Olivia Newton-John Movies
Olivia Newton-John was an extremely popular country/ pop singer during the seventies whose best known songs include If You Love Me (Let Me know), Have You Never Been Mellow, and I Honestly Love You. Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England but raised in Australia. As a singer she got her start as a teenager performing in England. When she first burst onto the U.S. scene, she was known as a country singer, but soon crossed-over into pop. Newton-John went on to earn numerous gold records and won many awards, including the Grammy. In 1981, she had her biggest hit with Physical. In 1978, she broadened her horizons and became an actress, starring in the smash-hit film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease. Following the success of that film, she starred in the musical fantasy Xanadu and bombed at the box-office. Still, as did Grease, which provided her with hits such as Hopelessly Devoted to You and the duet with co-star John Travolta You're the One That I Want, the Xanadu soundtrack provided her a hit with the title song, Magic. Her next film Two of a Kind, again co-starring Travolta, also bombed. As an actress she later appeared in a few episodes of Timeless Tales from Hallmark. In 1983, Newton-John returned to Australia because she was being stalked by a killer. Following his arrest, she returned to Hollywood and opened a chain of clothing stores, Koala Blue, in which she served interesting health drinks and Australian clothing. The chain went bankrupt in the early '90s. Newton-John was preparing to jump-start her music career in 1992 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer (her father had died of cancer just two weeks before her own diagnosis).She underwent a partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Newton-John returned to film, making a cameo appearance in the 1996 AIDS melodrama It's My Party. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
This insipid science fiction musical concerns a group of students paying their way through school by forming a pop band. The group is led by Olivia Newton-John, and organist Vic Cooper has invented an instrument called the "tonaliser." The sonic vibrations from the invention causes an extra-terrestrial (Roy Dotrice) to beam up the group to entertain the Alphoid population. The film title refers to the group name. Newton-John would go on to a successful singing and acting career, most notably in the 1978 musical Grease. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Benny Thomas, (more)
- 1975
- PG
A woman struggles to rebuild her life after a devastating accident in this drama based on the true story of Jill Kinmont. Kinmont (played by Marilyn Hassett) was a top ranked amateur downhill skier who seemed assured of a place on the 1956 Olympic team. But while racing in Utah's Snow Cup competition, Kinmont suffered a serious fall from a mountain that left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. Kinmont became severely depressed; her career as an athlete was over, and her fiancée, who couldn't deal with the emotional toll of her accident, left her. But when she met pilot Dick Buek (Beau Bridges), she found both love and a new inspiration to make a career for herself as a teacher. But Kinmont discovered she still had more mountains to climb when Buek died in the crash of a small plane. Marilyn Hassett won a Golden Globe award for her performance as Jill Kinmont, and she reprised the role in a sequel two years later. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marilyn Hassett, Beau Bridges, (more)
"Grease," said the poster and the Barry Gibb song, "is the word." Transferring its setting from Chicago to sunny California, and adding a dash of disco to the ersatz '50s score, producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser turned this long-running Jim Jacobs - Warren Casey Broadway smash into the biggest blockbuster of 1978. 1950s teens Danny (John Travolta) and Australian transfer Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) spend their "Summer Nights" falling in love, but once fall comes, it's back to Rydell High and its cliques. As one of the bad boy T-Birds, Danny has to act cool for best pal Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) and their leather-clad mates Sonny (Michael Tucci) and Doody (Barry Pearl, in the role Travolta played on stage). Despite befriending Frenchy (Didi Conn), one of the rebel Pink Ladies, virginal Sandy is "too pure to be Pink," as the Ladies' leader Rizzo (Stockard Channing) acidly observes. Declaring their devotion in such ballads as "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Sandy," Sandy and Danny split, reconcile, and split again amidst a pep rally, dances, drive-ins, and a drag race, before deciding "You're the One That I Want" at the climactic carnival. With Travolta white-hot from Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease soundtrack singles climbed the charts and summer movie crowds poured in. With the presence of Joan Blondell, Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes and Frankie Avalon appealing to grown-up memories, Grease became the highest grossing film of 1978, the highest grossing movie musical ever, and the third most popular film of the new blockbuster '70s after Star Wars (1977) and Jaws (1975). Its sequel, Grease 2, did not exactly set the world on fire in 1982. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, (more)
In this film, the mysterious Kira (Olivia Newton-John) appears to assist and inspire a young artist, Sonny Malone (Michael Beck). When she helps him meet up with the rich Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly), the two join up together to create an artistic and business success, an unique club called "Xanadu." ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, (more)
- 1982
This 1982 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Olivia Newton-John, who also serves as the musical guest. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John
- 1983
- PG
