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
- 2004
- Add 20th Century Masters: The Best of Olivia Newton-John to QueueAdd 20th Century Masters: The Best of Olivia Newton-John to top of Queue
Australian songbird Olivia Newton-John was one of the most popular recording artists of the '70s and '80s, and this home video release brings together music videos for some of her biggest hits. 20th Century Masters: The Best of Olivia Newton-John features performances of "Physical," "A Little More Love," "Deeper Than the Night," "Heart Attack," and "Totally Hot." ~ 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)
- 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)
- 2008
Four time world record holding endurance swimmer Martin Strel attempts to swim all 3,375 miles of the mighty Amazon River as filmmaker John Maringoin follows him on every stroke of his treacherous and fantastic journey. Over the course of sixty-six grueling days, the hard-drinking, overweight, fifty-two year old Strel would draw on sheer willpower to accomplish his lofty goal as a hand-picked group of faith-healers, outsiders, and drunks cheered him along from the shoreline. The resulting is a film that not only focuses on the trials that Strel endured on his record-breaking swim, but also draws much-needed attention to the Amazonian Rain Forest - a landscape that faces an uncertain future due to the combined stresses of progress and pollution. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Strel
- 1999
Hosted by breast cancer survivor Olivia Newton-John, this program takes a look at how exposure to toxins and radiation in the environment can increase a person's chances of being diagnosed with this serious disease. Experts share their thoughts about the contents of drinking water and the feed given to cattle and other animals that are eventually eaten by humans. Just as air pollution can affect crops, industrial waste gets into streams that grazing animals or humans may drink. Special emphasis is placed on those aspects of the environment that demand immediate human intervention if they are to be kept pure. The basic aspects of breast cancer are explained in a way that leaves the viewer to draw his or her own conclusion about whether or not the environment is contributing to the development of this disease. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John
"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 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)
- 1999
- Add Mannheim Steamroller: The Christmas Angel - A Story on Ice to QueueAdd Mannheim Steamroller: The Christmas Angel - A Story on Ice to top of Queue
This video features the best-selling Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller, combined with the world-class figure skating of Dorothy Hamill and Elvis Stojko. The production is narrated by Olivia Newton-John and American Gramaphone founder Chip Davis. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- 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
- 2000
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New Age/pop composer and pianist Jim Brickman headlines this eclectic musical performance. Known for the catchy jingles he composed for diverse entities such as The Gap, Kellogg's, Isuzu, The Muppet Show, and Sesame Street, Brickman joins forces with other pop powerhouses for this concert. Recorded live at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, the video features guests like Olivia Newton-John, Dave Koz, David Benoit, and Donny Osmond chiming in on Brickman's original tunes. A sampling of the featured songs includes Glory, Love of My Life, Valentine, Change of Heart, The Love I Found In You, Partners in Crime, and By Heart. The underlying theme of romance is evident throughout the performances, as Brickman's luxuriant compositions and the sensitive vocals attest. Some extras appear on the DVD version of this title, such as still photos and behind-the-scenes footage.
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- 2007
In concert filmed live at the Sydney Opera House, pop singer and Australian icon Olivia Newton-John performs many of her most loved and recognized hits including "Physical," "I Honestly Love You," and "Xanadu" with the accompaniment of the Sydney Symphony. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, (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
- 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
Writer-director Del Shores serves up a heaping helping of Southern-fried comic melodrama in this adaptation of his own play about infidelity, country & western music, and Airstream trailers. When their sister dies, Latrelle (Bonnie Bedelia), LaVonda (Ann Walker), and Sissy (Beth Grant) plan her funeral -- an unenviable task, considering that they must carefully hide the deceased's affair with amputee G.W. (Beau Bridges) from his wife, the vindictive Noleta (Delta Burke). Meanwhile, the trio has to come to terms with two cases of sexual orientation: Latrelle's openly gay soap-opera star son Ty (Kirk Geiger), whose sexuality she continues to deny; and their only brother, Boy (Leslie Jordan), who's serving a sentence in a mental ward for his adamant belief that he is actually country & western legend Tammy Wynette. Playing an aspiring singer-songwriter, Olivia Newton-John turns up to provide the film with the occasional musical interlude. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Newell Alexander, Rosemary Alexander, (more)
- 2003
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Littlefoot the Dinosaur sets out on a spectacular journey and makes a very unexpected discovery in this, the tenth film in the Land Before Time series. Youthful brontosaurus Littlefoot (voice of Alec Medlock) has a vivid dream in which he imagines travelling to a far-away land where there are many of his kind, and when he tells the story to his grandparents (voices of Kenneth Mars and Mariam Flynn), they take it as a sign to set out and find this mysterious place. After days of travel, Littlefoot and his family do, indeed, discover a new world where longneck dinosaurs are plentiful, including one they never expected to see -- Bron (voice of Kiefer Sutherland), Littlefoot's father, who went missing before he was born. While Littlefoot is thrilled to be reunited with his father, now he must choose if he should stay with Bron, or the grandparents who have cared for him for years. The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration also features the voice talents of James Garner and Bernadette Peters; Olivia Newton-John sings the theme song. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 2001
This made-for-cable comedy-drama stars Olivia Newton-John as Jasmine Wilde, a former teen idol who is trying to put her reckless past behind her and live a quiet, inconspicuous life in a small Georgia community where she's raising a teenage daughter, Izzy (Chloe Rose), on her own. Jasmine's best friend Sierra (Swoosie Kurtz) discovers that Izzy has a remarkable gift as a singer, and decides to surprise both mother and daughter by arranging an audition for Izzy with a well-known record producer. While the producer is more than impressed, the incident also blows Jasmine's cover, and what was intended to be an exciting visit to Los Angeles for Izzy becomes a nightmare for her mom, as Jasmine takes an unexpected jog down memory lane, reliving the low points of her career and encountering Izzy's father for the first time in years. The Wilde Girls was written and directed by Del Shores. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Newton-John, Chloe Rose, (more)
