RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, 1974

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, 1974. Directed by Brian De Palma (DRESSED TO KILL, 1980, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, 1996). Starring the brilliant composer/actor/voice-over talent Paul Williams (SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, 1977, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, 1992-94) and William Finley (SISTERS, 1972, THE BLACK DAHLIA, 2006) with Jessica Harper (SUSPIRIA, 1977, SHOCK TREATMENT, 1981). What a cast!

Paul Williams plays Swan, a powerful music tycoon that has sold his soul to the Devil in order to maintain eternal youth and music making prowess. He discovers Winslow, a naïve up and coming composer who has written an amazing cantata based on the legend of FAUST. Swan steals the cantata, casts Winslow out, and is responsible for his horrible disfigurement. In classic Phantom style, Winslow comes back to menace Swan and wreak havoc on his new theater the Paradise. In order to appease Winslow’s wrath, Swan agrees to allow Winslow’s cantata to be performed by Phoenix, Jessica Harper, the woman he loves and the only voice he desires to sing his music.

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE is not just another re-imagined version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or the FAUST legend; it’s a unique parody and homage to classic cinema, classic literature, and modern music up to its time. De Palma uses the basic story elements of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the FAUST legend while injecting cinematic techniques from such films as Orson Welles’ TOUCH OF EVIL, 1958 (the famous opening scene with bomb in the trunk) and Alfred Hitchcock‘s PSYCHO, 1960 (the famous shower scene). Plus, with the addition of Paul Williams’ amazing musical score, we get great homages to 1950s and 1960s rock and roll.

Aside from the re-imaginings, the parodies, and the homages, Jack Fisk’s unique production design is just as eye-popping as Paul Williams’ score is toe-tapping. What makes it better is that it’s highlighted by the great photographic skills of Larry Pizer. Rosanna Norton’s Phantom design is iconic, and to me, the best cinematic look. Her glam rock and makeup designs are very influential; many a bands seemed to copy the look during the 1970s.

What I think makes the film such a classic piece of cinema is its influences. The film is not just a rock and roll musical, it’s and education. Watching this film points you in many different artistic directions literature wise, cinematically, and musically. Researching the elements of the film can certainly take you down rabbit hole of art history.

A great film to have in your collection and a great soundtrack to listen to!