My fondest memory of meeting Paul Williams was when my father told him that he thoroughly enjoyed _Phantom of the Paradise._ To which Williams smiled, and said: ‘I’m so glad to meet the guy who saw my picture.’ I didn’t understand it then, as I was only 12, but I get it now! To say the least, _PotP_ is one of my all time favorite movies 👏👏👏
I was convinced that he was just cosplaying as Griffith from BERSERK until I heard that it was released in 1974. I'm glad you mentioned the influence there.
I remember when mentioning BERSERK would barely get a response due to very few people knowing about it until the absolute atrocity that was the most recent CG riddled Anime adaption. I was surprised at just how many people also commented on the same thing as you and me! To anyone that still has no idea what it is, and can appreciate a story that is all together tragic, dark and gorgeous, I say to just go find the Manga and skip the anime for now. It is definitely worth the time required to go through it all.
Something worth pondering...Brian De Palma is friends with George Lucas (and even helped write a little of the opening crawl for Star Wars). It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Lucas might have looked at this film, with a disfigured, masked, deep-voiced tragic villain who's only able to speak because of a voice synthesizer, and who ended up this way because of the machinations of a far more evil villain, and thought, "I could work with this..."
It's possible. But I don't think George came up with Vader's backstory until after "Star Wars" was released. Maybe 1978? IMHO, the best bet as to the inspiration for Darth Vader, at lease as far as character design goes, is Marvel Comic's Dr. Doom.
@@LarsBlitzerand at the end of the story, Guts & Casca are going to merge and form Akira Fudo, while Griffith regains his memories as Lucifer/Ryo Asuka. Secret Devilman series. Go Nagai got us again.
6:23 The actors duck to go through the doorway, which is shorter to accommodate Paul Williams, who is listed as 5'2". It's a nice little touch that shows how much power Swan has.
I've never watched a single one of your videos, but I clicked this one becasue PotP is my favorite movie. I was worried you were gonna be shitting on it, I'm so glad this video was made in appreciation!!
this movie works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. the plunger scene is bonkers. a modern remake would be by a24 and it would be insufferably self important
@@BearBitesShow Consider that their next appearance is as 'The Undead'. With an obvious nod to Kiss, who were still a bit obscure at the time of production.
@@epobirs Kiss were beyond obscure when this was filmed. Alice Cooper was the inspiration for The Undeads. They're ripping apart bodies on-stage like he allegedly ripped apart a chicken (that story was exaggerated, but it made him infamous at the time).
@@Garch-the-Great No, I saw this movie in it's original theatrical run, as a ten year old. I knew who Kiss were then and immediately understood the reference. Their biggest albums were still ahead of them but they were already getting a lot of attention for their presentation.
As one who grew up in Winnipeg during that amazing time, it was nothing shy of AMAZING to be able to meet and hug the man who gave us Winslow Leach. William autographed both parts of Faust for me (for some reason, it was released in two books) . I scotch taped the cover so it wouldn't fade. Next year, (2024 ) marks the movie's 50th anniversary, and Winnipeg (well duh!) is hosting an event to commemorate that mile stone. Sadly, the show sold out before I could get a ticket, but that's okay. I got to say THANK YOU to my first mentor and the cast got to bask in the love that was initially denied them.
That, good fan, is a mystery which may never be solved. Just one of those wild things that I was glad to have been part of. I could offer theories, but those are a dollar a dozen. Being a Winnipeg kid, from back in that day, we just took to it. Maybe it had to do with feeling like the underdog, who triumphed over overwhelming odds. Who knows? Now, 50 years later (WOW!! REALLY?!?!? YUP. REALLY) We're celebrating Brian DePalma's dark horse. If you bet on this long shot at the races, you'd be singing all the way to the bank. 'WINSLOW'S CANTATA takes an astounding lead and wins the race! WHO would have thought it possible, folks?!" @@sjdrifter72
As a 70s kid, I saw this movie a LOT. Double features were still common and Phantom was kept as the B movie by one of our only two local theaters for a long, long time. So, when 'Jaws' came out and we were going to see it again and again, this often meant watching Phantom yet again. On my next birthday I got the soundtrack for Phantom and the movie of 'Tommy' by a request to my grandmother. That Paul Williams created all of those songs across genres in such a short time has always amazed me and I still enjoy them to this day. One thing I didn't realize then, being a kid who didn't know much about the dark side of the music business, was that the character of Swan was plainly based on Phil Spector. Decades before going on trial for murder, he was known to the public as a genius music producer but also well known within the creative community Brian De Palma was rising in as something of a lunatic and possibly dangerous.
