You've Never Seen PHANTOM of the PARADISE

[@doublep1980]

Some fun facts about this movie: Daft Punk have cited it as one of their inspirations when making their album Random Access Memories. Edgar Wright is such a fan of Phantom, that he cast Paul Williams in a small role in Baby Driver, as the arms dealer. The late, legandary manga writer Kentaro Miura, creator of the Berserk manga, based the design of the villain Femto in his manga on the Phantom´s look.

[@FatherMalone]

All excellent points My girlfriend owns a figurine of Femto. Thanks for watching.

[@Lukiel666]

Cool. I never thought about it but as soon as you mentioned Femto it was obvious. Oh and I and several of my friends have seen this movie many times. We are Canadian and It became a cult film all across Canada through word of mouth and VHS rentals. We would play it at parties along with The Rocky Horror Picture Show... and Heavy Metal. Here's another fun fact... it predicted autotune.

[@TheOpticalFreak]

LOL I had already mentioned this 2 years ago in the comments! 🥲 Interstellar 5555 👍🤖

[@TheOpticalFreak]

DISCOVERY. H.A.A. RAM.

[@chillmolder]

For Daft Punk, it was an inspiration for their robot persona. Listening to the story here definitely makes me see the parallels of Interstella 5555. For RAM, it really felt it was the duo doing their long life dream of working with Paul Williams. Touch is such a centerpiece to the album.

[@BeefnStewGames]

I speak for all of Winnipeg when I say We still absolutely love this movie!!

[@zygmanfroid9709]

Fuckin rights

[@patjackson8649]

ABSOLUTELY!!! We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary in November in Winnipeg with an epic Phantompolooza

[@kevinramsey417]

That piano riff from The Hell of It is everything.

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

I LOVE the end music from The Hello of it. Especially at the end of the movie. It cuts out too soon on the album.

[@mandiimakeup9197]

Right!!!

[@WonkaVision1971]

Its actually one of my favorite songs, there are really no words to describe how amazingly fantastic it is 🤧❤❤

[@LaGrandeBayou]

It’s 1000% Paul Williams in song format.

[@deanhunter8887]

I am from Winnipeg...I have performed the Soundtrack from the movie about 10 times now ! I have performed with Archie Hahn , Peter Elbling ( Harold Oblong ) and Jeffrey Comanor and got the seal of approval from Paul Williams himself! This movie is truly part of me and will forever be a part of my life forever !

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

Hi Dean! Johanna from Winnipeg! Do you know if Phantom of Winnipeg is ever going to get a dvd release! Or even on KZbin. I'd happily buy it! I missed the chance to see it when it premiered and I could kick myself from here to Dallas Texas, for being so stupid!

[@deanhunter8887]

Hi Johanna...as far as I know the Phantom of Winnipeg Documentary is still in the hunt for a distributor so it can be released...i know we are all being patient...there could be another showing in the works when this stupid pandemic is over !! Take care :)

[@atomicjulie7216]

I would debate one point - Swan pretty clearly picked Beef to piss off Winslow, and therefore be killed. He saw the potential for that at the Beach Bums' explosion, even though it was only a rehearsal. The film's entire underlying theme, as laid out in the opening song, "Goodbye Eddie, Goodbye" is celebrity death and the money and fame that comes from it. The irony being of course that Swan CAN'T die and profit from his own work that way.

[@matthewdreher307]

Interesting take.

[@lakeviewviking]

My fan theory is that the Undead are the Beach Bums brought back to life after Winslow blows them up.

[@mickexplorer]

@@lakeviewviking may I ask, fuckit, how old are you?

[@Collinjchang]

Nice take on the film, Julie. However, Swan does tell Philbin that he's demoted Phoenix to a mere chorus girl because he "abhors perfection in anyone else but myself." Also, if he was hoping Winslow would kill Beef on stage, he was really taking a risk by having Winslow sealed into his tiny studio with a brick wall, wasn't he?

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

I think Swan picked Beef as an "IN YOUR FACE, LEACH!" Remember, Winslow was re-writing his cantata but would be bricked up by opening night so wouldn't have even known (theoretically) who would end up singing his music. I'm still kinda confused as to why Swan mentioned him at all at the airport. "It was written by the LATE Winslow Leach." I GUESS he figured it wouldn't matter because the reporters couldn't have cared less about an unknown dead guy and would have ha, ha 'morally' credited Swan anyway so what's the harm in being honest for a change? That's my theory and I'm stickin' to it.

[@m00nracer]

Masterpiece. There is nothing else in the world like it. "Old Souls" is the most romantic song ever written.

[@sodarlene7395]

That's exactly what I thought when I listened to this wonderful song for the first time

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Where can I see Paul Williams perform it live? Is that Brady Bunch sequel the only time he performed it live and recorded??

