Phantom of the Paradise
He sold his soul for rock n’ roll!
Overview
Singer-songwriter Winslow Leach seeks revenge on the nefarious music producer Swan, who steals both Winslow's music and his favorite singer for the grand opening of his new rock palace, the Paradise.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Phantom of the Paradise was released in 1974 and was directed by Brian De Palma. The film is a rock musical that parodies both the classic novel 'The Phantom of the Opera' and the music industry, with several references to real-life musicians like Phil Spector and Elvis Presley.
- The movie is a rock musical with a unique blend of comedy, horror, and romance, making it an entertaining and unconventional experience.
- Phantom of the Paradise showcases innovative musical performances by Paul Williams, Ross Altman, and Jennifer Holliday, which are still widely appreciated today.
- The film offers intriguing themes such as obsession, redemption, and the dark side of fame that resonate with modern audiences.
- Its unconventional take on the classic Phantom of the Opera story sets it apart from other musical films.
Fun Facts
- Paul Williams, who wrote the songs for the film, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'I Never Love a Man (The Way I Love You)', which was originally sung by Raquel Welch in the movie.
- In the film, Winslow Leach's character wears a mask throughout most of the story. This mask is actually made from Brian De Palma's own face, casted and painted to appear as a death mask.
- The Paradise nightclub in the film was built on a soundstage with a functioning roller coaster and other amusement park rides, adding to the surreal and immersive atmosphere.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"He sold his soul for rock n’ roll!"
Italiano
IT
Title: Il fantasma del palcoscenico
"Ha venduto la sua anima per il rock n'roll"
Français
FR
Title:
""
Deutsch
DE
Title: Das Phantom im Paradies
""
Español
ES
Title: El fantasma del paraíso
"Vendió su alma por el Rock n' Roll."
Português
PT
Title: O Fantasma do Paraíso
""
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
William Finley as the eponymous character and Paul Williams as the duplicitous record producer "Swan" both ham up enjoyably in this update of the Gaston Leroux novel. "Finley" is writing a cantata, parts of which are overheard by the unscrupulous "Swan" who gets his sidekick "Philbin" (George Memmoli) to pinch the score. Next thing, auditions are ongoing and the poor old writer has been well and truly sidelined. He's determined to wreak his revenge, a determination amplified after an accident sees him hideously disfigured. With chaos ensuing all around, "Swan" decides to try and make a peace with his nemesis - but pretty soon it's clear that's never going to work and as the opening night of the rock club "The Paradise" looms ever closer, you have to wonder if you'd really want a ticket after all. It's good fun this film with some entertaining performances at the top, Jessica Harper holds her own as the feisty chanteuse "Phoenix" and there's just about enough menacing megalomania to prevent it descending into farce. It's quite easy to see how many subsequent films or concepts it may have spawned as it takes much from musical theatre and high drama and mingles them into something that's a sort of an hybrid of the "Man from U.N.C.L.E" and "Jesus Christ Superstar". Williams also wrote much of the of the original soundtrack with a few power ballads packed in to keep the pace moving along and it's worth sticking about for the credits. It has dated, but I still enjoyed it.
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
MUSIC (Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation -or- Scoring: Adaptation) - 1974
Paul Williams, George Aliceson Tipton
Media
Clip
Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye...
Trailer
Trailer
Featurette
Excerpt from the Fantasia interview with Paul Williams