Phantom of the Paradise
A disfigured musician sells his soul for the woman he loves so that she will perform his music.
- Director:Brian De Palma
- Genre:Comedy / Fantasy / Horror / Music / Musical / Thriller
- Runtime:92 minutes
Cast
William Finley : Winslow / The Phantom
Paul Williams : Swan
Jessica Harper : Phoenix
Gerrit Graham : Beef
George Memmoli : Philbin
The story follows music composer/singer Winslow Leach (William Finley), who is seen by Satanic record producer, Swan (Paul Williams) during his performance as a back-up act to the no-talent nostalgia band The Juicy Fruits, whom Swan produces. Swan is deeply moved by Winslow’s song, and, deeming Winslow’s music as the perfect music to open “The Paradise” – Swan’s anticipated concert hall, has his right-hand man Philbin (George Memmoli) steal it.
When Winslow arrives at Death Records, Swan’s record label, he is thrown out. When he sneaks into “Swanage”, Swan’s private mansion, to find out what’s going on, he observes several women all rehearsing his music for an audition. One of them is Phoenix (Jessica Harper), an aspiring singer, whom Winslow deems perfect for his music and the two quickly fall for one another. Winslow is told of Swan’s plan to open the Paradise with Winslow’s music. When Winslow sneaks in once more, Swan orders he be thrown out again and for his minions to beat up Winslow and frame him for drug dealing.
Winslow is given a life sentence in Sing-Sing Prison. In prison, Winslow’s teeth are extracted as part of an experimental prisoner program funded by the Swan Foundation. His teeth are now replaced with shiny metal ones. Six months later, Winslow hears on the radio, while assembling tiddlywinks games in the prison rehab center, that The Juicy Fruits, whom he hates, have made an anticipated hit record of his music with Swan’s backing. Winslow goes berserk, punches out a guard and escapes from prison in a delivery box driven off prison property.
He breaks into the Death Records building and tears the place up. He then breaks into Swan’s record factory where he sets out to destroy a record press. When a guard catches him fiddling with the record press, Winslow slips and the record press catches his sleeve, tumbling him head first into the record press and crushing his face. Bleeding profusely and with his face now severely mutilated, a very disoriented Winslow makes his way to the edge of the East River and tumbles into the water. The newspaper reports the details of the night and that his body was not recovered. Read more