[@m00nracer]

@@LaGrandeBayou i did not know about that.

[@FatherMalone]

@@LaGrandeBayou I think you're referring to The Hell of It. And he also performed it on episode of The Hardy Boys.

[@PuroBilletes]

I tear up every time I hear it.

[@cjnnavarro3358]

The commentator forgot to mention that the movie played continuously in Paris for at least 8 years (that I remember, 1974 through at least 1982 ) and maybe longer! A true cult classic!

[@tuffy135ify]

When I saw Paul Williams in an episode of Star Trek Voyager as the leader of an alien race that never heard of music, I lost it. Love this movie

[@haplozetetic9519]

I'm a little late to the game here, but I had similar thoughts. The idea of Paul Williams speaking the line "what is music" just didn't fit in my head.

[@EmergencyChannel]

Great review and yes, Jessica Harper is drop dead gorgeous and extremely talented while also being criminally underused in films. I always wondered if Styx used this movie as a influence for their album Paradise Theater, even though they claim it's based off the Chicago Paradise Theater.

[@scabsgunnsandpeanutbutter8838]

360deeman with Styx being in my top 10 bands of all time and this being my favorite film, other than the name they don't have much in common at all. I like to connect them in my head but it just isn't really there

[@rebecca75588]

I would doubt it but it's possible about Styx

[@Survivor2002]

Had this film not come along and seduced 14-year-old me, I would not be the horror fan that I am today...trust me.

[@jimlaca5198]

My father introduced it to me early on in my life. I fondly remember discussing it on AOL with some random person who was also a fan. She was astounded that a 12/13 yr old could know so much about this long forgot lost film. I love this movie so much. I've showed it to my step children and managed to make one of them a fan as well. It's crazy how this isnt more popular, but it makes me feel that much more special for being one of the few who appreciate it.

[@samuelglass6805]

@@jimlaca5198 Parenting done right! I hope your dad was the same way with music as well...

[@jimlaca5198]

@@samuelglass6805 my dad was a musician. He taught me the drums, while he played bass. Much of who I am is a reflection of who he was. I miss the dude.

[@samuelglass6805]

@@jimlaca5198 Mine wasn't a musician, but he loved jazz, and kept some of the classics playing nearly 24/7 when I was growing up. Best thing he ever did for me was to gift me a hand-me-down stack of his old, beaten-up 45's. That helped put me on the path to discovering a lot of music on my own, though I was raised mostly on jazz, funk, soul and R&B.

[@bdPrime123]

Was also 14 when I saw this in a theater. To this day (I am 60) one of my favorite films.

[@ModeratelyNeato]

This is a very well-made retrospective on a fantastic movie. I like how you sprinkle information throughout the video instead of just summarizing the movie and tossing some facts at the end.

[@WikiSorcerer]

Does anyone else think Swan kind of looks like an evil Elton John?

[@devonbeard750]

I didn't even think of that wow!

[@TravelsWithBrindle]

I thought he looked like evil Milo Bloom!

[@O_Towne_Bear]

No. lol

[@O_Towne_Bear]

@@TravelsWithBrindle Bam!

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

No , I don't see it

[@Xangelwriter13X]

carburetor man, that’s what life is all about

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I TORE MY TUCK AND ROLL

[@Timothyn2smith]

Loved the review. Could not agree more that this movie is far too misunderstood and underappreciated. Paul Williams was and is a genius!

[@craigmartin3827]

What a wonderful, affectionate and informative tribute to DePalma's film. Thank you! Incredible film with an incredible sound track. Old Soul just kills me.

[@LSUfan]

Masterpiece indeed!

[@Serai3]

I was a teen when Phantom came out, and I loved the film. I bought the soundtrack and played the hell out of it. When it came out on video, I bought it, and the DVD. It's genius.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I am a bit younger . I was only five when I saw the trailer on TV . I wanted to see it badly . Everyone I knew who did watch it told me it was meh ... but I still wanted see it . Never did ...to this day I only saw it in parts but I love it . A decade went by and I looked for it everywhere ...glad to see so many are still discovering

[@Serai3]

@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 Oh, dude, it's out on DVD. You can find it at Amazon or on eBay. Really, get hold of it - there is NOTHING like this film. It's in a box all its own! :D

[@Serai3]

@Dirk Diggler LOL, let me put it this way - there was a time when I had the entire film memorized. I could recite it by heart. To this day, if I hear enough of a scene, I can usually do the lines along with the actors! :D:D:D

[@Serai3]

@Dirk Diggler They are. Paul Williams was a fucking great songwriter.