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John attempt to rekindle the box office sparks of Grease with this screwball fantasy comedy. The tale begins during a golf match in heaven among four angels --Charlie (Charles Durning), Earl (Scatman Crothers), Gonzales (Castulo Guerra), and Ruth (Beatrice Straight)-- who have been in charge of heaven for the last twenty-five years. But their game is interrupted by God (voice of Gene Hackman), who has now returned to the office and doesn't like what he sees down on earth. God wants to order up another flood and start all over again, but the angels persuade God to reconsider, reasoning that if a typical earth man can reform, it would prove that all mankind is capable of it. God agrees to the scheme and the typical man selected is Zack Melon (John Travolta) a failed inventor who, threatened by loan sharks, decides to hold up a bank. Zack points his gun at bank teller Debbie Wylder (Olivia Newton-John) and she gives him all of the money. But when Zack peers into the sack after the robbery, he sees that Debbie has substituted bank deposit slips for the cash and realizes that she has kept the money for herself. Zack tracks her down to reclaim his stolen money and the two fall in love. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, (more)
- 1984
Enjoy the sounds of Olivia Newton-John's songs with titles such as "Two of a Kind," "Livin' in Desperate Times"and "Take a Chance." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1990
After a store mannequin comes to life to help a widower and his daughter, the 2 humans do everything they can to keep her alive. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Doug Sheehan, (more)
- 1990
The traditional fairy tale of the sad little duckling who looks different from the rest of his family and friends is told in an animated format with live-action segments. Olivia Newton-John hosts this version of the classic, beginning when the ugly duckling is abandoned by his family, who fly south for the winter and leave him behind. He is befriended by the warm-hearted Runabout Rabbit, but he soon finds out he does not fit in with the bunnies. After a coming-of-age change, the duckling learns that being unusual does not mean being ugly and that sometimes being different can be beautiful. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
- 1990
From the Hanna-Barbera collection, this animated video by Hallmark presents the Hans Christian Andersen classic. "Thumbelina" is the story of a miniature princess and the adventures involved in seeking her true love. The story teaches virtues, in keeping with fairy tale tradition, with illustrations reflective of the gentle greeting-card style affiliated with Hallmark. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The beloved fairy tale of the captive princess with the long, golden hair is brought to the screen in this animated adaptation, which was produced for Hallmark by the Hannah-Barbera Studios. Timeless Tales from Hallmark: Rapunzel also features the vocal talents of singer and actress Olvia Newton-John. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Olivia Newton-John stars in this sentimental TV movie as Julia Stonecypher, an impoverished widow with two daughters. Living in a remote mountain cabin, Julia relies upon the meager income received from the cakes she bakes for the local townsfolk. Unfortunately, it isn't quite enough to pay the mortgage, and just before Christmas straight-laced bank manager Brian Harding (Gregory Harrison) shows up at Julia's doorstep, announcing that he'll be forced to foreclose on her. Startled by Julia's violent reaction, Brian rushes away from her house, only to be involved in a car accident. With a snowstorm fast approaching, Julia takes the injured Brian to her house to take care of him. Forced by the bad weather to remain longer than expected, Brian inevitably falls in love with Julia -- but will romance supersede his financial responsibilities? In addition to heading the cast, Olivia Newton-John also sings the opening song "The Way of Love." Filmed on location in Vancouver, A Christmas Romance first aired December 18, 1994, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Gregory Harrison, (more)
In this bittersweet comedy drama, a man nearing the end of his life seeks closure with his family and friends, and he confronts the issues of the right to die. Nick Stark (Eric Roberts) is a successful architect who is openly gay. He was involved in a committed relationship with Brandon Theis (Gregory Harrison), a television director, until Nick discovered that he's HIV-positive. Nick's first question to Brandon is "You won't leave me, will you? I don't want to die alone." Brandon, however, doesn't have the emotional strength to deal with Nick's condition and soon moves on. Several years later, even though Nick has been mindful of his health, he begins to display symptoms of full-blown AIDS, most notably the brain lesions that indicate Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, an AIDS-related illness that has already claimed several of his friends. Wanting to go out with his dignity intact, Nick decides to throw one last party, which will give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his friends and family while he's still lucid -- shortly after which he intends to take his own life with painkillers. Nick attempts to make peace with his mother and father (Lee Grant and George Segal), who had difficulty accepting their son's lifestyle, and he enjoys a last laugh with his close friends, until Brandon -- who is hardly welcomed by the group -- shows up. Appearing as Nick's friends and family are Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Bruce Davison, Sally Kellerman, Marlee Matlin, Roddy McDowall, and Dennis Christopher. Writer and director Randal Kleiser loosely based It's My Party on his own personal experiences when his longtime companion was diagnosed with AIDS and opted to take his own life before his symptoms became too severe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, (more)
- 1997
Feeling that she is living on borrowed time, Murphy wants to fulfill a lifelong dream: conducting a symphony orchestra. She is given this chance during a charity auction, only to find that Olivia Newton-John) is determined to fulfill the same dream herself. Meanwhile, Jim (Charles Kimbrough) launches a campaign to win back his estranged wife Doris. With this episode (originally scheduled to air on November 24, 1997), Concetta Tomei takes over from Janet Carroll in the role of Doris Dial. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
