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Xanadu
Mar 10, 2017 19:25:41 GMT
Post by mszanadu on Mar 10, 2017 19:25:41 GMT
I was with the majority that didn't think all that highly about Xanadu when it was released in 1980, but apparently it gained a cult following over the years that even led to a stage version being produced decades later. Parts of it were not bad, such as seeing Gene Kelly in a musical for one last time. Some songs weren't bad, but Michael Beck seemed a total miscast who couldn't sing or dance, or even skate very well. I knew an animator who worked on the following sequence: Animated SequenceApparently there was at least one "in joke" in the Don Bluth team that made this. Thanks so much geode for this YouTube Link to one of my favorite scenes in this film . Also that 's really cool you knew the animator who worked on that scene too ! Just curious here - what was the " in joke " in the Don Bluth team that made this " ? That clickable part on the video was not available to me .
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Post by geode on Mar 10, 2017 20:20:04 GMT
I knew an animator who worked on the following sequence: Animated SequenceApparently there was at least one "in joke" in the Don Bluth team that made this. Thanks so much geode for this YouTube Link to one of my favorite scenes in this film . Also that 's really cool you knew the animator who worked on that scene too ! Just curious here - what was the " in joke " in the Don Bluth team that made this " ? That clickable part on the video was not available to me . The animator stayed at Don Bluth's house while working on this and he told me at the time that people were being "catty" about the thickness of Olivia Newton-John's ankles. The claim was that the costume people were always putting boots or ribbons around them to hide this....and leg warmers. So Bluth put leg warmers on the animated bird meant to be the same character. However, Bluth describes the reason a bit differently here: Going back to XanaduDiscussion of the animated sequence starts at about 17 mins. but some of the rest of this 27 min. "making of" piece is also interesting. This is what is on my blu-ray. Apparently the human characters in the sequence were rotoscoped, with live people filmed to provide the animators a way to gauge the movement. Kenny Ortega apparent subs for Sonny in this. I wonder who filled in for Olivia's character? Here is the link, I could open it. Bluth link
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Xanadu
Mar 10, 2017 23:33:01 GMT
Post by mszanadu on Mar 10, 2017 23:33:01 GMT
Thanks so much geode for this YouTube Link to one of my favorite scenes in this film . Also that 's really cool you knew the animator who worked on that scene too ! Just curious here - what was the " in joke " in the Don Bluth team that made this " ? That clickable part on the video was not available to me . The animator stayed at Don Bluth's house while working on this and he told me at the time that people were being "catty" about the thickness of Olivia Newton-John's ankles. The claim was that the costume people were always putting boots or ribbons around them to hide this....and leg warmers. So Bluth put leg warmers on the animated bird meant to be the same character. However, Bluth describes the reason a bit differently here: Going back to XanaduDiscussion of the animated sequence starts at about 17 mins. but some of the rest of this 27 min. "making of" piece is also interesting. This is what is on my blu-ray. Apparently the human characters in the sequence were rotoscoped, with live people filmed to provide the animators a way to gauge the movement. Kenny Ortega apparent subs for Sonny in this. I wonder who filled in for Olivia's character? Here is the link, I could open it. Bluth linkAgain thanks so much geode for these links and for " the making of extras " about this film too . It seems the Blu-ray edition has way more extras than my DVD version has but then again I bought the DVD movie about 5 to 8 years ago I believe and it was on sale at the time too ( either way I'm happy to have the movie on a disc than on just VHS like before ) .
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Post by Sulla on Mar 19, 2017 13:07:49 GMT
I always considered it one of my guilty pleasures. Michael Beck is a terrible actor. But I'm a fan of ELO and ONJ is beautiful. Having Gene Kelly in the film is a plus.
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Post by geode on Mar 27, 2017 15:08:51 GMT
I always considered it one of my guilty pleasures. Michael Beck is a terrible actor. But I'm a fan of ELO and ONJ is beautiful. Having Gene Kelly in the film is a plus. Agree on all the points you make. It is not a surprise that the record album was a hit. It is also great to have Gene in a film one last time.
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Post by koskiewicz on Mar 27, 2017 22:17:49 GMT
The Xanadu nightclub is featured in the Warren Beatty film "Mickey One"
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Xanadu
Mar 28, 2017 19:40:02 GMT
Post by geode on Mar 28, 2017 19:40:02 GMT
The Xanadu nightclub is featured in the Warren Beatty film "Mickey One" How is that possible?