[@didarsehra9053]

lol...me too, wore out that 8 track cassette big time. loved the soundtrack

[@markvaught9510]

I was 7 when this came out and thanks to an older brother and sister who both loved rock and both had equally eclectic tastes spanning the entire range, leaving no stone unturned, I was already deep into rock and was beginning to think of nothing else. I know this movie was a little "off" but I loved it. The faustian bargain has always haunted me on some level. I'm 52 now and it's lost none of it's bizarre charm and attraction to me. Still speaks to me. Still intrigues, entertains and just fucking still pulls me in. Incredible movie. Fuck you all if you don't like it or don't get it. Lol

[@doktor_ghul]

Screw Rocky Horror. THIS is the midnight movie to see with a crowd of fans who know the music and love the experience.

[@ACinemafanatic]

Clayton George lol I think both movies are great and would be a great double feature

[@ivorybow]

When Phantom came out I became instantly obsessed and I went to see it no less than 10 times in the theater. It's a masterpiece in all ways. Paul Williams' score and the performances have held up as classic and timeless after nearly 50 years.

[@wtrbrns]

i am extremely convinced that without this masterpiece, we wouldn't have rocky horror picture show and i'm sad no more people got to know and experience it!

[@huisio]

Oddly enough, this movie has been shown in Finnish television multiple times over the years. My older sisters were big fans of the movie and had recorded it from TV to VHS. At my early teens I finally watched the whole movie and loved it instantly. I’m not really a movie enthusiast in general but this movie just has something that makes me want to watch it again and again. And the Beef introduction scene cracks me up every time, just gets funnier with every watch 😄 When I was younger I had the habit to have a movie night with any guy I started dating and show them this movie. Either they would think I was a complete weirdo and the dating would stop soon after, or they liked it or at least saw my weirdness as a funny or cute thing. I have also shown this to a lot of new friends. Kind of a great way to weed out people who think you’re too weird for them 😄 At first my partner of 8 years thought the movie was really weird, but nowadays I sometimes catch him watching the Beef intro clip and laughing. Guess some people just need a bit more time to process this masterpiece!

[@thomtaylor5495]

That's funny - I showed it to my wife soon after we were married. Wanted her to see a film that definitely left a huge impression - but it's a weird one, indeed. She turned to me afterwards and said "If I knew that was your favorite movie before, I don't think I would have married you..." 😄

[@paulakaye2108]

I first saw this film at the tender age of about 15! I loved it then, and adore it now, (do the math, I''m "old"! LoL!) The music is addictive, the imagery imaginative and the script - amazing! Thank you for reviewing it! (And, I'm not from Winnepeg, btw! LoL!)

[@madphantom7161]

I watched it for the first time half a year ago. Was fifteen too. (Do the Maths and you'll see I'm crazy young to be a fan of a 70's musical).

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I wanted badly to see it , but was only 5 ...and a half ...that half counted a great deal to me then lol

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I'm not from Winnipeg either .... South Louisiana

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@madphantom7161 My 17 year old daughter loved this movie

[@WonkaVision1971]

I was 13 when I found out about this film and now I am 14 and I watched it so many times, so I am pretty young and I am from New Jersey 👌

[@robderiche]

I’ve been evangelizing this film for almost 20 years now and pretty much everyone I turned on to it became a true believer. Well done video!

[@philmfan]

Nice rundown/summary of this mostly neglected classic. I had read about it in the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine around the time of its release. Being young and unschooled in the circuitous ways of movie distribution at the time, I naturally assumed it would get a major release and could be seen in theaters everywhere and almost immediately started scanning the movie section of the newspaper each week expecting to see it. Instead, it just disappeared or actually never appeared in the first place. But I always had it somewhere in the back of my mind. Then, in the heyday of VHS I ran across a copy at a video store and rented it. I was not disappointed. Since then I’ve acquired it on DVD, and then Blu-ray. It’s one of those movies I like to show people if they’ve never seen it. Pretty much always gets a surprised, positive response no matter who I show it to.

[@crabstick250]

Yay...a nice way to introduce this to folks who have never seen it!!! Thank you!!

[@55bueller]

Dude I've loved Phantom Of The Paradise for over a decade and was so fucking impressed by this video of yours. Well done you've earned another sub!!

[@SpaceMonkeyHimself]

Finally some props for this movie! Favorite scene: The hippies' short audition singing, "Half asleep I hear voice, is it only in my mind?".

[@FatherMalone]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Swan281]

best movie ever

[@LSUfan]

Right you are.

