love Xanadu (Olivia, ELO, the Soundtrack, the innocence at its heart), but it is a disaster as a film. The script and storyline are poorly developed. A director and editor can do wonders with limited material and just didn't in this case. The script writers and director had no idea how to develop a character-driven narrative (whereas Grease had a simple narrative that also delivered memorable characterizations and songs, by comparison). The 2007-8 Broadway musical satire did a much better job of telling the story by adding "villain" muses and making the whole thing a celebration of the disco-fied Greek mythology.
Don't get me wrong, I love a lot about Xanadu -- I have listened to the Xanadu soundtrack and its songs regularly since its release (I have the vinyl, cassette, CD, and even a 45 single of Magic) -- but it is a painful film to sit through whenever Olivia is *not* on screen singing.
One of my late Grandfathers favourite songs and movies... Rest In Peace Grandad!! Love and miss you everyday
My sister and I loved watching this when we were little girls.
R.I.P Olivia and thank you for everything ❤
Same with me and my sister. We wear flowy dresses and run around the house pretending we were muses lol
Rest in peace, Olivia Newton John. Still the best movie opening ever.
This scene was genius and beautiful . Everything about it
Jeff Lynn was a true genius! Love the entire soundtrack of Xanadu.
Check out The Move some time, his previous band with Roy Wood, who also has a fantastic solo album called Mustard!
IS a real genius, he is still alive
Jeff would be a great one for Dolly Parton to make a rock album with. Besides bringing Olivia into the progressive rock world he was the mastermind behind The Traveling Wilberies. I think a collaboration between Jeff and Dolly would be Xanadu level of musical brilliance.
@@artxxx7832 Yes he is...and a babe and a half
John Farrar is also a genius.
This movie was always my guilty pleasure. The music and dance is wonderful and Olivia, gorgeous as ever. I think it was perhaps not the right fit for its time but as a fantasy musical, it's original and unique, and has become somewhat of a cult classic now.
Definitely the most underrated music sound track of any movie. All concerned were at the top of their game, even Gene Kelly and show any other movie ever made when the biggest group of the day had FIVE hit songs in it.
Are you speaking about "Saturday Night Fever" when the Bee Gees had tons of hits on that soundtrack? For the movie "Xanadu", ELO had nothing to do with the songs "Magic" and "Suddenly" - both big hits for Olivia Newton-John and both written and produced by her longtime record producer and songwriter, John Farrar.
@Haven SMM Umn, no. There were four hits from both Saturday Night Fever and Grease and both movies, had their share of turkeys. Xanadu had five and would have had more if not for the critics as every song from it was good but then again, E.L.O. and OlIvia had five songs each.
Olivia was also the number one artist for movie hit songs being the main singer in both Grease and Xanadu as well as in five other movies.
She also had history's biggest selling song with "Physical" which was only overtaken by "Thriller".
@@murrayleewilson0755 Okay, I thought you were talking about one group having 5 songs from one Soundtrack and that would be the Bee Gees, since there were 5 singles from Saturday Night Fever and all were written and produced by the Bee Gees. The first 4 all went to #1 and I guess it depends if you consider “More Than a Woman” a hit.
How Deep is Your Love
Stayin’ Alive
Night Fever
If I Can’t Have You
More Than a Woman
Yes, Xanadu had 5 hits, but only 3 were written and produced by ELO. The other two were written and produced by John Farrar. I am very familiar with Olivia's discography. And as much as I love ONJ and her huge hit "Physical" which spent 10 weeks at number 1, it was not history's biggest selling song, nor was it overtaken by Thriller. Off the Thriller album, Beat It and Billie Jean were much bigger selling hit songs. Actually "You're the One That I Want" is listed as one of the best selling songs of all time.
@@murrayleewilson0755 The soundtrack was also part of their orginal plan what with the 80s take on a Big Band Musical movie. That said the sountrack was to be split 60/40 for ONJ and ELO which is mostly true with ELO having 4 songs, and ONJ 6 but Dancin' definitely had the Tubes playing 1/2 of that mashup but is credited to ONJ.
@marcisikoff I see. Actually, as good as Iluvia and E.L.O. were, I think that there is one other band that would have been brilliant for songs in a movie like these ones and that would be K.C. And The Sunshine Band.
