Xanadu (1980) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"Xanadu, your neon lights will shine for you Xanadu..." - Olivia Newton-John (as Kira in 'Xanadu')


'Xanadu' is a 1980 romantic fantasy musical directed by Robert Greenwald and starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly and Michael Beck.

The film was written by Richard Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel and features an animation sequence by Don Bluth.

Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly & Michael Beck

Sonny Malone (played by Beck) is an album cover artist, on the verge of giving up on his dream of becoming a great artist. Kira (played by Newton-John) is a Greek muse, who has emerged from out of mural to inspire Sonny to follow his dream. Along the way, Sonny befriends a former big band orchestra leader, Danny McGuire (played by Kelly). Kira encourages Danny and Sonny to form a partnership and open a new nightclub, Xanadu.

Movie soundtrack

The music soundtrack features music from Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, Electric Light Orchestram Cliff Richard and The Tubes.  The soundtrack was a big success, being certified Double Platinum in the US (peaking at #4) and Gold in the UK (peaking at #2).


Musical program

Gene Kelly & Olivia Newton-John sing
'Whenever Your Away From Me'

• "Overture Medley (Whenever You're Away From Me/Xanadu)"
• "I'm Alive" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "Magic" - Olivia Newton-John
• "You Made Me Love You" - Olivia Newton-John
• "Whenever You're Away From Me" - Olivia Newton-John & Gene Kelly
• "Suddenly" - Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard
• "Dancin'" -  Olivia Newton-John & The Tubes
• "Don't Walk Away" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "All Over The World" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "The Fall" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "Suspended in Time" - Olivia Newton-John
• "Drum Dreams" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "Xanadu" - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra
• "Fool Country" - Olivia Newton-John
• "Magic" (Reprise) - Olivia Newton-John
• "Xanadu" (End Credits) - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra

Song: "Whenever You're Away From Me" - Olivia Newton-John & Gene Kelly

Song: "I'm Alive" - Electric Light Orchestra

Did you know...

• This was sadly Gene Kelly's final film appearance
• Gene Kelly also played the role of Danny McGuire in 'Cover Girl' (1944), with Rita Hayworth
• Gene Kelly agreed to appear in the film as filming was a short drive from his Beverly Hills home, and he could be close to his family
• Xanadu was the summer capital of Kublai Khan's Yuan Dynasty in China
• The film's plot was inspired by the 1947 film 'Down to Earth'
• A stage musical based on the film opened on Broadway in 2007
• Andy Gibb was originally considered for the role of Sonny
• Joe Mantegna appeared in a few scenes which were cut from the film
• The song "Whenever You're Away From Me" was the last sequence filmed for the film
• The film was originally conceived as a low-budget roller disco picture, however evolved into a much larger production, as well known stars Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly appeared
• The exterior of Xanadu was filmed at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium
• The set of the Xanadu clubbed cost $1,000,000 to build
• In earlier versions of the story, Sonny was the artist who designed the mural, from which the muses emerge
• Olivia Newton-John fractured her coccyx while filming the song 'Suddenly'
• Michael Beck's singing is dubbed by Cliff Richard
• Sandahl Bergman appears as a Muse
• Wilfrid Hyde-White appears as Heavenly Voice #2

The Pan-Pacific Auditorium transforms into Xanadu

Awards and nominations

• Ivor Novello Award winner for Best Motion Picture Film Soundtrack
• Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance ("Magic")
• Young Artist Awards nomination for Best Major Motion Picture - Family Entertainment
• Raspberry Award winner for Worst Director
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Picture
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Screenplay
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Actor (Michael Beck)
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Actress (Olivia Newton-John)
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Original Song ("Suspended in Time")
• Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Musical of Our First 25 Years

Closing remarks

'Xanadu' is a truly awful film, but I love it. It is always a lot of fun to watch. 
We are fortunately able to see Gene Kelly sing and dance in a film one last time, and at the age of 67 he shows the world he's still got it.