[@madphantom7161]

Aye

[@gordmoodie3861]

I'm a Winnipeg resident and have been for all my life (with brief family moves to other provinces). I was only 4 when this came out but my cousins (all 8 of them) were 10+ years older than I was so you better believe they were / are all Phantom nuts. There wasn't a family party that at some point in the evening the soundtrack wasn't put on the turntable for a spin. One of my cousins used 'Old Souls' as his first dance with his second wife (which fit perfectly because she was his first gf in high school). And I myself own Death Records T-Shirts and (of course) the Phantom movie. Been thinking of getting the Death Records logo tattooed as well.

[@FatherMalone]

You should definitely get the tattoo. I have one. My girlfriend has one. Only losers don't have one

[@handsolo1076]

Being from Winnipeg & a huge Phantom fan, it's one of the most beloved things I love about this Hellhole.

[@desinavan4205]

Loved this so much. The grad school where my mother worked had a theatre on the main floor where they showed foreign films and double-feature oddities. She left me with a friend/coworker one evening, as she often did, when she went off to her evening class. The same woman who once told me the plot of the movie my grandparents went to, thinking it was a musical... (Last Tango in Paris) Anyway, I was about 8 when she took me down to a double-feature of Rocky Horror and Phantom. She had to explain the humor of the face/record pressing scene, and why she laughed while I sobbed. I have loved the movie and soundtrack ever since.

[@lauras3612]

One of the most original movies out there with a GREAT soundtrack. Haunting, captivating, cheesy fun! Highly underrated. And this is also coming from a Canadian (from B.C though-not Winnipeg)

[@muddyduck64]

I love the fact that while it pays homage to other films, it doesn't try to hide it and runs with it..... The guy that plays Beef should have been given an award.... that guy is a fukkin' riot in this film- and his death scene is outrageous.

[@brianc7998]

Growing up in Winnipeg everyone I knew saw this movie multiple times. Really a small part of teenage years that the rest of world (except Paris) woefully missed. 50th anniversary showing this year

[@jameskitts4584]

I saw Phantom in 1974 when I was 14. To this day it is one of my favorite movies. It is just so much fun, and after all, isn't that what movies are all about. Life At Last by Beef and Somebody Super Like You are the best songs. Jessica Harpers voice is amazing.

[@shoesoffbootson5317]

I saw this in Philly this summer, with Jessica Harper speaking beforehand. She was really funny and lively...like you'd totally want to get drunk with her.

[@ryoko65]

I love Paul Williams....so I had to see the movie. I had gotten a DVD of the movie several years ago.... I thought it was amazing. I don't know how it could have done so poorly when it was in the theaters.

[@jessiejames7492]

i watched it when it came out. it was phenomenal. my sister and i couldnt get over it. sang the songs over and over

[@philipdefibaugh7127]

I remember seeing this movie in Dec. 1985 on Channel 61's "Chiller Theater". The Phantom's Darth Vader like voice scared me as a lil 4th grader. This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE!

[@madphantom7161]

I love the voice box voice!!! I'm cosplaying Winslow for Halloween and I'll recreate the voice box by building a visual replica and putting a speaker in it.

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

Wanna hear something wild? The voice box for Darth Vader was taken from Winslow. William Finley mentioned it at Phantompalooza. I can't recall how that came about. I know Paul Hirsch was the editor for both Phantom and Star Wars. I THINK George Lucas asked Brian about it, but I could be wrong. No matter. When William mentioned the voice box I was like, "THAT's IT!!!" It drove me NUTS for years, trying to figure out why Darth Vader's outfit looked familiar and I never clued in until William mentioned Winslow's voice box and how Darth Vader stole it. William laughed about it.

[@1TwistedPoet]

Even though Phantom is probably my Favorite film of all time... I'm one of those people that listen to the Soundtrack constantly, even to this day... I'm not sure what I like more. The original movie, or THIS presentation 🤔. It is concise, it is insightful without being pretentious, it's funny, it's well edited. I've linked to to several people now, to introduce then to my favorite film. Thank You for this. PS. Coincidentally, I'm from Winnipeg.

[@FatherMalone]

Thank you so much! And thanks to your town!

[@ForgottenAria]

Thank you, this is a fabulous summary of phantom. In college in the 90s, I forced all my friends to watch PotP, even paying to rent a 16mm print to be shown by our film club. I stumbled on your video while researching images because I'm making a mask for Halloween.

[@FatherMalone]

Keep forcing 'em! And good luck with the helmet. Mine is dear to me.

[@FatherMalone]

Subscribed

[@SonofSethoitae]

I remember seeing this on TVOntario when I was a kid. Didn't get it, scared the hell out of me, but I was really intrigued as well. Always liked this one. TVO actually had a ton of great movies on when they still ran Saturday Night at the Movies.

[@FatherMalone]

SonofSethoitae it's intriguing AND terrifying at any age. Thanks for watching!

