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Phantom of the Paradise | 
 enlarge | Director: Brian De Palma
Actors: Paul Williams (iii), William Finley, Jessica Harper, George Memmoli, Gerrit Graham
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.64
You Save: $5.34 (54%)
New (34) Used (12) from $4.64
Rating:  150 reviews
Sales Rank: 6895
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D2002377D
UPC: 024543023777
EAN: 0024543023777
ASIN: B00005LIRB
Theatrical Release Date: October 31, 1974
Release Date: September 4, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Describing Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise as an update of the classic Phantom of the Opera doesn't do justice to this demented movie. While De Palma's Hitchcock homages have sometimes led him into dead ends, this rock & roll remake seems to have liberated De Palma's imagination, and the result is weird and funny, with the scruffy underground spirit of the director's early pictures. The Phantom is one Winslow Leach (William Finley), a nerdy songwriter whose "pop cantata" on the subject of Faust is stolen by a freakish, Phil Spector-like rock impresario called Swan (Paul Williams). After getting his head caught in a vinyl-LP compressor, Leach is transformed into a masked creature, haunting Swan's music palace, the Paradise. De Palma proves how nimbly he can establish narrative rhythm: the story moves like a cannon shot, and the musical numbers (especially in the Alice Cooper-like Paradise sequences) are brilliantly cut. The movie seems to predict the Studio 54 scene, MTV, and punk rock--the last, especially, in the figure of Beef, a screeching singer played by the unhinged Gerrit Graham. The songs were written by Paul Williams, that diminutive '70s music icon (he cowrote the Barbra Streisand wet noodle "Evergreen"), and his performance is a reminder of his peculiar, self-spoofing presence: at one point, the preening Swan announces, "You know how I abhor perfection in anyone but myself." Comedy, musical, horror film, '70s artifact--this movie isn't quite definable, and that's what's wonderful about it. --Robert Horton
Description
Composer Winslow Leach (William Finley) is determined to seek revenge on Swan (Williams), an evil record tycoon who steals his pop cantana of the Faust legend to launch his enemy's palace as the mysterious Phantom of the Paradise and continues to plan his gruesome retaliation.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 145 more reviews...
 Classic Literature Meets 70s Horror + Music October 14, 2008
Bradley Headstone (New York)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
While I can't quite give this movie 5 stars, it is a really interesting combination of several elements. ('Phantom of the Opera,' 'Faustus,' 'Picture of Dorian gray,' 70s styles, 70s music, and even an interesting foreshadow of 80s music.)
The movie starts innocently enough with a 50s style song. (Though the lyrics to the song kind of foreshadow the tragic end.) We then see Phil asking his boss Swan to wreck a star that he feels double crossed him. (Immediately, the dark characters of Phil and Swan are revealed to us.) Swan then notices the naive and innocent Winslow; he decides he wants Winslow's music. (To make a long story short, Winslow gets arrested; he escapes, but gets disfigured. Only at the end do we truly discover just how disfigured he became. One injury, that we don't find out until the end is especially tragic.)
Hateful of Swan more than ever, Winslow seeks revenge. He loses some of our sympathy as he kills several people who had nothing to do with his injuries. Swan (Paul Williams) is nothing short of phenomenal when he smoothly arranges an at least temporary reconciliation with Winslow. With no violence, there is a moment of pure terror when Swan gets Winslow to sign an 'unholy contract.'
From here, the story offers us an interesting release of tension, and allows us to see some different types of 70s music. A truly memorable moment here is when Swan says: "You know I abhor perfection in anyone but myself."
With Winslow and Swan on peaceful terms (at least for the moment), Swan recruits a group to perform Winslow's music. (The group has a 'Faint resemblance' to KISS) Swan also recruits an openly gay guitarist/vocalist whose guitar and musical style seems to foreshadow the 80s. On stage though, he acts really masculine. (Interesting)
Outraged that someone he doesn't like is performing his music, Winslow murders him. (He loses some of our sympathy here in that this new guitarist/vocalist had nothing to do with what Winslow suffered.) Now we see that Swan loves anything that will be 'entertaining.' An especially frightening moment is when Winslow tries to kill himself, and Swan makes it clear that by signing the contract, Winslow has given up his 'right to rest in peace.'
From here, all traces of comedy disappear, and we have a frightening and brutal climax. One change I would have made is that rather than telling falsehoods here and there, I would have had Swan deceptive, but always being able to claim a truth under the deception. (Take the witches in "Macbeth") But that said, this is an interesting 70s horror with great music; it has an interesting meeting of classic literature; and the acting is superb. This is a phenomenal way to have a 70s night.
 Great Movie, Great Music September 29, 2008
Randall J. Olaughlin (Springfield Oregon)
I first watched this movie on a CATV system in Escondido CA USA around 1975 - and loved it then. I bought a new DVD just to update the media because the old tape was getting scratchy.
It's still a great movie and I still love the music, except it can get into my head - and I sing it all the time.
It's a great musical and horror (not very scary) and I still love it!
Randall O'Laughlin
Essential for any cult movie fan! September 22, 2008
ChibiNeko (Here)
As a child I remember watching this movie several times on cable tv. I never quite understood what was going on, but I loved the songs & the costumes. When I got older I managed to catch it once again & well in love with it all over again. Like others have said, it might not have aged as well or be as famous as other cult films of the era are, but it is one of the best out there.
The plotline follows that of several tales (Faust, Dorian Grey, Phantom of the Opera) as the main character of Winslow Leach writes his music & finds a girl, only to lose both to the demonic music producer Swan. While trying to regain his music, Winslow becomes damaged by a record press & hides in Swan's new music house "The Paradise". From there the movie hits full gear & some of the best numbers can be heard.
For the most part this movie is a joy to watch. It's quite obviously a satire of many different types of singing genres & stories, but it can still be taken seriously for the most part. Some will be a bit turned off by how dated the movie feels, but it's worth sticking around for.
 Phantom of the Paradise August 28, 2008
C. Richardson (Calgary,Alberta)
Lost a bit over the years!Hasn't stood up as well as Saturday Night Fever or Grease...but still fun.
Paradise!!! July 27, 2008
Stevie Bloom
This movie, with Paul Williams ingenius creativity in the movie, the music, everything about it, would not be the same without him.
Like Rocky Horror, just one of those early cult 70's movies you just HAVE to see.
LOVED IT!!!
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