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Topic: Xanadu 2x400 ft.

James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted February 05, 2008 10:51 AM

XANADU
Universal 8
2 x 400 foot.

This two-part digest was released with "The Blues Brothers". These are believed to be the last two digests released by Universal 8.

The digest starts with a neat retro-style version of the classic Universal logo from the 30's, with an airplane flying around the world. This is set to instrumental variations of the song "Xanadu", and an older tune. Then moves to the lead star, Michael Beck (Swan from THE WARRIORS), who is painting, as the credits continue. He rips up his work and throws it out the window. As the paper floats in the wind, it flys up to a painted mural of women (muses), who then come alive and dance to "I'm Alive", by E.L.O.. At the conclusion of the song, all of the women are "beamed up" to ...wherever. Bun one (Olivia Newton-John) is beamed back down- on roller-skates (remember, it was 1980 [Big Grin]

). She bumps into Beck in a park and kisses him, then skates off.

We then see Gene Kelly sitting on some rocks playing a bugle. Beck tells others about his strange encounter. Later, Beck bumps into Kelly, and they visit an old closed up theater, and dream of opening a club that will mix old and new types of music. Part of the song mix "Forget About The Blues" and "Got Some Dancin to Do" is played.

Later, Kelly, Beck, and Olivia go shopping for clothes, and we have, what is basically like a music video, for "All Over the World" by E.L.O..

Opening night at the club, everyone is skating around a disco-type rink. Olivia then performs a mixture of songs, followed by "Xanadu", played in full. She then is "beamed" away. Beck, pouting, fears that he will never see her again. Kelly encourages him and says "I want you to meet someone". Beck turns, and its a waitress that looks just like Olivia (sniff, sniff....awwwwww). The credits roll with Beck and Olivia talking in the backround. The End.

Is it really as silly/corny as it sounds? Yes, it really is. What can be said about this movie, that hasn't already been said. The critics showed no mercy when it was released in 1980. And it is stilled dogged to this day. And with good reason. This movie had all the cheeziness of disco-era movies, but somehow lacked the energy of, even something like "Roller-Boogie".Except for many of the actual songs, of which many became huge hits of that time, this movie seemed to fail on every level. Do I like enjoy the movie? I'll never tell.

O.K., this is one of my guilty pleasures. [Razz]

. I practically had to sneak to the movies to see this one, as you were labeled a "loser" if caught by fellow teenagers at that time. I think it was right around the beginning of the "Disco Sucks" era.

About the digest-

The editing is similar to the Blues Brothers digest, as it contains long, uncut scenes. But this sort of movie 'cries' for much tighter editing. A good digest editor could have actually made the movie flow much better than the feature. The opening credit scene is rediculously long and so "not choppy". Its like the editor was just trying to use as much footage as posible.

On the bright side, at least we get three complete songs. This digest is so confusing, so I took the music numbers, gave them a stereo re-recording, and put them on a short reel.

What can I say, if you are one of the few who like the movie or the music, go for it. This digest pops up from time to time.

James.

[ August 02, 2008, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: James N. Savage 3 ]