Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Phantom of the Paradise


The story of Faust is transposed to the music industry in a ninety minute dream sequence written and directed by Brian De Palma.

Plot: For the opening night of his new club, record Producer Swan steals an unsigned musician's rock contata that is based on the German legend “Faust”. The musician, Leach, objects and is framed, jailed and disfigured in his pursuit of due credit. Masked and crippled, he terrorises the club until Swan offers him a contract; signed in blood, it entwines his fate with the Producer's. The denouement occurs at the club opening, where the Producer is exposed and Leach gets the girl, sort of.

It's a great, inconsistent, mid seventies shamble with cell animation, musical numbers and a little gore. The tone is all over the place: John Waters meets Scorcese's After Hours at Benny Hill's house, with the Rocky Horror cast doing blow in the kitchen. 

It's mesmerizing, unique and well worth your valuable time.

Budget: $1,300,000

Gross: $?

Line of the film: 'I think the Juicy Fruits are gonna dig it'.

Fun Fact: Sissy Spasek (Carrie) was the films set dresser.


review by Simon Hansen.

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