Phantom Of The Paradise
The Most Highly Acclaimed Horror Phantasy Of Our Time.
Paul Williams wrote the acclaimed rock and roll score for this musical horror classic, and stars as an evil record tycoon haunted and taunted by a disfigured composer once wronged. Cheered by Los Angeles Times as a "delightful outrageous... visual triumph," this hilarious send-up of the glam rock era is pure entertainment from beginning to end!
Member Reviews
I look away - CaptainRhodes
I stumbled on the preview to this while I was about to watch the Innocents. Let me just say that I am glad I saw that cringe inducing trailer before attempting to ever see such nonsense in the full length feature. Wow, one must be out of the mind to enjoy and then without shame praise it to high heaven. It is works such as these that empty my faith in man.Phantom of the Paradise - julianrjh
I watched this movie when I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, and yet somehow I found myself getting thoroughly involved in it. What a strange, quirky little movie this one is! It was like Phantom of the Opera by way of Rocky Horror Picture Show with some Carrie thrown in there. Definitely the type of movie you only catch once in a while and that sticks with you. Whatever happened to Jessica Harper? She was really good in this and in Suspiria. It's a shame.DePalma classic hits a new nerve - MrsWLeach
If you had told the cast of this movie, 30 years ago, that they would, 3 decades later, be treated to a standing ovation, they would have run the other way, very quickly, or patted you on the head and wished you well in your 'recovery' . But, surprise surprise! Guess what???
A movie born out of frustration with an industry that treats artists with all the respect a baby shows a diaper, DePalma gave his villian (SWAN--in a BRILLIANT piece of ironic casting with Paul Williams) an evilness that could possibly be matched by Left Behind's Nicolae Carpathia!
Swan likes the songs by Winslow Leach (William Finley--the most UNDER-RATED actors around) he just doesn't like Winslow. So, he orchestrates his bannishment from his establishment while auditioning singers (including JESSICA HARPER). And while Winslow has no problem with her singing his music, he just wants it in the same shape he wrote it in and NOT performed by the Juicy Fruits( Archie Hahn, Jeff Comanor, Peter Elbling/Harold Oblong).
Following several attempts to meet Swan, Winslow's beat up, set up for a stretch in the slammer for drug possession. His escape and attempt to sabotage Swan's production backfires, forcing Winslow to camoflague his facial deformity behind a very stylish mask. Once the mask is on the gloves come off until the only one left standing at the end of this musical battle royale is the girl.
For better or worse, this movie appeals to an anger in kids TODAY. "Nobody cares what anything's about"- Philbin- Interestingly, many of the people who took part in the winnipeg-based reunion were kids who wanted to thank 'the Phantom' for giving them a voice.
Member Reviews
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I look away - CaptainRhodes
I stumbled on the preview to this while I was about to watch the Innocents. Let me just say that I am glad I saw that cringe inducing trailer before attempting to ever see such nonsense in the full length feature. Wow, one must be out of the mind to enjoy ...Phantom of the Paradise - julianrjh
I watched this movie when I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, and yet somehow I found myself getting thoroughly involved in it. What a strange, quirky little movie this one is! It was like Phantom of the Opera by way of Rocky Horror Picture Show ...DePalma classic hits a new nerve - MrsWLeach
If you had told the cast of this movie, 30 years ago, that they would, 3 decades later, be treated to a standing ovation, they would have run the other way, very quickly, or patted you on the head and wished you well in your 'recovery' . But, surprise surprise! ...