I'm relatively positive Matt Lattanzi cares deeply about it, so I think that means we'll have to go with this one...
Forget the campy stage musical. Forget its reputation as a megabomb of its time. This is a very sweet and old fashioned movie musical, trying in vain to be up-to-the-minute for 1980, roller disco sequences notwithstanding. For a confirmed ONJ fan from Grease forward, this was a wonderful hour and a half in the lovely lady's presence, and with the added bonus of Gene Kelly in his last theatrical film. We'll leave the miscast Michael Beck alone, as he tries hard.
Two other tidbits - this movie was one of the first three I ever rented on home video - it was on Beta! (The other two for completists were Laserblast and Halloween. I have no idea how long it was before I rented something with more than one word in the title.)
And after working with Gene Kelly's nephew on a cable movie in the early 90's, I was floored a month or two after the show wrapped when a large manila envelope showed up in my mail out of the blue - containing the following 8X10:
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| Here's a crappy smartphone pic of one of the crown jewels in my collection, direct from my scrapbook! |
As for Xanadu, the movie is available for viewing at any time, even tonight, should you care to come by this evening and watch it with me!
And til next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Oh I love Gene Kelly. I had such a crush on him growing up. Imagine my heartbroken little girl face when I found out he was really old enough to be grandfather. Brigadoon, Singing in the Rain, An American in Paris and my ultimate fave of his, Inherit the Wind. What an amazingly beautiful treasure you have in that photo.
ReplyDeleteXanadu was really sweet. I, of course was enamored of the roller skating because I suck at it. Loved those Sergio Valente jeans and short shorts though. My friends all wanted her wardrobe. There's a movie plex here that was inspired by the roller disco in the film.
Gene Kelly is one of my Movie UltraFaves. I literally yelped with delight when I saw that photo! I'm so glad to hear someone else admit to liking Xanadu. I think its old fashioned charms outweigh its "locked in 1980" elements. I'd love to see pix of that movie plex - if you care to post them - perhaps in the Imaginarium? Great to see you, MB!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take some pics when next I am in Lansing. I thought Xanadu when they first built way back in the late 80's as River Run. Now it's Lansing Cinema 8.
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