For this movie, E.L.O. was still the best pick because I think that they're the best band at singing a song with other artists but K.C. And The Sunshine Band would still be brilliant at both more up-tempo, fun songs and the slower, more serious ones such as their later hit, Please Don't Go.
It's such a shame that their songs weren't on the one movie the same way. The Bee Gees were credited with making disco popular but that's wrong.
What really made disco explode was K.C. And The Sunshine Band's song, "That's The Way. People went absolutely crazy over that song, largely because of it's opening, Joyful line but also because of the rhythmic, canting style disco beat.
The Bee Gees first semi disco song, I don't consider it disco actually, was their song "Jive Talking" which came just before.
Up until then, you still had some song's such as "Born To Be Alive" but people's reaction to "That's The Way" was just crazy. Everyone just lived the opening and they couldn't help chanting along with the "That's the way. Un huh uh huh lyrics
Catchy doesn't begin to say it, more like driven. The only other song that I've ever seen that got people going so much was Blondie's "Heart Of Glass.
I was born in 1993; I’m more nostalgic about the 80s than I am my own childhood!
You know the 80s were awesome when people who weren’t even a pet of them are nostalgic for them. I lived through them and miss them
@@romanlegion2621 Indeed! :)
xanadu 1980
You're already a more well-rounded person than many folks in your age range...and you'll only improve on that, as long as you keep that sense of nostalgia. ;)
I'm not so sure it's nostalgia, though...I think a person can only have nostalgia for times or experiences that they've had, themselves.
I think what you have is an affinity for the 80s! that's great! i entered junior high in 1980, so for me, the 80s were all about pop culture -- and enjoying it, 80s teen-style! :)
Born in 1975...I lived the entire decade as a child...I miss it so much...
“I’m Alive” nice choice of song. I love Electric Light Orchestra!
Una de las mejores canciones de la ELO...Me maravilló la primera vez que escuché la canción en el verano de 1980 y lo sigue haciendo...OBRA MAESTRA!!!...
4th one to start is def the best dancer. 2nd woman to "awake" is GORGEOUS! Olivia can't dance but always the cutest! :)
You are alive Miss Olivia, and no more cancer, enjoy your new journey, you'll be with your loved ones again someday 😇
I wonder how many people realize that this is a remake to the sequel to a well-known film. Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Xanadu (1980) are remakes of Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941) and it's sequel Down to Earth (1947) which somehow makes Xanadu sort of a sequel to Heaven Can Wait...
I don't see any of that at all. I have seen all of those films.
Landed here because of Olivia Newton John's recent passing. Beautiful, talented woman. She will be missed. I also appreciate that in 1980, the muses were diverse!
I can’t believe Olivia is gone. This song and movie brings back so many memories of roller skating in my basement pretending I was her. RIP icon Olivia. You were my idol. Heaven gained a beautiful angel. ❤️
I pretended I was her as well. I was fascinated with the whole Xanadu concept.
Rest in peace, Olivia Newton John. You were a special light to this world.
I remember dancing to this with my sisters in the living room. We would turn it up so loud. Those memories….😂❤😊
nice to see i'm not the only person who came to view this particular clip on this sad day. rest in peace lovely olivia.
Timeless still. Time doesn’t exist in Xanadu, wish this movie had more appreciation. The soundtrack is 🔥
I believe the fourth Muse to step out of the painting is Sandahl Bergman. That's definitely her at 1:57. I've had a crush on her for over 30 years, having seen in movies like Conan The Barbarian and Hell Comes To Frogtown, and also a great episode of Hart To Hart, where she plays a scuba diving assassin. I didn't realize she was in thsi movie until I saw it again a few years ago, and spotted her name in the closing credits. I never knew she was a dancer also. I had to go back to this sequence and watch it slow motion.
VALERIA! ❤❤❤
Jeff Lynne has an incredible voice and talent.
My favorite scene. Pretty impressive for before CGI.
How could you not like this. Beautiful ladies and great music by ELO.
That smile - a million watts - unforgettable
Always thought this part was so magical when I was little. They just don't make fun movies like this anymore.
I am so thankful to my mom for showing me all of the great music and movies from her time while I was growing up. Sad to see so many people my age and younger dismiss the classics.