Let's not forget Jessica Harper's even bigger cult favorite film SUSPIRIA. But, yes, this is an amazing and super influential film. The Juicy Fruits goth incarnation has been even said to influence goth bands like Bauhaus in the later 70s.
@@ceolsvalin5744 I love how Shock Treatment feels like it was made *thirty years* too early. At the time, it was borderline incomprehensible. Now it comes off like a parody of influencer culture and "personal brands." It's definitely not as good as Rocky, but it has its own charms. Plus more Jessica Harper!
@@LosHuxleys Suspiria is more remembered. It is one of the scariest movies I had the misfortune of watching. Even the tv spot for Suspiria was terrifying for me as a 5 year old.
This movie was actually well known in France (that is why Phoenix and Daft Punk were so fond of it), as he got the first prize at the Festival d'Avoriaz (cinéma fantastique). It was shown once a year on national french television during the 80s, after 10 pm, with excellent critics on TV programs magazines. Les français comprennent toujours tout avant les autres..
It's also really popular in Japan (which is why it's so often referenced by anime and manga) to the point that at least one toy company released an officially licensed Phantom action figure, and even replicas of stuff like the Death Records* shipping boxes. *Something else worth noting about the film, originally the record label was called Swan Song (which makes a lot more sense) but Led Zeppelin had an actual record label with that name and threatened to sue, so the name was changed to Death Records in the film's dialogue via ADR and referred to by that name in the promo materials but, if you look close, the signs and branding in the film still use the Swan Song name because the changes weren't made until after filming.
I'll always remember the part about the metal teeth, the fact that the main baddie in Berserk has the same helmet was another "oh, that's COOL!" Moments. This was one of those video store rentals that I picked up because the main villain looked cool, didn't know it was a cult classic!
Back when I used Tumblr, I remember seeing stills of the film. So I watched it on a sketchy free website. After 1 watch, I bought a physical copy. It has completely rocked my world! Paul Williams quickly became one of my favorites. We're Instagram mutuals, something I'll never get over
I don't know how this ended up on my recommended but I sure am glad it did. I almost fell out of my chair when i saw you only have 360 subs... Keep doing you and, this channel is gonna blow up soon enough!
My mom made my brother and his friend take me to see this film in the theater (I was 8 years old) I wasn't old enough to catch the humor, all I saw were the horrific elements, and so the film scared the 💩 outta me. Fast forward to 2008: This film is now one of my all time favorite movies, I'm a die hard horror fanatic, and I got to see Paul Williams live. I had him sign my PotP DVD in red ink, "Trust me... Swan"... (If you had the soundtrack album, you'd get it.)
Jessica Harper had such a strange 'typecasting.' In all three of the movies she's best-known for, she's a wide-eyed ingenue artist who almost gets destroyed by the dark side of her art. (The other two being Susperia and Shock Treatment.) It's an oddly-specific career. But yeah, this movie is tons of fun. Definitely a must-see for cult movie fans.
One of my favorite films of all time. No exaggeration. I couldn't count how many times I've watched it since I first saw it as a kid. I was born 4 years after this came out but my Mom loved it and we rented it on Beta (lol), when I was around ten years old and I thought it was brilliant. The prison sequence always kills me. Sometimes I load it up on my PC just to skip through the flick just to listen to the musical numbers... and to this day I constantly catch myself hearing THE HELL OF IT in my head out of nowhere. Williams, Harper and Finley give it their all, and it shows, but I think Gerrit Graham as Beef often steals the scenes. :)
I remember staying up late and sneaking down stairs. After my parents were asleep and watching this on HBO when we first got cable in the late 70's. Loved it. Thanks,that fun video.
