Phantom Of The Paradise Details

1974

Rated:
60
from 377 members

Starring	Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, William Finley, George Memmoli
Director	Brian De Palma
Genres	Music/Musical

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Phantom Of The Paradise

Brian De Palma's great, overlooked 1970s glitter-rock comedy-musical spectacle is a memorable combination of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and FAUST. Winslow Leach (William Finley) is a talented young rock composer/janitor whose music is stolen and whose life is destroyed by a ruthless record tycoon named Swan (Paul Williams)--who just happens to have sold his soul in exchange for rock-n-roll success and eternal youth. The ruined and disfigured Leach becomes the Phantom, an imposing leather-clad creature who is hell-bent on demolishing Swan as the diabolical music mogul prepares to open his biggest venture yet-- a rock-and-roll palace called the Paradise. Eerily prescient in it's depiction of yet-to-exist musical genres, this stunningly original and darkly comic rock nightmare features voice-over narration by Rod Serling, and memorable original songs by Williams.

Starring	Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, William Finley, George Memmoli, Gerrit Graham
Director	Brian De Palma
Studio	20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 31 mins
Certificate
Genres	Music/Musical
Language	DVD: English
Dubbed	French
Subtitles	DVD: English, French
Released	DVD: 30 Jun 2003 Production year: 1974
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (3) of Phantom Of The Paradise
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Arguably the best musical comedy fantasy on film after The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Brian De Palma's funky retelling of the Faust legend via The Phantom of the Opera is a savvy satire on the rock industry, delivering plenty of diabolical chills in the pop process. Paul Williams may be hard to take as the eternally youthful impresario who lusts after songstress Jessica Harper, but Gerrit Graham is superb as the effeminate glam-rocker Beef. This being a De Palma film, the Hitchcock references are in abundance, including the wittiest Psycho shower scene send-up ever. And Sissy Spacek designed the sets!
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Despite the dread MOR dirges given to Harper's crooning ingenue, arguably De Palma's finest film. A highly inventive... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful member's review of Phantom Of The Paradise
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6 out of 9 people found this review helpful

What an odd little film

I enjoyed it, but it was strange. Hard to decide whether Phantom of the Opera or Faust is its strongest influence, but taking into account the black satirising of the music industry, I'd have to go with Faust. Paul Williams as Swan is creepily convincing, and Gerrit Graham is extremely funny as Beef. Liked the music and general design, but while I was entertained I probably wouldn't feel the need to watch it again.
- - Darth Egregious from London
  - Posted 12 Jul 2005 01:24
Most recent members' review of Phantom Of The Paradise
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

1970's Excess

This is a high camp black comedy melodrama, retelling the story of The Phantom of the Opera. It is set in the early 1970's, and satirizes the greed and coruption of the record industry. There are very few concessions to good taste, especially in the music, but it is very funny, and visually spectacular.

Also contains references to several other tales, including 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Picture of Dorian Grey'.
- - Jon23 from Bristol
  - Posted 19 Dec 2004 20:49
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