Phantom of the Paradise is a 1974 American musical rock opera horror comedy film written and directed by Brian De Palma, and scored past and starring Paul Williams. In the film, a disfigured composer writes his music for a woman he loves and so that she will perform his music. All the same, a record producer betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise. Betrayed, the composer dons a new appearance and exacts revenge on the producer. Information technology co-stars William Finley and Jessica Harper.
The story is a loosely adapted mixture of several archetype European
works: Gaston Leroux's novelThe Phantom of the Opera,[2] Oscar Wilde'southwardThe Picture of Dorian Grey,[3] andFaust by Goethe/Christopher Marlowe.[4]
Initially, the motion-picture show was a box office failure and received negative reviews, however it earned praise for its music, receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Over the years, the film has received much more positive reviews and has become a cult movie.
Plot[]
The story follows music composer/vocalist Winslow Leach, heard by satanic tape producer Swan every bit he played an original composition post-obit a ready run through past the 1950s' style nostalgia ringThe Juicy Fruits, which Swan produces. Swan believes Winslow's music perfect to open up "The Paradise" – Swan's highly anticipated new concert hall – and has his right-mitt human Arnold Philbin steal it under the guise of producing him. I month later, Winslow goes to Swan's Death Records to follow up about his music but is thrown out. He sneaks into Swan'south individual mansion and observes several women rehearsing his music for an audition. One is Phoenix, an aspiring vocaliser, who Winslow deems "perfect" for his music. Winslow realizes Swan'due south program to open up the Paradise with his music subsequently he is thrown out again. In response, Winslow disguises himself as a woman to sneak in and try to speak to Swan. Swan has Winslow beaten up and framed for drug dealing. Winslow is given a life judgement in Sing Sing Prison house and his teeth are extracted and replaced with metal ones (part of an experimental prisoner program to subtract infection amid inmates, funded past the Swan Foundation.)
Six months later, Winslow hears thatThe Juicy Fruits have made an predictable hit record of his music with Swan's backing. After a breakdown Winslow escapes prison house in a commitment box and breaks into the Expiry Records building. A guard startles Winslow as he is destroying the records and presses, causing him to sideslip and fall face first into a record press, which crushes and burns his confront and destroys his vocal cords. A disoriented, and now deformed, Winslow sneaks into the Paradise costume department and dons a long, black greatcoat and a silver, owl-like mask, becoming the Phantom of the Paradise. He terrorizes Swan and his musicians and well-nigh killsThe Beach Bums (the formerThe Juicy Fruits, who have traded doo-wop for surf music). The Phantom confronts Swan who recognizes him as Winslow and offers the composer a chance to have his music produced "his" way. In a specially built recording studio, Swan provides the Phantom with an electronic vocalization-box, enabling him to speak and sing. Swan asks Winslow to rewrite his cantata with Phoenix in mind for the lead. Although Winslow agrees and signs a contract in blood, Swan breaks the deal by telling Philbin that he resents Phoenix'southward "perfection" for the part. The Phantom completesFaust, simply Swan replaces Phoenix with a pill-popping male glam stone Prima donna named "Beefiness" in the atomic number 82 of Winslow'sFaust and moves Phoenix to the part of fill-in singer.
Swan steals the completed cantata and seals the Phantom inside the recording studio with a brick wall. Winslow escapes and confronts Beef (a comic allusion to the shower scene inPsycho) and threatens to kill him if he performs. Beefiness tries to flee, merely is convinced by Philbin to stay and play with the bandThe Undeads (the formerJuicy Fruits andBeach Bums) a glam/Goth act who all resemble Cesare the Somnambulist fromThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Equally Beef performs, the Phantom, hidden in the rafters, strikes and electrocutes Beef with a stage prop. Horrified, Philbin orders Phoenix onstage and Phoenix is an firsthand awareness. Swan seduces Phoenix in her dressing room after the prove with promises of stardom. As she leaves, she is spirited abroad by the Phantom to the roof. The Phantom tells Phoenix his true identity and implores her to leave the Paradise so Swan won't destroy her. Only Phoenix doesn't recognize or believe him and flees. At the Swan'due south mansion, the Phantom observes Swan and Phoenix in a tight embrace. Heartbroken, he stabs himself through the heart with a bowie knife. However, Swan tells the Phantom that he cannot die until Swan himself has died. The Phantom attempts to stab Swan, but Swan is unharmed. Looking down at Winslow, Swan hisses in an almost reptilian vocalization, "I'm under contract, as well."
Rolling Stone announces the nuptials between Swan and Phoenix duringFaust'south finale. The Phantom learns that Swan made a pact with the Devil over 20 years ago: Swan will remain youthful forever unless the videotaped recording of his contract is destroyed, and photos age and fester in his place. The tape reveals footage of Winslow signing his contract with Swan and a new 1 Swan fabricated with Phoenix. On a live TV camera, the Phantom realizes Swan is planning to accept Phoenix assassinated during the ceremony. The Phantom destroys all the recordings and heads off to the wedding. During the nuptials, the Phantom stops the assassin from hitting Phoenix, who instead shoots and kills Philbin. The Phantom swings onto the stage and rips off Swan's mask, exposing him as a monster on live tv. A crazed Swan gropes for Phoenix but the Phantom intervenes and stabs Swan repeatedly. In doing then, the Phantom's own stab wound reopens and he starts haemorrhage. Equally he is dying, Swan is carried around by the audition, who bring together in stabbing him. The dying Winslow removes his mask to reveal his own face and holds out a manus to Phoenix. Swan dies, allowing Winslow to die of his own wound. Equally Winslow collapses, Phoenix finally recognizes him equally the kind man she met at Swan's Mansion and embraces him in expiry.