I'm from Winnipeg and the following for this movie here is actually insane, huge watch parties for it every year with live bands and the whole deal. This year they've got the surviving cast making an appearance as well. One of my favorite musicals.
Thourourghly enjoyed your look at one of my very favorite films. I saw it when it opened on October 31st, 1974, I was only nine but I loved it. Some might say it opened on November 1st, but I believe I saw it on Halloween. One of De Palma’s best films and easily one of my favorite soundtracks. The Hell Of It is one of the greatest tracks… EVER! I’m so glad you love it like everyone who’s posted here. Great job! 👍
Saw this decades ago at the theater. I think it was a Weird Wednesday special showing at Alamo Drafthouse. Either way, the music has been stuck in my head growing up since.
Nice thoughtful review. My girlfriend (later my wife) loved Paul Williams' lyrics and music. We got to see it in an out of the way art film theater in Baltimore. It always surprised me that PotP predates the Rocky Horror Picture Show
Casualty count.... 1 injury (security guard at Sing Sing.) I don't think he was killed but dang! Who thought you could knock a guy unconscious with a transistor radio. Beef.... char broiled. And the lighting guy....Winslow put his light out permanently. Some phans wondered why Winslow would kill an innocent lighting tech, but then you have to remember...this kid has been messed over the the last time, AND by someone he once trusted. Trust betrayed is a powerful motivator for some scary consequences. You pondered if Phoenix would continue on with her career, even after all the insanity of that 'Wedding' ..... I'm not so sure. Putting myself in her place, I think I'd be catatonic for a while after.
I loved this film. I saw it when it opened. It influenced me greatly. I never saw Rocky Horror until about 11 years later, and whenever someone would bring up that movie I would say "yeah, but have you ever seen Phantom of the Paradise?" You had the story of Faust, the Phantom of the Opera, Dorian Gray all wrapped up together. I have the soundtrack on my phone, that''s how much I love this movie. As a side note, I wonder how much the music (especially Faust (I was not myself last night - Winslow version) influenced Jim Steinman? It's very similar to Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler and Air Supply tunes he wrote years later.
I still remember, at nine-years-old, seeing this film twice in the theater back in ‘74. It was like nothing I had ever seen before and I fell in love with it. Especially Paul Williams songs. I played the vinyl soundtrack so many times, I think I wore it out. For so many years this film was just forgotten and wasn’t available to watch on any format. It’s so great that this masterpiece has received the attention it deserves, including a magnificent remastered transfer on Blu-ray.
I was one of the 10 people who saw it in movie theaters. Loved it then, love it now. Lost count how many times I've watched it just like Rocky Horror. DePalma most definitely has a style all his own for this one. Paul Williams provided the soundtrack for a large chunk of the 70s. He has an unmistakable sound to his music. The film Bugsy Malone, with a very young Jodie Foster, was kinda the same story. Wasn't a big hit, but the music by Williams is definitely going to stick with you. Tom Sawyer is another example. Great video. ✌️
I saw the film at a cinema palace in Toronto, in 1974. It was spot on to my lifestyle at that time. I still play the CD now and then. Jessica Harpers' song about how old souls live forever still touches me.
I saw and loved this one time when i was quite young, and for years, i could not remember its name or find out about it till the internet rescued me!! It holds a special place in my heart!! Thank you for raising awareness of it!!
I remember watching this for the first time when I was around 15. Though there aren't that many horror musicals (I think there are about six I can think of off the top of my head), this one tops the list as my all time favorite. The combination of both Williams' and Harper's vocal talents along with Williams' masterful songwriting is just amazing. Tacking on the directorial genius of De Palma is just icing on a superbly surreal cake that I would happily eat up any time I get it served to me. Awesome work on this video.
I saw this movie on release at the base theater on Ft. Monmouth N.J. in 1974! It set the stage for "Rocky Horror" and what followed...♥ Jessica Harper still has that voice!
