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Phantom of the Paradise (Widescreen) | 
| Director: Brian De Palma
Actors: Keith Allison, Mary Margaret Amato, Jennifer Ashley, Henry Calvert, Ken Carpenter
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 11.98
Buy New: CDN$ 7.40
You Save: CDN$ 4.58 (38%)
New (15) Used (3) from CDN$ 7.40
Rating:  106 reviews
Sales Rank: 3079
Format: Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D2002377D
UPC: 024543023777
EAN: 0024543023777
ASIN: B00005LIRB
Theatrical Release Date: October 31, 1974
Release Date: September 2, 2003
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new Item, factory Sealed. Buy direct from the U.S. and save! We only ship airmail to Canada (7-15 days).Caiman, les prix qu'on aime! Tous nos produits sont neufs. Envoi par avion des Etats-Unis
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From Amazon.com
Describing Brian De Palma's IPhantom of the Paradise/I as an update of the classic IPhantom of the Opera/I doesn't do justice to this demented movie. While De Palma's Hitchcock homages have sometimes led him into dead ends, this rock roll remake seems to have liberated De Palma's imagination, and the result is weird and funny, with the scruffy underground spirit of the director's early pictures. The Phantom is one Winslow Leach (William Finley), a nerdy songwriter whose "pop cantata" on the subject of Faust is stolen by a freakish, Phil Spector-like rock impresario called Swan (Paul Williams). After getting his head caught in a vinyl-LP compressor, Leach is transformed into a masked creature, haunting Swan's music palace, the Paradise. De Palma proves how nimbly he can establish narrative rhythm: the story moves like a cannon shot, and the musical numbers (especially in the Alice Cooper-like Paradise sequences) are brilliantly cut. The movie seems to predict the Studio 54 scene, MTV, and punk rock--the last, especially, in the figure of Beef, a screeching singer played by the unhinged Gerrit Graham. The songs were written by Paul Williams, that diminutive '70s music icon (he cowrote the Barbra Streisand wet noodle "Evergreen"), and his performance is a reminder of his peculiar, self-spoofing presence: at one point, the preening Swan announces, "You know how I abhor perfection in anyone but myself." Comedy, musical, horror film, '70s artifact--this movie isn't quite definable, and that's what's wonderful about it. I--Robert Horton/I
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| Customer Reviews: Read 101 more reviews...
 TERRIFIC AND TWISTED April 5, 2007
THE CRITIC (Windsor, Ontario Canada)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
From the great mind of Brian De Palma comes the very entertaining and bizarre film "Phantom Of The Paradise".This 1974 cult classic from Brian De Palma is pure film genius.The story is well crafted and the casting in my opinion is terrific.The amazing aspect about this movie is it's not limited to one genre of film making.It has an unusual mix of comedy,horror and part musical and that's what makes it great.The combination of De Palma's imaginative directing and Paul Williams acting and impressive music soundtrack make "Phantom Of The Paradise" a scream to watch.This movie was a box office dud in it's original debut and lurked in the shadows of The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and other films for many years.Fans of this movie will be delighted with the video transfer from 20th Century Fox Studios.The video transfer is presented in it's 1.85:1 Anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio and the image is crisp and clean.It's really too bad that the sound wasn't remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 given the movies awesome soundtrack.My only real complaint is that the DVD lacks bonus material.It would have been nice if 20th Century Fox had approached Brian De Palma to provide some commentary or include cast footage for this release.After all these years I'd love to hear his thoughts on what I believe is an underrated 70's classic. Brian De Palma has given us a number of great films over the years,but it's the hilarious and horrific images of this movie that are forever embedded in my mind. br /
 Musical moments help preserve film January 25, 2006
After seeing this film in theatrical release in 1975, I was interested to see how well it (or I) held up 30 years later. I certainly wasn#x27;t impressed with the first 15 minutes, especially with the Juicy Fruits music, but then this semi rock-musical begins to pick up.brThe set desighn is simular to the 1975 sci-fi era (Rollerball, etc), and the film does retain some intersting visuals.br But the theme of the movie is enticing as well, as it is a parody on how corrupt the record industry was (at least perceived) in the 1970#x27;s. Paul Williams role is as a record executive - neophyte, but the Phantom still wins my sympathy. Based losely upon The Phantom of The Opera. There is some cool surf music here, but mostly Elton John 70#x27;s style music.