[@TheMrSwampert]

My first experience with this film was watching it a small art house theater, and it blew me away. If you EVER get the chance to see it in a theater, do it.

[@TexasUSMCVet]

I saw this in the theaters when I was 15. That was the only time I've seen the whole film. I'm 58 now and although I was far from understanding most of the film and its themes then, it still weighs on my mind from time to time. Someday I hope to see it again, but with others who have never seen it.

[@Kidred-ys2vp]

TexasUSMCVet you should show it to your friends and family they might like it. P.s. this is a good movie

[@stephenwik8811]

yeah, I was ten and was a total fanatic about it. I had the novelization and the LP soundtrack. And to top it off, one of the movie posters was drawn by my favorite artist at the time: Richard Corben (as seen at the intro of this video). A few years ago I finally tracked down a vintage copy of that poster. Wanted it almost my entire life...

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Does 74 seem as far away to you as it does to me ?

[@phubans]

I have lived almost 40 years and somehow never even knew of this film until a couple months ago. I've even been running a stream for weird, obscure, and off-beat movies over the past 10+ years yet somehow this one eluded me. I'm not unconvinced that this film itself isn't some sort of Mandela Effect, that it simply did not exist in whatever previous dimensions that I once existed in.

[@1997loza]

I love this movie forever.👏👏👏👏👏

[@Gremlins1957]

Best songs Paul Williams has ever composed. Not one song on this album is bad, not one. And I own a copy of the CD. Back in the 70's I owned it on vinyl.

[@FatherMalone]

Edward Winters I own both currently. Williams is astounding. And Bugsy Malone is another no-miss collection of Tunes.

[@madphantom7161]

I bought the soundtrack on CD a few months ago. It tooks ages for it to arrive. I think I annoyed the guys working in the store to death coming back every day. But hey, at least they remember me now.

[@tuffy135ify]

Paul Williams bragged about how he could make songs that he could morph into different genres. Those songs with Beef and the Undead were perfect examples, and I'm pretty sure ahead of their time.

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

Oooops. My bad. THANKS for the review. I'm a Winnipegger. Grew up with the movie and had a Wilma Filntstone freak out when I saw the banner for Phantompalooza in an email. Oy! That was 15 years ago!!!! In my journal that night I wrote one headline; *"I HUGGED WINSLOW LEACH"* !!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I did! I said a LONG over due THANK YOU to William Finley! I will remember that forever!

[@robertdogg9499]

I remember watching this for the first time on CITY TV in '77 or '78. I remember thinking two thoughts. The first being that when they show time passing on the calendar that it wasn't made that long before I saw it. The second being that I KNEW there was more to rock and roll than I was seeing on regular TV.This was the proof.I have loved this movie ever since.

[@laurentgriffon698]

C'est pour moi un des films majeurs des années 70 ! Je l'ai vu 5 fois au cinéma Le Luxembourg à Paris 6ème arrondissement entre 1977 et 1979. C'est le film culte par excellence. C'est aussi le film que j'aurai le plus vu au cinéma.

[@auggieb2681]

I happened to see this a few years ago with my friend and I've been obsessed ever since. Such a phenomenal and underrated movie. Everything about it is wonderful and makes me so happy, I listen to the soundtrack constantly and I've introduced so many friends to this movie, it makes me smile to see people make videos like this about phantom of the paradise

[@FatherMalone]

It deserves a tremendous amount praise. And a wider audience. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@madphantom7161]

I found it through Phantom of the Opera. Watched it with my Mum so far. She loved it. Kind of weird that in my case the teenager is the one to introduce the movie to the parent.

[@lorendavidsonmusic]

I used to have a Death Records t-shirt. Loved it.

[@desinavan4205]

Trying not to buy more clothes, usually pretty successful, but I need THAT t-shirt!

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

My favorite film ever since I first saw it on Chiller Theater on 61 December 1985.

[@DeadCityJxro]

Bro! Thanx for making this! One of my earliest memories is this movie and soundtrack.

[@FatherMalone]

Jxro Zelaya my pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kirkmckim2685]

Just watched it on Blu-ray last night.. I havent seen it since 74. Really enjoyed it years later.

[@FatherMalone]

kirk mckim It holds up. Dated and timeless simultaneously.

[@frankiebowie6174]

Just ordered from dvd planet- can’t wait! I discovered it when it came out because I had read at least one critic who recommended it. Dave Kehr or Pauline Kael maybe. Jessica Harper is so lovely!

[@buckeyerides7104]

great commentary, this is such a great almost forgotten classic

[@alexhuxley4399]

Such a great movie! Thank you so much for putting this together!

[@jamessutton9476]

Greetings from Winnipeg! Lol, yeah that movie is something of a cult classic here. It's 13 years older than me and I have the soundtrack on vinyl and CD. Oh, and it's Harold Oblong, not Howard.