I saw this first decades ago, it stayed in the dark corners of my brain, like it was just a strange dream I had. Not many movies can do that. Thanks for refreshing it.
I first saw this movie when I was in about sixth grade. While it was wild and memorable, I didn't get too, too many of the references. Twenty years later I came across it at a video store. I got the references now, and loved it even more! Still one of my favorites. And I heartily recommend it to as many people as possible.
As soon as I saw this, I just HAD to hear what you had to say about it. Seen this as a child and as you can imagine, it left an impression on me. In a good way. It likely contributed in no small way to my life long obsession with bizzare cult films. If you even remotely are interested in weird movies, this is a MUST SEE!
@@jayanxietyI would love for WB to make a live-action movie starring PW as an elderly Penguin, perhaps in the businessman/informant role he has in some stories.
I watched two minutes of this video then instantly went to watch the movie (I have herd of it though Edgar Wright loving it) and I found it to be amazing
Fun fact. That giant modular synthesizer in the background, that they have the Phantom playing, is a real, and very famous Moog synthesizer called the TONTO. It was used by a LOT of very famous artists.
The moment I discovered this movie a few years ago I fell in love with it. Everything about it was just perfect, definitely one of my all time favorite musicals.
This is amazing. I remember seeing the advertising for this as a kid, but my sister talked me out of seeing it. I never knew what this film was about all these years. Thanks for sharing.
I saw PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE at the theatre when it was first released, and was totally gobsmacked! I’ve owned the VHS tape, I still have the DVD and the CD soundtrack. I’ve written about it in Scary Monsters magazine. For decades, I’ve said that if ROCKY HORROR didn’t exist, PHANTOM would have taken on a different life and filled the void. The look of the film, the sets, the colour scheme, the costumes (especially the mask!), the script, everything comes together in a way that films rarely do these days. Then, there’s the music: The best thing about the film is that Paul Williams wrote the music, and the worst thing about it is that Paul Williams wrote the music. Make of that what you will.
I saw it when it opened, it played a double bill with RHPS, which had come out like a year earlier. Loved them both then, love them both now! My teenhood
Was it confirmed he killed someone with the bomb? I just assumed they got injured since the same actors playing The Beach Bums showed up later in the film as The Undead
I don't watch movies anymore. Considering I went to school for cinema, worked at a movie rental, and spent most of my free time watching films, it's still a bit surprising. It is what it is. When other film fanatics found out I cherished movies like: Forbidden Zone, El Topo, Street Trash, The Loved One, Population 1, most assumed I've seen this one- I never had. Considering I don't have free time to watch a full-length films at this time, this is the next best thing. Thank you! It was on my list for some time❤
Paul Williams is also the voice the Penguin from Batman the Animated Series! I remember watching cable TV with my buddy one night and he was flipping through the channels and Phantom of the Paradise was on. There was a shot of the contract and my buddy goes, "It's Swan, dude!" It made me crack up that I still laugh about it years later. 😆
I know I'm yammering a lot here, but this movie has INSANE avenues for imagination. For example..... what if you were one of those guys who 'stabbed' Swan, thinking it was all 'part of the show' . Next day (or mid-afternoon) , you wake up, and meander downstairs for 'breakfast' (It's Sunday) . Suppose you're living with your parents, who are getting ready for DINNER and dad 'casually' asks, "So how did the concert go?" "Cool", you reply, wondering what time it is. "Can't wait to see what Swan does next. Man, can that dude put on a show!" "Killer," your dad semi-sarcastically replies before setting down the front page of the newspaper, showing the bloodied faces of Swan, Philbin and Winslow, with a sobbing Phoenix kneeling over him under the banner headline, *"SWAN'S SONG ENDS ON A TRAGIC NOTE* {Police investigate string of fatalities connected with legendary Producer's rock music theater}. There is SO MUCH *"Scope for Imagination"* in the aftermath of that night. I'm tempted to re-write a story I started a while ago; "Now and THEN" . Think it's worth a go?
