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The cult-movies do not always have immediate success, but then they enter History.
Brian De Palma has directed films with mixed results, but beyond personal tastes, he must be recognized for his great qualities in the innovative choice of sequences, shots, and soundtracks. This film is one of the first, shot during the flourishing period of rock operas.
The story tells of a certain Winslow, a young and simple unknown musician who, at an audition, demonstrates his talent with a beautiful composition played with feeling on the piano. Swan, a successful record producer (because he made a pact with the devil), steals his composition and has him arrested. Winslow doesn’t accept this; he escapes, and when he returns to claim his rights, he is thrown out of the studios, becoming disfigured in the face by a record press in the escape. While fleeing, he grabs a stage costume with a mask, which he will later wear to execute his revenge hidden behind the theater scenes. As unlucky as few, Swan will also steal Phoenix from him, a pretty and naive singer whom he had fallen in love with during the audition. Swan will also imprison him to complete the songs for the inauguration of the Paradise, driven by love for her, which she will instead neglect him.
Loosely inspired by Gaston Leroux's famous novel 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1910), it is an ironic representation of the American musical scene of the late '60s, a male-chauvinist environment, venal and steeped in drugs and sex, but at the same time, it is a hymn to the love of music. Many touching scenes, memorable performances by a proto-punk band and a rather picturesque singer trying to perform the song composed by Winslow on stage, before he heavily avenges himself.
Beautiful soundtrack by Paul Williams, who also plays the part of the villain Swan. It is one of the few films in my very small film library, the ones I keep, a horror-rock opera that cannot be missing for fans of '60s - '70s rock.
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE - USA 1974 (Phantom of the Paradise)
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Winslow: William Finley
Swan: Paul Williams
Phoenix: Jessica Harper
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