Reviewed by Melissa Garza
“My God you’re horrible. Don’t rush off” – Swan (Paul Williams)
In honor of the great Paul Williams and the documentary Still Alive, I am reviewing Phantom of the Paradise.
Singer and songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finley) is approached by Philbin (George Memmoli) to make a deal. Philbin is the assistant of Swan (Paul Williams) the producer of Death Records who is interested in stealing some of Leach’s best work. He asks the singer for some of his songs, and excited Leach explains how his music is tied together and tells the story of the legendary Faust. The assistant tells him that their band The Juicy Fruits might be able to sing the tunes, which sends Winslow over the edge. He pushes the big man against the wall and adamantly states that he is the only one who can sing Faust. Philbin assures Leach that he’s in good hands, and he naively hands over all of his work.
A month passes and Leach hears nothing so he takes a trip to Swan’s office and is quickly escorted out by security. He tracks the producer down to a rehearsal and hears several women singing his music. He’s confused but nonetheless taken with one woman’s rendition of his song. Leach introduces himself to Phoenix’s (Jessica Harper) and tells her that he wrote the songs. He assures her that she’s wonderful but after auditioning she runs out in tears. He tries to go after her but is approached by two men who throw him in with a bunch of amorous women. When Swan arrives he throws Leach out, has his men pound his face in, plants crack on him and phones the police to pick him up. Despite his claims of innocence he is found guilty and placed in prison. While in jail, he is forced into a “volunteer” program where all of his teeth are removed and replaced with steel. After hearing on a radio that the Juicy Fruits are singing his music, he is unable to take anymore, beats up a guard and busts out. He runs to the studio with dynamite in hand ready to blow it up, but instead his arm gets caught and his head becomes mashed between the machinery. He leaves covered in blood and horribly disfigured. He loses his voice and is forced to wear a strange silver metallic mask. Thus the Phantom is born.
Now as the Phantom he seeks revenge on Swan’s successful talent and on the producer himself. Eventually, he signs a contract with Swan where he agrees to stop terrorizing the talent of the Paradise if Swan chooses Phoenix to sings his songs. Swan readily agrees, paper in hand.
An odd twist on an old tale, Phantom of the Paradise is hardly for everyone. It is a cult classic with similarities to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In fact, the lead actress Jessica Harper starred as Janet Majors in the RHPS sequel Shock Treatment, and though that film did not live up to the original, she did a great job in the role . Here too, she carries her own. She is gifted with a very strong voice that carried the music well and refreshingly she can also act.
Phantom of the Paradise is entertaining and has an excellent and recognizable plot. There is something about films from the seventies that never lose that feeling of being fresh and new. This is one of those movies. It’s admittedly strange and bizarre. It takes pride in its oddness. It stands out and delivers to those who find enjoyment in the lighter side of horror. It’s campy and sexy and twisted.
The music, though some may argue is out of date, is great. It keeps the flow of the movie going. As the songs tell the story of Faust the movie shows the parallels between the Phantom and the novel he had written about. It’s a really well thought-out way of relaying a message to the audience and when considering the type of movie, it earns it that much more respectability. It’s an intelligent movie that brags about being insane.
Paul Williams was an excellent casting choice and sells the villainous Swan magnificently. Though he’s funny, he isn’t one to cheer for. The Phantom is too sympathetic. Leach isn’t a bad guy. Even when he transcends into the Phantom he doesn’t lose his naivete or kindness. He’s just a good guy that was dealt an extremely bad hand.
There are rumors that there will be a remake somewhere near 2010. I shudder to think what style music they’ll incorporate into it and how much style it will lose in the new rendition. It’s an untouchable classic. It’s too unique to recapture and keep any level of integrity. If it were a stage show, it would be different, but Hollywood has lost its touch. The focus is gone. The atmosphere has been destroyed and unless some real talent gets behind the production, it’s a catastrophe waiting to happen.
As for the original, to enjoy it you have to have a strong appreciation for things bizarre. If you’re a fan of the RHPS you will absolutely adore it, but the average horror fan may walk away thinking, “what was that?” For those unfamiliar with the crazy horror cult world of the seventies, give it a chance! There’s nothing else in the world like it.
Scared Stiff Rating 7.5/10 Wonderfully Strange – Enjoy the video below