Clerks being a cult classic can be debated. For a movie that only cost 30 grand to make pulling in 4.4 million is a huge success. Plus people talked about that movie alot when it came out and the soundtrack sold a ton too. If i had to guess its probably the most pop culture successful movie that made a profit upon release and yet still considered cult. Kind of a conundrum
There have been a few movies that left my mother in utter confusion and this is one of them. We got this on VHS from the Video Shop and she started questioning my sanity after about 10 minutes. I was about 15 at the time maybe but I still remember this to be a wild ride. It is time for a rewatch.
Always liked this movie, I always took it as a "fairy tale" kind of story, and I liked the music/songs. yes, I liked it even more than "Tommy". I wanted to comment on the hidden camera bedroom scene, Swan didn't know that the phantom was on the roof, he just turned that camera on, so that he had blackmail material the girl, probably something he used on all his starlets, , but once he noticed he was up there, he smiled and of course gave him a good show so that he would suffer. it's also the phantoms self inflicted suicide wound, that kills him at the end, once the contract was void, so in essence swan took him to hell with him.
I saw this movie on my local tv station, it was one of the movies you see and want to change the channel but for some reason or another you keep watching. Thank you for the analysis, I had no idea that de Palma was behind this. Keep up the good work.
I watched this movie looking out the back window of a station wagon while my parents watched something else in the front seat at a Drive-In. So I got all of the visuals and none of the music. On subsequent viewings, I came to really appreciate it. It would make a great Broadway musical (as would Streets Of Fire, btw) and on a side note, I think Phoenix has a degree from the Elaine Benes School Of Dance.
Phantom of the Paradise has been among my top 3 favourite movies of all time (along with Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" and Hal Ashby's "Being There" (Peter Sellers greatest performance)) since I attended the local preniere. 50 years after its release (geez I'm old), I've lost count of how many times I've seen it, but I know the lyrics of all the (wonderful) songs by heart. Frankenfurter's got nothing on Swan. You should have allowed the audio for "I'm under contract too". (and did you actually use "That's the hell of it" in your summary ? Well done!)
Your great tribute has been up for a while. I can't be the first to mention (ironically?) Paul Williams today is president and chairman of ASCAP, big shot among big shots. ...an amazing career.
I was a kid in the 80’s teen in the 90’s. I had completely forgotten about this movie until I just saw it pop up in my recommendations. I use to see this on TV on the weekends when I was a kid and always tried to watch it but never really knew what the heck was going on exactly because I never caught it from the beginning. I always watched it wherever it was in the film because it was pretty crazy and had to do with music. It eventually just faded away in my memories until now. I’m definitely going to buy this on dvd and finally give it a go from beginning to end. Thanks : )
I saw this in the theater and wasn’t sure of the year but if it was 1974 then I was only 8 years old and I swear I really can’t believe my parents let me go to the movies on my own at that age.
The composing room that Swan keeps Winslow in is none other than the control room of TONTO, the original Moog synthesizer studio where Stevie Wonder recorded hundreds of songs, including "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life".
I first saw it as part of a double feature at an all night theatre in Toronto '76/'77 along with the Rocky Horror Picture show. I have loved this movie since that first viewing and have told anyone and everyone I have met about it. Just a great movie.
My fondest memory of meeting Paul Williams was when my father told him that he thoroughly enjoyed _Phantom of the Paradise._ To which Williams smiled, and said: ‘I’m so glad to meet the guy who saw my picture.’ I didn’t understand it then, as I was only 12, but I get it now! To say the least, _PotP_ is one of my all time favorite movies 👏👏👏
Beautiful! 🐻❤️
And that is the guy that wrote a lot of muppet songs
@@tgiacin435 little known fact: he was actually a muppet himself.
@@rmhartman I could believe it
He wrote a lot of Carpenters songs too... and just a lot of well known songs in general. @@tgiacin435
I was convinced that he was just cosplaying as Griffith from BERSERK until I heard that it was released in 1974. I'm glad you mentioned the influence there.
dude i LITERALLY just made that comment lol xD like WOW is the inspiration SO APARENT OMG!!
