"You have to believe we are magic
Nothin' can stand in our way"

As movie and music-lovers here at the Rio Theatre, we were saddened to learn of the recent passing of singer and actress Olivia Newton-John. An Australian icon who was beloved around the world for her sparkling yet totally unconscious persona, magnetic charm, and distinct vocal talents garnered her legions of "hopelessly devoted" fans over the course of a career that ultimately spanned decades.

As such, we are raising a glass and tipping our collective cinematic hat to the late actress with a screening of the notorious, 1980 roller-disco musical fantasy XANADU. Considered a box-office flop upon its release, the film's soundtrack - featuring songs and music from Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra, Cliff Richard, and the Tubes - became a massive global smash.

Newton-John, Hollywood legend Gene Kelly (in his final on-screen appearance), and Michael Beck (THE WARRIORS) star in this deliciously frothy tale about a girl... "who makes dreams comes true. " The film follows a beautiful muse (Newton-John), who inspires an artist and his older friend to convert a dilapidated auditorium into a lavish rollerskating club.

In the decades since its release, XANADU has since emerged as a cult classic for the way it mixes its storyline from a "golden age" Hollywood fantasy with a decidedly disco, 70s aesthetic.

"It was never designed to age well and oddly, because of that fact, it remains relevant to this day. It's this impermanence that makes Xanadu feel significant; a then-product now-relic of the 1970s that celebrates the disco-era long after its demise." (Film Inquiry)

"... Quite extraordinary, an epic mashup of disco flash, golden age Hollywood glamour and some strange VR-style inner-space scenes. 'Xanadu' is entirely bonkers, but fun. The opening roller-disco dance scene, led by Gene Kelly himself, is surreal and spectacular." (Guardian UK)

Friday, August 19
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 8:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

XANADU (Robert Greenwald, 1980 / 96 mins / PG) Struggling artist Sonny Malone is trapped in a dull job painting album covers. He is instantly attracted to Kira, an anonymous woman randomly photographed in the background of one of his assignments, but no one is able to identify her. Visiting the auditorium where the cover was shot, Sonny finds the mysterious beauty, an ageless Greek muse, who encourages him to team up with old-fashioned Danny McGuire to build a roller-skating disco.