[@Gremlins1957]

He is so right. This movie is a classic Masterpiece.

[@BrianMcClure-b7z]

This is soo fabulous... marvelous, darling, marvelous!

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

This movie like Hard Days Night , Head and Rocky Horror predicted the eighties love of music videos .

[@VVc0w]

Excellent film, saw it last night for the first time, loved it. Highly recommend it to anybody

[@jasonlovi8745]

Love this movie!

[@thomtaylor5495]

Phantom of the Paradise will always be my favorite movie... 20th Century Fox was hoping to capture the lightning in the bottle that was Rocky Horror, and the film was the most spent for an indie film at that time. But in true Hollywood studio fashion, they screwed up the release. Am proud of the people of "Winter-peg" who loved this classic so much. I went to a reunion event a couple years ago in Hollywood & got to relive the fun, along with seeing a video message from Guillermo del Toro (it's one of his favorite films!). At another screening at the NuArt, I got to meet Paul Williams & he signed my album, now proudly displayed in my home. The opening narration from Rod Serling alone makes this a movie everybody must see...

[@thomtaylor5495]

Another bit of trivia, the character of Winslow Leach was played by William Finley - who was married to Susan Weiser. Susan's brother, Stanley Weiser, eventually wrote the scripts for "Wall Street" and "W" with Oliver Stone - in addition to many other great works. And Stanley's first gig was as a production assistant on "Phantom." Also look for Sissy Spacek in the end-credits, as she was married to the brilliant art director, Jack Fisk, and was a set decorator on the film (incidentally, Sissy got into the business through her cousin, Rip Torn - who would have played the Jack Nicholson role in "Easy Rider" had he not gotten into a knife fight with director Dennis Hopper). DePalma, as noted in this clip, eventually directed the Oliver Stone script / remake of "Scarface." The "Phantom" experience is what let Brian DePalma to casting Sissy Spacek in his next movie, "Carrie." Jack Fisk eventually did production design for a lot of movies with Terrance Mallick and David Lynch.

[@deantmoodyvoice]

Interestingly, though, Rocky Horror was far from a hit when it was released...and it wouldn't be until 1978 or so, when the midnight screenings began. I first saw RHPS at a double feature of the two films in '77. I had already been a PotP fan, seeing it in its first run in '74. It is fascinating that 20th Century was greenlighting such oddball films as these back then!

[@thomtaylor5495]

@@deantmoodyvoice Indeed you are correct. I interviewed Cary Brokaw for my book "The Big Deal" (Brokaw went on to produce "The Player" and a number of other great films) who was a publicity head at Fox, when "Rocky Horror..." came out. And he started getting these letters from fans, noticing a pattern in New York City; they wanted any merchandise and back in those days, the studio simply was happy to send out production stills, posters, etc. And so Cary launched the show as midnight screenings, not realizing how the cosplay and scene references would become such a part of the process. It's sad to think that those midnight screenings won't be seen for a while, if at all in the future. They were fun at my downtown cinema in Walnut Creek, CA when I was in high school.

[@deantmoodyvoice]

@@thomtaylor5495 Hey Thom. Just looked up your book. It looks fantastic. May I ask you a question in email? I'm at [e-mail]

[@deantmoodyvoice]

One thing we forgot to mention earlier, Thom... PotP actually was released BEFORE RHPS!

[@NefariousDreary]

Knowing that Paul Williams was the one who sang touch by Daft Punk makes so much Sense because after hearing the music from Phantom of The paradise I absolutely recognize that style and had to look it up. That is awesome

[@NefariousDreary]

I had to edit that I meant to say Paul Williams

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

It is one of my favorite movies of all time. Thank you ever so much for such a classy review! I am going to watch it again this weekend.

[@lewisridenhour6536]

I had just turned 17 when this movie came out I couldn't wait to go see it and I fell in love with it it's a great movie at the time I had already been playing the guitar since I was six so I bought the album and learned every song I know a lot about this movie this is a really cool movie

[@MrCharlieChad]

Phantom of the Paradise is the best film ever.

[@OriginalMergatroid]

As a tried and true Winnipegger, I couldn't agree more.

[@mr.logicpants2835]

I saw this awesome film as a kid in the movie theater and had been looking for it for most of my adult life then found it and bought it a few years back. It is a masterpiece!!!

[@rubendelgado6811]

This movie was awesome 💯One of my favorites of all time 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@matthewcorya7514]

Saw this when I was 12 at the old Palm theatre in Imperial Beach CA. In 1974 and have been recommending it to people ever since. Paul Williams is a musical genius and Brian de Palma in my opinion is one of the best directors around.