I remember when mentioning BERSERK would barely get a response due to very few people knowing about it until the absolute atrocity that was the most recent CG riddled Anime adaption. I was surprised at just how many people also commented on the same thing as you and me! To anyone that still has no idea what it is, and can appreciate a story that is all together tragic, dark and gorgeous, I say to just go find the Manga and skip the anime for now. It is definitely worth the time required to go through it all.
I saw the mask in the thumbnail and that's what brought me.
😂 No, NO! ☝️
It’s the helmet of G-FORCE.
“Tiny, activate The Flying Phoenix!”
@@UpsideroundSame here
Something worth pondering...Brian De Palma is friends with George Lucas (and even helped write a little of the opening crawl for Star Wars). It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Lucas might have looked at this film, with a disfigured, masked, deep-voiced tragic villain who's only able to speak because of a voice synthesizer, and who ended up this way because of the machinations of a far more evil villain, and thought, "I could work with this..."
That is a very interesting thought indeed.
Whoa!
Hey, that's something to consider.
It's possible. But I don't think George came up with Vader's backstory until after "Star Wars" was released. Maybe 1978? IMHO, the best bet as to the inspiration for Darth Vader, at lease as far as character design goes, is Marvel Comic's Dr. Doom.
Inspiration can take more than one element...and put em together.
Man, Griffith has had a weird life.
I think he's Femto at that point.
@@LarsBlitzerand at the end of the story, Guts & Casca are going to merge and form Akira Fudo, while Griffith regains his memories as Lucifer/Ryo Asuka.
Secret Devilman series.
Go Nagai got us again.
Gotta hustle to bankroll the Hawks somehow.
MAN . i thought that masked looked alot GRIFF LOL
@@majestyzx9081so this is what they called a "devilman brainrot"?
6:23 The actors duck to go through the doorway, which is shorter to accommodate Paul Williams, who is listed as 5'2". It's a nice little touch that shows how much power Swan has.
I've never watched a single one of your videos, but I clicked this one becasue PotP is my favorite movie. I was worried you were gonna be shitting on it, I'm so glad this video was made in appreciation!!
I love this movie! 🐻❤️
this movie works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. the plunger scene is bonkers. a modern remake would be by a24 and it would be insufferably self important
The Juicy fruits in fact died in the car explosion....but they are under cotract, so...
I love that theory!
@@BearBitesShow Consider that their next appearance is as 'The Undead'. With an obvious nod to Kiss, who were still a bit obscure at the time of production.
@@epobirs Kiss were beyond obscure when this was filmed. Alice Cooper was the inspiration for The Undeads. They're ripping apart bodies on-stage like he allegedly ripped apart a chicken (that story was exaggerated, but it made him infamous at the time).
@@Garch-the-Great No, I saw this movie in it's original theatrical run, as a ten year old. I knew who Kiss were then and immediately understood the reference. Their biggest albums were still ahead of them but they were already getting a lot of attention for their presentation.
@@epobirs The could change their name to, "The beef jerky's"
This is legitimately one of the best videos I've ever seen about "Phantom of the Paradise." You did your homework, lol.
Thank you so much! That means a lot 🐻❤️
Also, how about a Phantom remake with dolls, in the style of Winter Steele??
As one who grew up in Winnipeg during that amazing time, it was nothing shy of AMAZING to be able to meet and hug the man who gave us Winslow Leach. William autographed both parts of Faust for me (for some reason, it was released in two books) . I scotch taped the cover so it wouldn't fade.
Next year, (2024 ) marks the movie's 50th anniversary, and Winnipeg (well duh!) is hosting an event to commemorate that mile stone. Sadly, the show sold out before I could get a ticket, but that's okay. I got to say THANK YOU to my first mentor and the cast got to bask in the love that was initially denied them.
Yeah, the film has its biggest cult following in Winnipeg. I wonder why?
That, good fan, is a mystery which may never be solved. Just one of those wild things that I was glad to have been part of. I could offer theories, but those are a dollar a dozen.
