Gene Kelly had charmed his way into Hollywood, getting discovered by legendary producer David O. Selznick while performing on Broadway. Enchanted by his charisma, Selznick quickly signed Kelly. Unfortunately, he didn't have an appropriate vehicle for the dancing dynamo. MGM, known for its musicals, did. Thus Selznick sold a half interest in Kelly to MGM, who promptly cast him beside Judy Garland in 1942's For Me and My Girl. Gene Kelly was embarrassed by the film, thinking he looked awkward onscreen. Audiences disagreed and the film was a success. Soon MGM purchased Gene's entire contract and he became one of their biggest stars.
By 1980, Mr. Kelly was in semi-retirement. His previous film co-starring Evel Knievel was a huge disappointment and he was satisfied to leave his motion picture career behind. Robert Greenwald thought he had the perfect comeback vehicle for Kelly- 1980's Xanadu. The musical fantasy starred then it-girl Olivia Newton John and boasted a soundtrack from Electric Light Orchestra. With Gene Kelly onboard, the project had an inescapable pedigree that made Universal Pictures confident they had a hit on their hands. They didn't. The film was a massive disaster, cementing Kelly's decision to retire from acting once and for all.