[@ottobaron6392]

My sister was a huge Paul Williams fan, and I remember going with her to see this film, which was often double billed with Rocky Horror. I have been a fan of this film since it came out.

[@MrDaveintampa]

I saw this for the first time the night of its premiere and fell in love!

[@slunikokrouhly6600]

I've already seen this film for...idk... twice before and I really appreciate that someone like you had enlightened me with further details.)) thank you

[@leahyonah5062]

I love the film and even more, the Soundtrack

[@RHPSvegas]

Not so fast, voiceover guy: The Rocky Horror Show (the play) had already been going strong in 1973 in London and in 1974 in Los Angeles (the movie was in production at the same time as Phantom). De Palma may very well have gotten many of his ideas from the play.

[@FatherMalone]

Ed Guy, DePalma had written the script in 1969 (original title Phantom of the Filmore). Financing had been announced in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter in July of 1973, only a month after Rocky made its stage debut in London. Rocky began filming in October of 1974, the month Phantom premiered in theaters.

[@DeadCityJxro]

Still this movie WAS released before

[@Nickel_The_Wise]

Aaah, a fine review! One thing you gotta love about William Finley's performance is also in his face; those eyes and mouth are positively cartoonish in their capacity for expression, especially when he gets the helmet later. It's gotta be said though, Paul Williams' best work with muppets was from Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas, c'mon now. But yeah, this movie's a super treat for the fan of glam rock, love ballads, horror/tragedy and.. creepy music industry mythology? Whatever, it's an awesome movie and it's a perfect flavor to nite owls that don't sleep and hunger for music. Also, is it just me or does Finley and Harper's characters look like human versions of the two mains in The Devil and Daniel Mouse? Even her singing voice is kind of the same as Jan's, along with a couple outfits. Man, what a fun revisit to an awesome movie, makes me wanna do karaoke of 'Life at Last'~

[@FatherMalone]

Completely agree about Emmet Otter. But most know Rainbow Connection. Having said that, Riverbottom Nightmare Band song is phenomenal

[@Nickel_The_Wise]

@@FatherMalone Well, that one's easy, but I mostly remember that scene starting me off as a movie lover. "Dad, dad! I think that's the crow from Secret of NIMH!" And c'mon, it doesn't get any cooler than the Electric Mayhem's song when they paint the Studebaker, since I grew up in Dallas #AuroraBorealis But yeah, if it wasn't for that twerp playing 'Barbecue' (lamely, I might add) that went on before them, the Frogtown Hallaw Jubilee Jugband would've won that competition, if it weren't for the pseudo-progressive madness of The Nightmare.

[@madphantom7161]

I think William Finley is really underappreciated. I'm a huge fan of him. Watched not only Phantom, but also Woton's Wake, Murder a la Mod, Dionysus in '69, The Wedding Party...

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

TOTALLY!!!! Re: Devil and Daniel Mouse. Yup about Jan's gown on opening night. Very Phoenix-ish. Interesting connect between the Muppets and Paul Williams is a line from both Phantom's theme and Rainbow Connection. "Half asleep I hear a voice. Is it only in my mind , or is it someone calling me..." (Phantom's theme) "Have you been half asleep, and have you you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name....' (Rainbow connection) Hmmmm interesting twist to have WILLIAM singing Rainbow Connection and Kermit singing Faust. That would have been interesting, just for fun.

[@em84c]

Omg 7:19 Bugsy Malone was my fave movie as a child. I must have watched it 100 times. My mum taped it on VHS when it was on tv one day. And I got the soundtrack on CD.

[@th3bff]

I love this movie and soundtrack. It’s the movie that taught me English since I used to watch it over and over as a kid

[@jeannehall6546]

Hearing Wolfman Jack’s voice again brought back a load of memories- “The Midnight Special” and others! A true ‘60’s and ‘70’s legend!

[@shuntguy]

I first saw this movie on CITY-TV in Toronto around 1978. There is a scene where they show time passing by flipping through one of those calendars where you tear off a page for each day. It said 1974 and I remember thinking that it wasn't that long ago. I also remember thinking that I KNEW there was more to rock and roll than I was seeing on television. I know drug real from real real!

[@usascorpio]

- Watched Phantom several times when it first came out. Loved that movie (and still do). So much fun, and great music.

[@NukePossumSpringsBand]

From Winnipeg here, 1000% huge here it was my mom’s favourite

[@jeremebonesaw]

I actually grew up on this because of my father. He saw it in theaters as a kid when it came out. My mother and him also liked Rocky Horror Picture show, but I still never got the hype of that one. This movie is where it's at!!