Being a Winnipeg kid, from back in that day, we just took to it. Maybe it had to do with feeling like the underdog, who triumphed over overwhelming odds. Who knows?
Now, 50 years later (WOW!! REALLY?!?!? YUP. REALLY) We're celebrating Brian DePalma's dark horse. If you bet on this long shot at the races, you'd be singing all the way to the bank. 'WINSLOW'S CANTATA takes an astounding lead and wins the race! WHO would have thought it possible, folks?!" @@sjdrifter72
You got to hug Winslow. I am so jealous! That's awesome!
Omg this is what Griffith from berserk God hand form is based off of with that mask. Even how he was tortured is similar
That helmet shows up every damn where
That’s the only reason I clicked.
As a 70s kid, I saw this movie a LOT. Double features were still common and Phantom was kept as the B movie by one of our only two local theaters for a long, long time. So, when 'Jaws' came out and we were going to see it again and again, this often meant watching Phantom yet again. On my next birthday I got the soundtrack for Phantom and the movie of 'Tommy' by a request to my grandmother. That Paul Williams created all of those songs across genres in such a short time has always amazed me and I still enjoy them to this day.
One thing I didn't realize then, being a kid who didn't know much about the dark side of the music business, was that the character of Swan was plainly based on Phil Spector. Decades before going on trial for murder, he was known to the public as a genius music producer but also well known within the creative community Brian De Palma was rising in as something of a lunatic and possibly dangerous.
Let's not forget Jessica Harper's even bigger cult favorite film SUSPIRIA. But, yes, this is an amazing and super influential film. The Juicy Fruits goth incarnation has been even said to influence goth bands like Bauhaus in the later 70s.
Phantom Of The Paradise is better than Suspiria.
Don't forget Shock Treatment!
@@ceolsvalin5744 I love how Shock Treatment feels like it was made *thirty years* too early. At the time, it was borderline incomprehensible. Now it comes off like a parody of influencer culture and "personal brands." It's definitely not as good as Rocky, but it has its own charms. Plus more Jessica Harper!
@@LosHuxleys Suspiria is more remembered. It is one of the scariest movies I had the misfortune of watching. Even the tv spot for Suspiria was terrifying for me as a 5 year old.
This movie was actually well known in France (that is why Phoenix and Daft Punk were so fond of it), as he got the first prize at the Festival d'Avoriaz (cinéma fantastique). It was shown once a year on national french television during the 80s, after 10 pm, with excellent critics on TV programs magazines. Les français comprennent toujours tout avant les autres..
That’s pretty cool! Not surprising to say that the French have good taste in films 🐻❤️
It's also really popular in Japan (which is why it's so often referenced by anime and manga) to the point that at least one toy company released an officially licensed Phantom action figure, and even replicas of stuff like the Death Records* shipping boxes.
*Something else worth noting about the film, originally the record label was called Swan Song (which makes a lot more sense) but Led Zeppelin had an actual record label with that name and threatened to sue, so the name was changed to Death Records in the film's dialogue via ADR and referred to by that name in the promo materials but, if you look close, the signs and branding in the film still use the Swan Song name because the changes weren't made until after filming.
I'll always remember the part about the metal teeth, the fact that the main baddie in Berserk has the same helmet was another "oh, that's COOL!" Moments.
This was one of those video store rentals that I picked up because the main villain looked cool, didn't know it was a cult classic!
This has been my favourite movie for about 45 years, hands down. I want the end theme, The Hell of It, played at my funeral.
Back when I used Tumblr, I remember seeing stills of the film. So I watched it on a sketchy free website. After 1 watch, I bought a physical copy. It has completely rocked my world! Paul Williams quickly became one of my favorites. We're Instagram mutuals, something I'll never get over
WHAT A FLEX! 🐻❤️
Paul Williams even turned up in Smokey and the Bandit a box office juggernaut of its day
More recently he had a brief but engaging role in 'Baby Driver'.
"Smokey" would have been the biggest movie of 1977 if not for an obscure film called Star Wars.
