It's the Greek mythology-inspired, disco-rink extravaganza the world couldn't wait to watch, featuring the beloved Olivia Newton-John.
Xanadu was a 1980 film with a star-studded cast and all the extraordinary visual effects to suit, but sadly, it didn't quite make the impact it promised – at the time, at least.
Funnily enough, years later the film is considered a cult classic for many who grew to love the film's mythical dance numbers, roller-skating scenes and wacky plotline.
READ MORE: How Olivia Newton-John met the love of her life at 59
READ MORE: John Travolta's touching tribute to Olivia
But Xanadu carries quite the legacy, including a dark public impact that drove the late Newton-John to leave her home in the US and return to Australia.
Below, find out 10 surprising facts you probably didn't know about Xanadu.
1. A darker Xanadu legacy drove Newton-John out of the US
A few years after the film was released, the Australian actress was faced with one of the scariest experiences of her life at the hands of a stalker.
In 1983, Michael Owen Perry, an escapee from a mental institution, became "obsessed" with Newton-John, and struggled to separate the film Xanadu from real life. He reportedly believed he was a god and that Newton-John was a real goddess.
From 1980 to 1983, Perry sent the actress disturbing fan mail. The Washington Post described the letters as "rambling", which "at times expressed adulation and at other times appeared threatening."
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He reportedly often included photographs of the actress in which he had scratched out her eyes.
On July 17, 1983, Perry armed himself with guns and embarked on a shooting spree, killing two of his cousins, a two-year-old nephew, and his parents.
When searching the trailer home he was staying in behind his parent's house, police found a list of names made by Perry, which included "Olivia."
In 1984 he was convicted of the five murders and remains on death row to this day at Angola State Penitentiary.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2007 about the incident, Newton-John said it marked an incredibly scary time for her.
"I guess because I was playing this ethereal character, he got reality and show business confused," she said.
"I left the country for a while. That was a very scary time."
When she did pack her bags, Newton-John's choice of retreat was Australia.
2. The film was a total flop
Xanadu, which is now considered a cult classic, was famously snubbed at the box office.
With a budget of $US20 million (approx. $28.6 million), which in the late '70s and early '80s was pretty monstrous, the film was dubbed "a bit of genius".
It was also a much-awaited modern remake of the 1947 film Down to Earth starring Rita Hayworth and Larry Parks.
But when it reached cinemas, movie-goers didn't quite fall in love with it.
Esquire magazine summed up the failure of the film in one sentence: "In a word, Xana-don't." BBC film critic Catherine Bray later called Xanadu a "disastrous" and "costly nightmare" that promised way too much.
Perhaps Bray's best analysis of the film is this: "It's a curiously flat film, and it's really quite difficult to see where all that money went."
Considering Newton-John's newfound star status at the time, thanks to her role in Grease, and the star quality of Gene Kelly, Xanadu was certainly hoped to be a lot more entertaining than it was.
3. Newton-John met her first husband on set
While the film may have failed at the time, it did lead to some happy news for two important people on set.
READ MORE: Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattanzi shares tribute after her death
It was where Newton-John met her first husband and the father of her child, Matt Lattanzi.
Lattanzi had caught the actress' eye while performing as a dancer in Xanadu. In between filming, he and Newton-John hit things off and they quickly became an item.
By 1986, the couple, who had been living in the US, decided to start a family and welcomed their daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
Then, Lattanzi and Newton-John made a decision that changed their lives, moving from the US to a beautiful farm in Australia in 1993.
The decision was made so Lattanzi could audition for the Nine soap opera Paradise Beach. He landed the gig and starred in the series as fashion photographer Cooper Hart.
Sadly, just a few years later he and Newton-John divorced, finalising their split in 1995.
4. It was Gene Kelly's last film
As well as Newton-John, Xanadu featured another celebrated actor – Singin' In the Rain's Gene Kelly.
The legendary singer, dancer and performer chose Xanadu as his last major motion picture before retiring.
READ MORE: Olivia Newton-John discusses life and death in poignant final interviews
Kelly grew to fame in the '50s, not only for Singin' In the Rain but also for famous titles including An American in Paris, in which he starred alongside Leslie Caron, and The Pirate with Judy Garland.
Kelly did make two more fleeting appearances in two television shows before his death in 1996 at the age of 83.
5. There's a moment Newton-John called one of the highlights of her career
One of the most famous scenes in Xanadu features a young Newton-John dancing with a much older but still incredibly skilled Kelly.
Considering it was also his last major performance, Newton-John was in no way unaware of how special it was. In fact, she considered it one of the highlights of her career.
READ MORE: Tributes flow for Olivia Newton-John as she loses battle with breast cancer
In a 2012 interview with The Daily Herald, Newton-John reflected on the special experience, and likened it to another highlight she'd had so far.
"He was lovely. I still can't believe I danced with Gene Kelly," she said.
"How lucky am I that I've been in movies where I've danced with two of the greatest dancers of all time – with Gene Kelly and John Travolta?
"I never would have thought that, because I had two left feet growing up."
If that quote doesn't make your heart ache, we don't know what will.
6. Mel Gibson almost co-starred in the film
While Newton-John was the casting director's first choice to play Xanadu's female lead, Kira, the male lead wasn't so clear.
Once she landed the part, the actress even put an Aussie friend forward for the role.
According to Entertainment Weekly Newton-John proposed a then-"unknown Australian named Mel Gibson".
But in the end, the role went to actor Michael Beck, who'd previously starred in The Warriors.
7. Xanadu launched the career of Dirty Dancing choreographer Kenny Ortega
Some may know this name and others may not, but it's certain you've seen some of Kenny Ortega's work over the years.
Xanadu was the first major dance film the award-winning choreographer worked on, and he received vital mentoring from Gene Kelly himself.
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Thanks to this experience, Ortega went on to choreograph the dance numbers for Dirty Dancing, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Hocus Pocus and all three of the High School Musical movies.
He also worked incredibly closely with Michael Jackson, co-choreographing with the singer on his 1992-1993 Dangerous World Tour, 1996-1997 HIStory World Tour and began working on Jackson's This Is It tour in 2009 before the star died.
8. It created a number one hit on the charts
While the film didn't quite blow viewers away, the film's song 'Magic' scored Newton-John a number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list for four weeks in August 1980.
9. The soundtrack was a bigger success than the movie
In Norway, London, Ireland, Israel, Austria, Spain, Belgium and West Germany, the Xanadu soundtrack, which features Olivia Newton-John, the Electric Light Orchestra, Cliff Richard, the Tubes and Gene Kelly.
In the US, the album went double platinum and managed five Top 20 hits, including 'Magic', 'Xanadu', 'Suddenly', 'All over the World' and 'I'm Alive.'
10. The inspired musical turned out to be a bigger hit
In 2007, when the film-inspired musical Xanadu hit Broadway stages, it received all the acclaim the film did not.
The musical saw the original film's plotline get quite a makeover, while still featuring many of the hit songs from the original movie.
It proved an immediate success with critics and audiences, and was nominated for four Tony Awards. It eventually closed in 2008 after 49 previews and 513 performances.
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Title: 10 things you didn't know about Olivia Newton-John's classic film Xanadu
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/olivia-newton-john-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-80s-film-xanadu/8878a928-43b1-40e6-8de4-32464f1d8f41
Published Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2022 02:08:00 GMT