 What is this~? June 30, 2004
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
What's up with this film? It was my waste of money, and I saw anything good in it. Why is this film has almost 5 stars? American thing it must be.....worst class, worst art, and worst story. I want my money back. I would rather spend it for MacDonald Sandwhich or something.
A golden treasure ! June 25, 2004
Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela)
This film is unique. De Palma was in a efervescence creative in this decade as fery few directors in the story. I think the next film in his career Carrie mad the people forgot this one, who in many aspects goes beyond Carrie due his artistic character and innovative resources.brOnce more De Palma accepts the challenging duel to adapt this classic version but set and described from another perspective.brThis film also allowed him to follow his bliss wothout the powerful presence of Hitchcok .pIn other order of ideas , something similar happened with Chabrol , the french master , but the difference in the case of Chabrol is his major versality. brDe Palma has reached the peak with this one. You feel Sisters and Phantom as his major achievements in this decade.brDon't forget one film that in a way was a twisted wrench of this one : I'm talking about the rocky horror picture show.brThis was a decade in which the concern about others ways of expression were in the minds of many film makers.brThink in Ken Ruseell with Tommy , Jewison with Jesuchrist , Robin Hardy with The wicker man , Dario Argento with the cat with nine tails , The clockwise orange , Badlands , The harder they come , Pink flamingos, Walkabout , Don't look now or the honey moon killers. You felt besides the desperate spirit of the german cinema Fassbinder , Wenders (Paris Texas) , Herzog , Hauff and the french cinema under the kingdom of Truffaut , Chabrol , Molinaro Pierre Granier Deferre and Claude Sautet . This decade experienced an authentical creative and innovative tour de force in what concerns with new themes and proposals.brThat's why this film wins, because it kept his level and status and still remains.brWatch this one and it will become one of your favorites!
Overlooked rock music film which was somewhat prophetic April 28, 2004
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The 1974 rock music film Phantom Of The Paradise is perhaps one of the most unusual and intriguing films i've ever come to know. This film was one of Brian DePalma's best films to date next to 1976's Carrie, 1983's masterwork Scarface and 1987's The Untouchables. The film is seen as somewhat as a rock and roll version of Phantom Of The Opera but it's a film about getting revenge on those who have hurt us. The hero in the film is nerdy and disgruntled composer Winslow Leach(played by William Finley) whose rock cantata about the magician 'Faust' whom was stolen by music impressario Swan. Swan had his own record label Death Records(originally Swan Song before Led Zeppelin coincidentally came up with the record label name and the producers changed the label to Death) and his own music channel(predated MTV by many years. Swan then proceeds and destroys Leach's life (steals the lovely Phoenix from Winslow, has him wrongfully framed, arrested, teeth pulled and had metal teeth in its place(predates the look that rappers and rockers like Marilyn Manson would adopt) and appearance). After being badly disfigured, Leach disguises himself as a phantom (whose Phantom outfit and make-up could easily have been the predecessor to the Goth Rock era of the 80's) wreaking havoc on the devilish (and that terms comes in quite handy here) and will stop at nothing to terrorize Swan. He tries arson (blowing up the set design during one of the 'Faust' rehearsals with a Beach Boys send-off The Beach Bums) and even murder (electrocuting over-the-top singer hard rock singer Beef mid-performance whose backing band look like what KISS would appear like a few months after this film was made. Also, the people at the door scene predicts the Studio 54 scene by a few years as does the partying/wedding scene at the end. The music in this film is great and the story proves that in the end, the nerds win over the arrogant types! Highly recommended!
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