I'm often amazed when younger people hear the original songs. And don't realize that some songs of today contain snipits of older music.🎼
RIP beautiful Queen Olivia (Kira!) My dad took 6 year old me to the theater to see this movie - I think because he had a crush on you, sweet Olivia lol! Thank you for being such a positive ray of beauty and sunshine in my childhood. You fought a good fight, now rest in paradise. We will all miss you so much 😞
I just found out ONJ died & my heart is broken! Definitely need to watch this now.
Впервые увидел мюзикл в 2024 году, и уже на раз пересматриваю клипы оттуда. Явно недооцененная, красивая сказка, такого качества не хватает.
Loved the movie and soundtrack, my parents played it a lot growing up. This music and movie are underappreciated!
RIP Olivia Newton-John. You won't be forgotten for a very long time.
Es una película muy hermosa y no lo voy a discutir con nadie. Olivia, buen viaje 👋. XANADU!! 👏👏👏⛸️⛸️👏👏👏
My Dad passed today. As a child he put ONJ movies on for me, as my name is also Olivia. I loved Xanadu. Best childhood memories. RIP Dad
Rest in peace Dame Olivia Newton-John! Will cherish your music and movies forever.
Descansa en paz Olivia Newton John.. mi idolo y una de las mejores cantantes que para mi han existido ..😭
Así es, de las más talentosas, bellas y dulces estrellas... ahora brillará en el firmamento 🌟
QEPD 🙌🏽
😪Today we have lost Miss Olivia Newton John. What an exquisite voice! Kira, you will be forever loved, Sandy, we will forever be hopelessly devoted to you! Thank you Miss Olivia!!❤ May you rest in peace!!😪❤
I was 7 y.o. when Xanadu came out, this scene when the muses come to life impressed me so much that I still remember it vividly. And obviously I became one among the thousands who fell in love with Olivia NJ.
I know this movie got horrible reviews, but my daughter and I loved Xanadu, this was one of my favorite scenes, I also got to see ELO a few years back for the first time, it was amazing. My daughter loved Gene Kelly and I had the biggest crush on Michael Beck.
A shout out to Jeff Lynne! On the ELO greatest hits album, he included the song, 'XANADO' sung by Olivia
Muses from left to right in the mural: Marilyn Tokuda, Debbie Fresh, Juliet Marshall, Cherise Bates, Olivia Newton-John, Sandahl Bergman, Yvette van Voorhees, Lynn Latham , Teri Beckerman. (Trivial brain)
Do you know why Debbie Fresh's replacement for the finale, Melinda Phelps, was given screen credit, instead of her? Seems strange, considering Debbie is more prominently featured in the wall sequence.
Sandahl Bergman is best known for her role as Valeria in the film Conan the Barbarian.
Truly Muses
Such joyful dancing! Terrific choreography, and yes, muses from all sorts of ethnicities. And Olivia makes roller blading along the seafront look pretty good, too!
Well sadly today this Muse has returned to Mount Olympus, rest in peace Olivia Newton John.
Just……… pure magic
I watched this movie 44 years ago when I was a kid (12)
The music, the dancers, the costumes, the choreographers………
This movie puts me in other dimension ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'm so happy Xanadu found me through my algorithms
I was ten when this came out and loved it. Now I'm a grown man and will watch tonight. Olivia Newton John was one of my first crushes.
This song and scene is energizing.
I always look for odd stuff about movie and music stars after they pass away, this scene where she "come alive" as a ghost(sort of) on the day she died, movie came out on the same day 1980. Creepy odd.
I am 57 yrs old and this is my all time favorite movie idk why it just is , maybe cause I'm gen x
Fun fact, one of the muses in this scene is Sandahl Bergman, who played Valaria in Conan the Barbarian.
Yesss
another one was Darcel Wynne one of the main dancers on Solid Gold
5 guesses as to which one she is
Shes in alot of movies
Some other fun facts: Juliette Marshall (Third from left - First one to come to life) was Miranda's attorney in Mrs. Doubtfire. Marilyn Tokuda (First from left) is still acting today. Debbie Fresh (Second from left) appears only in this scene. She had to drop out of the production and was replaced by Melinda Phelps
The Muse in the foreground dancing at 1:56 is Sandhal Bergman, best known for playing Valeria in Conan the Barbarian.
I absolutely love this movie. One of my all time favorites.
Matches RIGHT UP with a Caffiene-POT trip, I'M AUTOMATICALLY CERTAIN! LOL.
