Movies - Phantom of the Paradise

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	Movies - Phantom of the Paradise

Phantom of the Paradise is a 1974 cult film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The story is a loosely adapted mixture of Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Faust. The film's tagline is He's been maimed, framed, beaten, robbed and mutilated. But they still can't keep him from the woman he loves.

Plot summary

The story follows a music composer and singer named Winslow Leach (played by William Finley). Winslow's pop cantata "Faust" is stolen by Satanic record producer, Swan (played by Paul Williams). Winslow tries to get it back, and along the way falls for Phoenix, an aspiring singer (played by Jessica Harper). Swan orders his minions to frame Winslow for drug dealing.

In prison, after his teeth are removed and replaced with metal, Winslow goes berserk, escapes and tries to destroy Swan's record factory. His face is mutilated and voice ruined in a record press accident. Winslow sneaks into Swan's concert hall and residence, the Paradise, and wears a mask and dark costume so he can terrorize Swan's musicians.

Winslow confronts Swan, who offers the composer the chance to have his music produced and the return of his voice, in exchange for signing a contract in blood. Winslow agrees, on the condition that Phoenix is the lead singer.

Swan becomes infatuated with Phoenix, but breaks the deal and puts a gay male prima donna named Beef (Gerrit Graham) in the lead of Winslow's "Faust". Winslow kills Beef, then learns that Swan made a Pact with the Devil twenty years ago for eternal life. The contract means that Winslow can't die unless Swan dies too.

The story ends with Winslow crashing Swan's wedding to Phoenix and exposing him as a monster on live television. Both men are killed.

Trivia

Sissy Spacek
, the set dresser for the film, later went on to star in another Brian De Palma-directed film, "Carrie."
The songs on the soundtrack were composed by Paul Williams.
Jessica Harper (Phoenix) also starred in the less popular sequel to Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment
.
Some sequences in the film, particularly the opening night show at the Paradise, were filmed at the historic Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas, Texas.
A small group of fans puts on an event called in the city of Winnipeg in celebration of the film's unique success in the city.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is still available. Track listing:

# Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye - Archie Hahn, Juicy Fruits # Faust - Bill Finley # Upholstery - Jeffrey Comanor, Beach Bums # Special to Me (Phoenix Audition Song) - Jessica Harper # Phantom's Theme (Beauty and The Beast) - Paul Williams # Somebody Super Like You (Beef Construction Song) - Harold Oblong, The Undeads # Life at Last - Ray Kennedy # Old Souls - Jessica Harper # Faust - Paul Williams # The Hell of It - Paul Williams

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Phantom of the Paradise ]

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Movies - Phantom of the Paradise

Plot summary

Trivia

Soundtrack

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