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Xanadu
May 26, 2017 8:06:08 GMT
Post by geode on May 26, 2017 8:06:08 GMT
I always considered it one of my guilty pleasures. Michael Beck is a terrible actor. But I'm a fan of ELO and ONJ is beautiful. Having Gene Kelly in the film is a plus. Indeed.
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Xanadu
May 26, 2017 19:50:45 GMT
Post by koskiewicz on May 26, 2017 19:50:45 GMT
"...how is that possible?"
Because the Xanadu was a genuine nightclub in Chicago in the early 1960's. "Mickey One" w/Warren Beatty was filmed in Chicago and that nightclub is featured in a bit part...see the film for yourself...
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Post by geode on May 27, 2017 7:24:37 GMT
"...how is that possible?" Because the Xanadu was a genuine nightclub in Chicago in the early 1960's. "Mickey One" w/Warren Beatty was filmed in Chicago and that nightclub is featured in a bit part...see the film for yourself... Your original post simply said, "The Xanadu nightclub is featured in the Warren Beatty film "Mickey One" Since this thread is about the film "Xanadu" that appeared to indicate that the "Xanadu nightclub" in the film was also in "Mickey One" and I found it hard to believe that the same set had been used in both films considering the timing of the two films. Now that you have added the details about Chicago the situation becomes clear.
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Xanadu
Jun 6, 2017 17:45:34 GMT
Post by geode on Jun 6, 2017 17:45:34 GMT
The director claimed that the film started out as a small budget, small picture to capitalize on the roller disco fad at the time, and there were two competing films. I would guess that Michael Beck might have come cheap, but had a bit of name recognition after "The Warriors" and they thought this might help carry the film. When ONJ showed interest the budget and scope sort of exploded, but I would guess that the script was not modified enough to handle this. The fact that there is a major duet in the film and Cliff Richard was brought in with ONJ when it would have naturally been Beck's number shows the inadequacy he faced.
I am not sure that he was even the target of the muse. I think her father claims something about "one dream, one muse" and since the dream was Danny's she has come back as his muse again 35 years later. Sonny is just a means to help Danny accomplish his dream. Sonny was an artist, to accomplish his dream would have involved art. Beck apparently didn't have to audition for the film. He is also quoted as saying that The Warriors-79' opened a lot of doors for him in film, which Xanadu-80' then closed. In the space of a year, he pretty much went from hero to zero. I blame the casting director and producers, because his character and story is what revolves around the film, not for any lack of talent he possessed as an actor. He was just not right for the role of Sonny. He was not leading man material and like I mentioned earlier, average looking, he had a big beak and not much charisma for a musical.
The film also needed a rewrite on the way it represented it's story and the potential to deliver something stronger and with more magic. That said, I still enjoy the film and parts of it work, and some of the film's best scenes involve him as an artist and his interaction with his work colleagues. Overall, like another poster has mentioned, too cutesy. The whimsy it wanted to create backfired and fizzled. It needed more spunk and pizazz.
The director has claimed it needed a major re-write as well
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Xanadu
Oct 10, 2017 17:10:53 GMT
Post by geode on Oct 10, 2017 17:10:53 GMT
I posted on the old IMDb years ago about a specialty dance couple that appears in the big production number for the title song at the end of the film. Their most notable appearance is at 1:25:55 on my DVD, performing next to ONJ. I asked who they were and nobody came up with an answer. The lady is in a black sleevless dress and the guy also in black
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Post by geode on Sept 26, 2018 8:23:11 GMT
I posted on the old IMDb years ago about a specialty dance couple that appears in the big production number for the title song at the end of the film. Their most notable appearance is at 1:25:55 on my DVD, performing next to ONJ. I asked who they were and nobody came up with an answer. The lady is in a black sleevless dress and the guy also in black They appear elsewhere in the sequence. They sort of stand out in terms of abilities so I would guess that they were cast on purpose.
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Post by geode on Apr 15, 2019 15:41:43 GMT
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Post by geode on Jun 9, 2019 8:06:20 GMT
When is it a good time to discuss "Xanadu"....? I guess any time.
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Post by OrsonSwelles on Jun 9, 2019 8:37:39 GMT
Great song:
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