The film opened to bad reviews, one of which was headed "Xana-don't!". It was a commercial bomb and failed to break even on it's original release. Surprisingly over the years it has acheived something of a cult status, and is still remembered and enjoyed for the awful yet entertaining piece of trash it is.

Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"I took it as it came and it happened to be very nice" - Gene Kelly

See Gene Kelly dance up a storm as our Star of the Month throughout August 2012 - coinciding with the centenary of his birth...


One of Hollywood's most original and versatile film stars, Gene Kelly was a dancer, actor, singer, acrobat, stuntman, film director, innovator, producer and choreographer - there was nothing which he did not do.

His talent and enthusiasm for dance literally leaps off the screen, while dazzling audiences with his athletic grace and style. 


Born Eugene Curran Kelly on 23 August 1912 in Pittsburgh. When Gene was 8 years old, his mother enrolled him into dance classes, which he initially hated. After finishing high school, he planned to study journalism at college, but was forced to defer his study due to the stock market crash of 1929. To make additional money for his family, Kelly and his brother Fred danced in local talent contests and local nightclubs.  In 1931, Kelly studied economics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he became involved in musical productions. After appearing in small roles in a number of Broadway shows throughout the late 1930's, he was given a leading role in 'Pal Joey' in 1940.


After appearing in 'Pal Joey', Kelly appeared in the MGM film 'For Me and My Gal' (1942) with the intention of returning to Broadway. The film made him a star, and Judy Garland was the first of his many glamourous leading ladies. Due to the success of the film, he stayed in Hollywood. After appearing in some b-grade war films, he was first given the opportunity to try some of his own ideas in the film 'Cover Girl' (1944), with the dazzling Rita Hayworth. 

Gene joined the navy during World War II. During his services, he directed war documentaries which helped him develop filmmaking skills he would use brilliantly upon his post-war return to Hollywood.

Gene went on to become one of MGM's biggest musical stars in a very prolific movie career spanning almost 50 years.  With his superb dancing and innovative choreography, Gene received universal recognition as a first class dancer.

In the late 1950s Gene hung up his dancing shoes to focus on choregraphy and film directing.

In 1952 Kelly was presented with an honorary Academy Award for his achievement in film. He was presented with Lifetime Acheivement Awards by the Kennedy Centre, American Film Institute and Screen Actors Guild. 

In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Gene Kelly as the 15th Greatest Male Star of all time.

Gene Kelly died on 2 February 1996 from complications after two strokes.


In the centenary month of his birth, fliXposed is delighted to present the films of Gene Kelly in a series of blog posts throughout August.

Featured films

Early career

• For Me and My Gal (1942)
• DuBarry was a Lady (1943)
• Pilot #5 (1943)
• Thousands Cheer (1943)
• Cross of Lorraine (1943)
• Cover Girl (1944)
• Christmas Holiday (1944)

Gene Kelly with Frank Sinatra

• Anchors Aweigh (1945)
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949)
• On the Town (1949)

The Essentials

• The Pirate (1948)
• The Three Musketeers (1948)
• Summer Stock (1950)
• An American in Paris (1951)
• Brigadoon (1954)
• Les Girls (1957)
• Xanadu (1980)

Guest appearances

• Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
• Words and Music (1948)
• Deep in my Heart (1954)
• Let's Make Love (1960)
• The Muppet Show (1981 - TV SERIES)

Gene Kelly rarities

• Living in a Big Way (1947)
• Black Hand (1950)
• It's a Big Country (1951)

Directed by Gene Kelly

• Singin' in the Rain (1952)
• It's Always Fair Weather (1955)
• Invitation to the Dance (1956)
• Hello Dolly (1969)

Musical documentaries

• MGMs 25th Anniversary (1949)
• That's Entertainment (1974)
• MGM's 50th Anniversary (1974)
• Just One More Time (1974)
• The Lion Roars Again (1975)
• That's Entertainment Part II (1976)
• An Evening with Gene Kelly (1977)
• That's Dancing (1985)
• MGM: When The Lion Roars (1952 - TV SERIES)
• That's Entertainment Part III (1994)
• Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer