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Topic: Xanadu 2x400 ft.
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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted March 02, 2010 08:40 AM
Well Damien, I'm sorry to say, that great song "Don't Walk Away", is nowhere to be found in this digest!
Marshall, I SO agree with you. As I mentioned in the review, this 2 x 400 foot digest could have REALLY benefitted from a tight editing job, that included as many of the hits as possible. WAY too much time is spent on the opening credits, before the song "I'm Alive" even begins! Then, too much time is spent of the "grand opening of club Xanadu" scene near the end. Of course, some of that scene would have been o.k., like the song "Xanadu". But all those other songs and dances and costume changes could have (and SHOULD have) been left out.
I also agree with you guys about "Magic" being under-used in the full-feature. I believe it was actually the biggest hit song from the movie.
PS- "Magic" is heard in the digest at the end, when "Swan" meets the waitress, ONJ.
James.
[ March 02, 2010, 11:55 AM: Message edited by: James N. Savage 3 ]
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 09, 2011 12:52 PM
I didn't hear it mentioned so I'd have to assume that it wasn't included in the digest, but I felt one of the best parts of this movie was "Whenever Your Away From Me', just because Gene Kelly would dance on screen for the last time (apart from those "tribute to the movies" styled films). he wasn't making the big moves like he did in the 40's and 50's, but he was still oh so smooth on his feet and it was a very nice film taken in total.
But actually, I have lately had a dream of actually finding the optical feature of this, as I would edit out a little of the film ...
The parts?
Believe it or not, the "All Over the World" number, with those idiot "punk" charafcters popping in and out in the scene. For me, it really takes away from the film and I even story boarded the whole scene, still including the Gene Kelly bits from that scene, but using some "exploding" neaon, reminiscent of the era, much in the style of the colorful "Windows Media" images you get with that program. There is even a neat little bit where I have a "neon Kelly" dancing on both sides of Gene, doing the same moves that he does. It would be awesome.
Absolute low point of the film?
After the first version the complete Xanadu, the 'Nymphs" then break into a rediculous section of different styled numbered, starting with a moronic tap dancing bit, which then morphs into a rock-n-roll idiocy and then, (gag!) a country bit! I would edit the very end of the first part of "Xanadu" to that reprise of the same tune, right before the NYmph's take off, thereby getting a nice flow to that section.
The film would be perhaps three or so minutes shorter, but that would certainly improve the film for one OSI!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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John Hourigan
Master Film Handler
Posts: 301
From: Colorado U.S.A.
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted July 10, 2011 12:11 PM
I think we have to remember that with this digest and the Blues Brothers digest being essentially the last gasp of Universal 8 (with video already rearing its head by this point), I'm sure whoever was assigned the job of editing these last two digests was more concerned about "gettin' it done" rather than any semblance of creative editing. As a case in point, I have the Blues Brothers "2x300-foot" digest, and the opening credits are comprised of choppy jump cuts that are extremely noticeable in the background action and the music -- one of the indications of a "rush job." Also, the digest is comprised of rather lengthy scenes, mostly of the endless car chases that quickly grow tiresome (even in the feature), rather than any of the awesome musical numbers -- again another indication of a "quickly-get-it-done" mentality.
By this point in 1980/1981, the handwriting was on the wall for Super 8 digests, and the editing on this particular digest smacks of quickly getting an editing job done (rather than any careful, deliberate, creative editing job).
Of course, the heyday was probably over before then, given companies were issuing things like "Disco Beaver From Outer Space" and, dear God, "Grease 2"!!
[ July 10, 2011, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: John Hourigan ]
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 11, 2011 01:30 PM
As well as "Police Academy 2"!
So many films that could have been released as a 2X600ft, and they had to release "Police Academy 2", (not Universal, however).
One thing seems to be apparent in that Xanadu digest ...
Whoever did it must not have been a fan of Olivia, as the only big songs given full time appear to be "I'M Alive", "All Over the World" and, "Xanadu" which all happen to be ... ELO tunes! (Though Oliva sings Xanadu with Lynne providing the back-up vocals).
Therefore, it appears that this editor was a closet ELO fan!
I say closet as ELO was largely panned by the "music critics" of thier day, (though they hold a record of more top twenty hits than any other group of the 70's) and from what I've read, it just wasn't too "cool" to be an open ELO fan.
As for me, I'm nuts about them!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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