Gene Kelly passed on in 1989- the same year as Lucille ball...
Olivia's with them now- I look forward to in hopefully at least another *_*whopping 38 years from now-_** to see them in concert, in the clouds, with my passed mother.
❤️ I cried a bit too much watching this today. Rest well ❤️
I went to the glow along for this movie in 2020 before COVID and then a couple years ago at the Alamo Drafthouse and it was an absolutely amazing experience.
For years I thought the song was called "By the Light".
Next time, buy the album.
@@rayva1 I did, the vinyl version came with a sheet of lyrics.
My little sister and I went back five times, starting sing a longs.
I had just got out of High School in 1980 and I wanted to be an artist. This inspired me to believe it was possible regardless of all the circumstances against me. 40 years later. I'm a live Artist. Thank you Beautiful Angelic Muse. Olivia Newton John. RIP.
I remember making barrettes like Kira had in her hair.
Me too! and I was Kira for Halloween that year but no one knew who I was supposed to be during trick-or-treating 🎃 😂 I had to keep explaining it! I was also sooo mad at my brother because he didn’t want to shine a flashlight 🔦 behind me skating. Hahaha!!!
Oh, yes! I remember that you could buy the barrettes in "kits" with the ribbons! They were hugely popular when I was in 5th and 6th grades.
As a boy who was in 5th grade at the time, I really liked that look on the girls. And it was magical to go to our local skating rink and hear this music. Great times!
Love the music, the dance, the magic and Olivia. Such a beautiful smile
Rest In Peace Olivia Newton-John together with Gene Kelly in Heaven 😢😢✝️✝️💔💔⭐️
RIP beautiful Olivia. Thank you for your music, your smile, and your grace
Always liked the soundtrack more than the movie.
Most that have seen this movie feel the same way.
As we celebrate Olivia Newton-John's life which ended yesterday we look back on such a talented and beautiful person.
How many here recognize Sandahl Bergman in there? She's the fourth muse to come to life (the one that does the high kick after "awakening").
If you recognize the name, you've probably watched Conan (1982) or Red Sonja movies.
LOL
I've often said she's the standout during this sequence. :D
(Then again, I've been crushing on her since Conan...)
Of course, the question we're not supposed to ask is...
Why is it that Olivia Newton-John is supposed to be portraying Terpsichore (the Muse of Dance) -- especially since Sandahl Bergman is obviously the true dancer in this lineup! -- when she really ought to be Euterpe (the Muse of Song)? Later in the film, when Kira reveals who she really is to Sonny, she tries to tell him that "Kira" is actually not her real name. She says "my real name is T-" and that's when Sonny stops her. There were only two Muses whose names began with T -- Terpsichore (dance) and Thalia (comedy) -- and it's obvious that she's not Thalia, or else Xanadu would have been a comedy club.
Thank You..... Remembering ELO, Electric Light Orchestra
My mother and I used to watch this and when ahe passed away i always play this song and/or watch this film to remember the good time, seriously everyone be happy to be alive and appreciate this gem of a musical and ONJ!
I love this movie ! Dancing around my living room in Barbie skates at 8 . Rip Olivia
I can't imagine this film without ELO's music. Add Olivia Newton John it becomes a masterpiece must see film
Hey, it's Sandahl Bergman (Valeria from "Conan the Barbarian", also played the Queen in "Red Sonja").
_ (11_
Yes, absolutely! She was the 4th Muse. A real dancer. What a kick and she lands it on a lower step. A real pro.
Now we know what happens to you when you die in Conan''s world. You came back as a muse. I wanna see Conan do those kicks.
She appears in "All that jazz" As dancer too.
@@manueldpmingopereznavales5109 Yes, she was one of Bob Fosse's favorites.
Kissed by a Muse; Xanadu is just a so-so movie, but the soundtrack is glorious and ONJ was so beautiful in it as well----RIP, see you on the other side.
4th to dance was Muse #1 played by Sandahl Bergman (aka Valeria from Conan). Clearly the best 💃.
The effect of change between the painting and the muse, it´s amazing for the era. Practical effects and looks amazing.
The cheese factor alone should make this a cult classic! These songs rock! Aug. 2022
8/9 year old me, seeing that opening scene for the first time...to me was OMG magic! Still is, still LOVE it, ELO, roller skating, dancing, muses!!!