Cast[edit][]
William Finley every bit Winslow Leach/The Phantom
Paul Williams as The Phantom's singing vocalization
Paul Williams equally Swan
Jessica Harper as Phoenix
Gerrit Graham as Beef
Raymond Louis Kennedy as Beef's singing voice
George Memmoli as Arnold Philbin, (The surname is an obvious tribute to that of Mary Philbin who starred as Christine in the 1925 movie version of Phantom of the Opera).
Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor, and Peter Elbling (credited as Harold Ellipsoidal) as The Juicy Fruits / The Embankment Bums / The Undeads
Rod Serling (uncredited) equally introductory vox
Musical numbers[edit][]
The picture show's soundtrack album features all songs excluding "Never Idea I'd Go to Come across the Devil" and "Faust" (1st Reprise). All words and music by Paul Williams.
"Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye" – The Juicy Fruits
"Faust" – Winslow
"Never Thought I'd Become to Meet the Devil" – Winslow
"Faust" (1st Reprise) – Winslow, Phoenix
"Upholstery" – The Beach Bums
"Special to Me" – Phoenix
"Faust" (second Reprise) – The Phantom
"The Phantom's Theme (Beauty and the Beast)" – The Phantom
"Somebody Super Similar Yous" (Beef structure vocal) – The Undead
"Life at Last" – Beef
"Old Souls" – Phoenix
"The Hell of It" (plays over finish credits) – Swan
Product[edit][]
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The record press in which William Finley's character was disfigured was a real pressing plant (an injection-molding press at Pressman Toys). He was worried near whether the motorcar would be safe, and the crew assured that it was. The press was fitted with foam pads (which resemble the casting molds in the printing), and in that location were chocks put in the center to finish information technology from closing completely. Unfortunately, the automobile was powerful enough to crush the chocks and information technology gradually kept closing. Finley was pulled out in time to avoid injury.
The "electronic room" in which Winslow composes his cantata (and where Swan restores his voice) is in fact the real-life recording studio The Record Plant. The walls covered with knobs are in reality an oversize custom-built electronic synthesizer dubbed TONTO, which still exists to this solar day.
The "Paradise" concert scenes were filmed at the Majestic Theater in Dallas, Texas. The "extras" in the audition had responded to an open cattle phone call for locals interested in being in the film.
Sissy Spacek was the film's prepare dresser, assisting her so-swain-now-husband Jack Fisk, the movie'due south production designer. She would later on star in De Palma'sCarrie in 1976.
A novelization of the film was written by Bjarne Rostaing. Evidently based on an early draft of the screenplay, the novel excludes the supernatural bending of the film.
Swan Song controversy[edit][]
Every bit originally filmed, the name of Swan's media conglomerate "Swan Song Enterprises" had to be deleted from the motion-picture show prior to release due to the being of Led Zeppelin'due south label of the same proper name in real life. Although most references were removed, the name "Swan Song" remains visible in several scenes.[five]
Release[edit][]
Phantom of the Paradise opened in the U.S. on October 31, 1974 and before long flopped.[6] The motion-picture show's just successful major market during its theatrical release was Winnipeg, Manitoba[7] where it opened on Boxing Twenty-four hours 1974 and played in local cinemas over four months continuously and over one year non-continuously until 1976.[eight] The soundtrack album sold xx,000 copies in Winnipeg solitary and was certified Gilt in Canada.[7] It played occasionally in Winnipeg theatres in the 1990s and at the Winnipeg IMAX theatre in 2000 and ever "drew a defended audition".[eight]
The vocal "The Hell Of Information technology" was performed past Williams in 1977 on the Brady Bunch Variety Hour Season i, episode 9.
Home media[edit][]
The film was released on Blu-Ray by Shout Factory nether the Scream Factory Label. The release features an audio commentary, interviews, alternate takes, the original "Swan Song" footage, and original trailers, idiot box and radio spots.
Awards[edit][]
The picture was nominated for an University Award for Original Song Score and Adaptation[9] and a Golden World Award for Best Original Score – Motion picture.[10]
Legacy[edit][]
A fan-organized festival, dubbed "Phantompalooza", was held in 2005 in Winnipeg, where the fanbase took specially strong root.[11] That outcome featured appearances by Gerrit Graham and William Finley, in the same Winnipeg theatre where the moving picture had its original run in 1975. A second "Phantompalooza" was staged Apr 28, 2006, reuniting many of the surviving cast members and featuring a concert by Paul Williams.
Musician Sébastien Tellier wrote about his song "Divine" on his anthologySexuality: "This is my tribute to the Beach Boys and the Juicy Fruits (from the 1974 musicalPhantom of the Paradise). It's about a time of innocence – when having fun was more important than picking upward girls. I visualise a agglomeration of kids having fun on the beach and I'd really love to play with them."[12]
Upon Finley's death in Apr 2012, Bret Easton Ellis wrote on Twitter: "RIP: Winslow Leach a.k.a. William Finley one of my favorite characters in i of my favorite movies: De Palma'south The Phantom of the Paradise."[13]
According to aGuardian interview with Daft Punk, "Hundreds of bands may tout cinematic references, even so few have them every bit hard-wired equally Daft Punk. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter met two decades agone this twelvemonth, at the perfect movie theatre-going ages of 13 and 12... the one pic which they saw together more than than twenty times wasPhantom of the Paradise, Brian De Palma'due south 1974 rock musical, based loosely aroundPhantom of the Opera (both this andElectroma feature 'a hero with a black leather outfit and a helmet')."[xiv]
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