[@wpgme85]

When I was a kid I was shocked to learn that Phantom of the Paradise wasn't popular everywhere else. Hell of It is one of my all time favourite songs (Special to Me isn't anything to turn your nose up at either).

[@DolOnTheDial]

this was my favourite film when I was a kid (ok maybe even still) I've seen it many many MANY times. Before the advent of home video I would search the TV guide that use to come in the newspaper to see if it was on, and even if it meant staying up till all hours of the morning I would watch it. I was obsessed with it. The sound track was the first album I ever purchased. (yup on vinyl). Paul Williams is 100% underrated as an actor and more so as a songwriter.

[@georgegreaney4353]

Oh, and Rod Serling's opening narration over the Death Records logo being the LAST thing he did professionally before dying the next year at age 50 during open heart surgery, makes the movie unintentionally more ironically tragic than it already is.

[@kevingarrett8403]

This came out when I was just a kid in junior high school. I was captivated by the commercials but my parents didn't want to go, so I had to wait until Block Buster Video days to rent it. The song The Hell of It, always stuck with me. Sang it in my mind all through my six year enlistment in the Navy at the bottom of The Atlantic Ocean in the engine room of a Nuclear Submarine.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Isn't that a great song ?? I want that played at my funeral lol

[@kevingarrett8403]

Andrew Gardener kzbin.info/www/bejne/eny9Y6Nrqadpr5Y

[@kevingarrett8403]

Have seen this version on television?

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@kevingarrett8403 I think I might have rented it ... I saw most of it , not all unfortunately

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@kevingarrett8403 Oh I see , no ...I hadn't . Thanks

[@davejohn3600]

I found this movie late night on FX. I later found it in a bargain bin at Wal-mart on DVD. One day I remembered and watched it. I've been in love with it since. The soundtrack alone is amazing. It's on those Touchtunes jukeboxes FYI!

[@echobeefpv8530]

I'm from Winnipeg, and have always been a big fan of this movie and it's music !!Always tingled some odd nerves when I saw it. I'm too much like Winslow for my own good.

[@FatherMalone]

It's a spectacular film

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

Beware of cute but evil record producers sporting white pages style contracts.

[@alwaystinkering7710]

I saw it in the theater the weekend is was released, and I'm pretty sure it's the first movie I drove to. I was 17. I'm glad to see it's gotten the recognition it deserves, it's brilliant on many levels. Everyone in it is perfect.

[@qwazert382]

I remember seeing this for this first time (late, late show) as a youngster. Always loved this movie and thanks to Torrent sites, I was able to download it a few years ago. A classic...and I'm from Winnipeg!

[@rockmanx20]

Femto stole that helmet

[@FatherMalone]

rockmanx20 From?

[@crozraven]

oughtfivefilms it's "Berserk" reference LOL. It's a dark fantasy manga series & it has a character that eerily similar with the phantom (in which probably inspired by it), that's why its name "Femto" = Phantom.

[@FatherMalone]

Ah. Thanks for the clarification.

[@darkstarZ74]

HA! I have seen this! I saw it on VHS for the first time in the 80s. I have the soundtrack as well.

[@Phil-r6k]

I saw PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE at the theatre when it was first released, and was totally gobsmacked! I’ve owned the VHS tape, I still have the DVD and the CD soundtrack. I’ve written about it in Scary Monsters magazine. For decades, I’ve said that if ROCKY HORROR didn’t exist, PHANTOM would have taken on a different life and filled the void. The look of the film, the sets, the colour scheme, the costumes (especially the mask!), the script, everything comes together in a way that films rarely do these days. Then, there’s the music: The best thing about the film is that Paul Williams wrote the music, and the worst thing about it is that Paul Williams wrote the music. Make of that what you will.

[@user-oj7bn5fq4m]

Rocky Horror Picture Show was already a successful Broadway musical years before Phantom. Unfortunately Paul Williams and Brian de Palma didn’t have the vision to adapt Phantom of the Paradise on Broadway before Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Phantom of the Opera. There was an attempt in the early 80s but it fell through. It is completely impossible now for there to be any sort of Broadway adaptation of Paradise, the movie is way too unknown now and I’m not sure if Williams or a new songwriter (like Lin Manuel Miranda) would be able to construct a full score of new songs that would fit with the existing very 70s songs.

[@B.B.Digital_Forest]

God Bless the people of Winnipeg!

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

I FREAKING LOVE this movie, and so does my boyfriend. We're both old enough to have been around when it was released, and have both seen it numerous times. My guy even has a Phantom costume, complete with helmet. He's tall, too, so he does the costume justice. :-)

[@FatherMalone]

That's excellent. I have the helmet as well. And a Death Records tattoo

[@simonedrake9659]

I was brought up listening to this Album ❤loved it then , love it today.