Xanadu is a film I watch every couple of years. I was a fan from the start while the film took a while to create a following. Olivia Newton-John is the main reason for my obsession. She was my first crush, initially with her country music, following her as she rose into pop, and then when she became an actress. Most would say that Grease is her better role but I enjoy Xanadu much more. She is luminous. Her singing and dancing with Gene Kelly still brings tears to my eyes. Then there is the soundtrack featuring Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). This is hands-down my favorite soundtrack and I listen to it all the time.
Buy XanaduKira (Newton-John), one of Zeus’ muses, is sent to Earth to inspire Sonny (Michael Beck). He works as an artist painting album covers but longs to find a way to quit and create real art. Kira runs into him while roller-skating along the beach, but after giving him a quick kiss, she skates away.
While trying to track her down, Sonny meets and befriends Danny (Gene Kelly), a former big-band orchestra leader. During their conversation, Sonny sees Kira and tracks her down in an abandoned auditorium. Kira eventually convinces Sonny and Danny to convert the run-down auditorium into a roller disco. Problems arise when Kira is called back home and the future of Sonny’s dream in the balance.
What makes Xanadu successful are the musical numbers. While they are all my favorite, I’d single out “Dancin,” a duet with Newton-John and the Tubes. It is the moment when Danny’s dream of a big band comes together with Sonny’s dream of a rock band, creating a vision of what their club could be.
The other highlight is the cartoon segment animated by the legendary Don Bluth. Sonny and Kira transform into various animals chasing each other while ELO’s “Don’t Walk Away” plays.
A brand new HDR 10/Dolby Vision master comes from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative and looks beautiful. The video for the UHD is presented in a 2160p/HEVC H.265 encoded transfer displayed in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Colors appear in bold hues. The image is mostly clean, with occasional white specks. Blacks are inky. Some scenes the shadow delineation swallows detail, during daytime exteriors, like when Sonny is chasing Kira at the pier, and nighttime exteriors, such as when they sit together inexplicably inside an empty Hollywood Bowl. Film grain is apparent, and increases in some scenes, usually daytime exteriors and special-effects sequences.
The video for the Blu-ray is presented in 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer displayed in its original aspect ratio. The positives mentioned above are similar strengths for this disc while the negatives about the shadow delineation and film grain are even more of a detriment to the image.
The audio is available in the Original 4.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround, and Lossless 2.0. On the original track, the Olivia Newton-John songs and the ELO songs engulf the viewer in the music, coming out the speakers loud but without distorting. Dialogue is clear, although some instances of ADR are a tad flat. Objects move about and across the channels, expanding the sound field.
Appearing on both discs are four all-new audio commentaries that provide many different insights into the movie: director Robert Greenwald moderated by filmmaker Douglas Hosdale (Brokedown Palace); producers Jennifer Clymer and Nathaniel Thompson; film historians David Del Calle and Krystov Charles; and film historian Samm Deighan.
Extras appearing on the Blu-ray are:
“Going Back to Xanadu” (2009) is a 30-minute documentary that includes the director, writers, costume designers, producers, choreographers along with some original dancers. Gene Kelly’s widow is also interviewed giving insight into what it was like for him in his last role. She said he was disappointed in the end result of the film but enjoyed the music and dancing with Newton-John.
A vintage 1980 sizzle real is included which is remastered in 2K along with TV spots, radio spots, and the theatrical trailer. There are trailers from other films released around the same time including Can’t Stop the Music, Zoot Suit, Staying Alive, and Secret Admirer.
If you are a fan of Xanadu, you will want to add this to your collection and watch this fun musical fantasy in a new and gorgeous way. You might easily find yourself singing and dancing along as I did.
Gordon S. Miller reviewed the A/V aspects of the discs.
