History Film / Xanadu

* XMeetsY: BigBand + RockAndRoll = GlamRock

* SharedUniverse: Implied. Prior to this film, Gene Kelly also played a character named "Danny [=McGuire=]" in the film ''Film/CoverGirl'' (no relation to the cosmetics company). This film is later referenced in ''Down To Earth'' (sequel to Here Comes Mr. Jordan), which features Rita Hayworth (who was also in ''Film/{{CoverGirl}})'' as "Terpsichore", but uses the name "Kitty" in her Earth form. It should be mentioned that all three of the films in question were released by Columbia, while this movie was released by Universal.

* SharedUniverse: Implied. Prior to this film, Gene Kelly also played a character named "Danny [=McGuire=]" in the film ''Cover Girl'' (no relation to the cosmetics company). This film is later referenced in ''Down To Earth'' (sequel to Here Comes Mr. Jordan), which features Rita Hayworth (who was also in Cover Girl) as "Terpsichore", but uses the name "Kitty" in her Earth form. It should be mentioned that all three of the films in question were released by Columbia, while this movie was released by Universal.
* ShoutOut: Gene Kelly's character has the same name and much of the same backstory as the character he played in the 1944 film ''Cover Girl''; Danny's backstory in Xanadu sounds suspiciously like a version of "Cover Girl" without the happy ending.

* ClassicalMythology: [[SadlyMythtaken Loosely based on it]].

* JukeboxMusical: The stage musical version is essentially one for the ElectricLightOrchestra, whose leader, JeffLynne, produced most of the music for the film and the stage version adds "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic."

* ActorAllusion: Danny's "oh, I've been known to twinkle a toe or two."

* BreakawayPopHit: The title song, as well as "Magic", "All Over the World", "Alive", and "Suddenly".

* ConspicuouslyLightPatch

* ExecutiveMeddling

* MoneyDearBoy: The reason for Gene Kelly's involvement. That and the job was close to his home. Still, Gene Kelly has stated that working with Olivia Newton-John was great.

* OldShame:
** For Electric Light Orchestra, who wrote and performed several of the songs. Jeff Lynne eventually came to terms with it, though, and released an album with rerecorded ''Xanadu'' tracks.
** Director Robert Greenwald, who's more recently made a name for himself as a left-wing muckraking documentary director (''Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism'', ''Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price'').
** Michael Beck (the guy from The Warriors).
--> '''Michael Beck:''' The Warriors [[StarMakingRole opened a lot of doors in film]] for me, which [[CreatorKiller Xanadu then closed]].

* SongStyleShift: "Dancin'" alternates between 40's-style swing and NewWave rock.

What has Olivia Newton-John, Creator/GeneKelly, that guy from ''Film/TheWarriors'', roller skates, lots of glowing blue people, quasi-disco music, and is nothing but a string of {{Big Lipped Alligator Moment}}s?

What has Olivia Newton-John, GeneKelly, that guy from ''Film/TheWarriors'', roller skates, lots of glowing blue people, quasi-disco music, and is nothing but a string of {{Big Lipped Alligator Moment}}s?

* ClassicalMythology: Loosely based on it.

* InterspeciesRomance: Sonny and Kira

--> '''Michael Beck:''' The Warriors opened a lot of doors in film for me, which Xanadu then closed.

The roller disco (and film's) title comes from the poem "Kublai Khan" and refers to a province where Khan establishes his pleasure garden.

* TheMusical: The only thing that was considered quality work was the music -- everything else, not so much.
** The Broadway version was a cheerfully absurd [[RuleOfFunny Refuge In Funny]][=/=][[RuleOfCool Refuge In Cool Music]] laugh-fest with a load of {{Take That}}s at the movie.
* NeverTrustATrailer: Sort of; in the opening title, there's a slight implication of aliens in the form of a UFO flying across a picture of Earth, which is further helped along by a robot-like thing showing up in a musical number. However, unless you're The Nostalgia Chick, you may not have noticed.
** The "robot-like thing" was likely supposed to be a train pulling in--though one could see how the Chick might've been seeking any respite at that point...

* OldShame: For Electric Light Orchestra, who wrote and performed several of the songs. Jeff Lynne eventually came to terms with it, though, and released an album with rerecorded ''Xanadu'' tracks.
** Also director Robert Greenwald, who's more recently made a name for himself as a left-wing muckraking documentary director (''Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism'', ''Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price'').
*** Also for Michael Beck (the guy from The Warriors).

* JukeboxMusical: The stage musical version is essentially one for the ElectricLightOrchestra.

* ShallowLoveInterest

* HairOfGold: Kira.

-->-- '''''Xanadu''''' tagline.

* [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thedudette/nostalgia-chick/8240-xanadu And here's]] TheNostalgiaChick [[AccentuateTheNegative taking it apart]].

* NeverTrustATrailer: Sort of; in the opening title, there's a slight implication of aliens in the form of a UFO flying across a picture of Earth, which is further helped along by a robot-like thing showing up in a musical number. However, unless you're TheNostalgiaChick, you may not have noticed.

The 1980 movie musical ''Xanadu'' is a' story about a frustrated artist named Sonny Malone (the guy from ''Film/TheWarriors'') who paints album covers for a living and is unhappy about it. By tossing some of his drawings into the wind, he somehow brings [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYWA2c5w5bw a painting on a wall of nine girls to life]] and one of them -- Kira -- finds and kisses him. Shortly after, he meets Danny [=McGuire=], a former big band leader. The two strike up a friendship and, with encouragement from Kira, make plans to convert an abandoned building (The Pan Pacific Auditorium) into a roller disco. Sonny and Kira meanwhile fall in love, with there being the slight complication that she's actually the Muse of Dance and Choral Singing (yes, really) and was only sent to bring Xanadu into creation. Soon, she will have to return home, just as Xanadu will be opening.

* TronLines
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs

The 1980 movie musical ''Xanadu'' is a ''[[SarcasmMode timeless]]'' story about a frustrated artist named Sonny Malone (the guy from ''Film/TheWarriors'') who paints album covers for a living and is unhappy about it. By tossing some of his drawings into the wind, he somehow brings [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYWA2c5w5bw a painting on a wall of nine girls to life]] and one of them -- Kira -- finds and kisses him. Shortly after, he meets Danny [=McGuire=], a former big band leader. The two strike up a friendship and, with encouragement from Kira, make plans to convert an abandoned building (The Pan Pacific Auditorium) into a roller disco. Sonny and Kira meanwhile fall in love, with there being the slight complication that she's actually the Muse of Dance and Choral Singing (yes, really) and was only sent to bring Xanadu into creation. Soon, she will have to return home, just as Xanadu will be opening.

Widely panned by critics, it found a cult audience with adolescent girls and gay men. It has now been adapted into a stage musical that doesn't even ''bother'' to hide how camp the whole thing is.

* NotableOriginalMusic: The soundtrack for this movie was a huge success and several cuts from album got air time on radio; see BreakawayPopHit above.