Never forget he is Mamo
I don't know how this ended up on my recommended but I sure am glad it did. I almost fell out of my chair when i saw you only have 360 subs... Keep doing you and, this channel is gonna blow up soon enough!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the video 🐻❤️
Saw Phantom of the paradise at a drive in theatre in 1974 with friends. Have it on DVD and watch it once in awhile. Great movie.
My mom made my brother and his friend take me to see this film in the theater (I was 8 years old) I wasn't old enough to catch the humor, all I saw were the horrific elements, and so the film scared the 💩 outta me. Fast forward to 2008: This film is now one of my all time favorite movies, I'm a die hard horror fanatic, and I got to see Paul Williams live. I had him sign my PotP DVD in red ink, "Trust me... Swan"... (If you had the soundtrack album, you'd get it.)
I'm glad Femto cleaned up his act and finally made that movie he kept saying he was gonna make. Good on him.
Winnipeg is having a 50 Anniversary celebration! November 2nd, 2024! Trust me... Phantompalooza
Originally, the record company mentioned in the film was called Swan Song but Led Zeppelin did a cease-and-desist
Hill I will absolutely die on: Phantom of the Paradise is the absolute BEST version of the Phantom of the Opera that has ever been put to film.
One can certainly make the argument. Excellent film!
completely agreed. One of the nicest things about it, is that the Phantom isn't portrayed as some desperate incel edgelord.
I saw this on late night tv a couple years back, the shower scene grabbed my attention and I couldn't look away. It really is a memorable film.
It just sticks in your head. It’s so awesome
I've heard that Swan was a stand-in for Phil Spectre. This movie really called it on that front.
I’ve seen this movie countless times and I own the soundtrack.Both great pieces of art.
And I live in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada.
For me, Every film Jessica Harper has been in is interesting from "Suspiria" to "Inserts".
Jessica Harper had such a strange 'typecasting.' In all three of the movies she's best-known for, she's a wide-eyed ingenue artist who almost gets destroyed by the dark side of her art. (The other two being Susperia and Shock Treatment.) It's an oddly-specific career.
But yeah, this movie is tons of fun. Definitely a must-see for cult movie fans.
One of my favorite films of all time. No exaggeration. I couldn't count how many times I've watched it since I first saw it as a kid. I was born 4 years after this came out but my Mom loved it and we rented it on Beta (lol), when I was around ten years old and I thought it was brilliant. The prison sequence always kills me. Sometimes I load it up on my PC just to skip through the flick just to listen to the musical numbers... and to this day I constantly catch myself hearing THE HELL OF IT in my head out of nowhere. Williams, Harper and Finley give it their all, and it shows, but I think Gerrit Graham as Beef often steals the scenes. :)
I remember staying up late and sneaking down stairs. After my parents were asleep and watching this on HBO when we first got cable in the late 70's. Loved it. Thanks,that fun video.
A dark dark film in so much color!
This movie *looks* amazing. The aesthetic is top notch. The costumes, the colors, the photography. I can believe I never heard of it before
I love the emphasis on the looks lol
For sure though for sure 🐻❤️
It's what really stood out to me! Plus I haven't watched it so I didn't get to hear any of the music yet @@BearBitesShow
I'm from Winnipeg and the following for this movie here is actually insane, huge watch parties for it every year with live bands and the whole deal. This year they've got the surviving cast making an appearance as well. One of my favorite musicals.
The Hell of It is still in my top 20 songs.
That mask is soo cool
Thourourghly enjoyed your look at one of my very favorite films. I saw it when it opened on October 31st, 1974, I was only nine but I loved it. Some might say it opened on November 1st, but I believe I saw it on Halloween.
One of De Palma’s best films and easily one of my favorite soundtracks. The Hell Of It is one of the greatest tracks… EVER! I’m so glad you love it like everyone who’s posted here. Great job! 👍
First of all, this is a really good analysis and now I want to find a Bluray of this.
Second of all, you deserve way more subscribers.
Thank you on both ends! Hopefully we will get there 🐻❤️
Saw this decades ago at the theater. I think it was a Weird Wednesday special showing at Alamo Drafthouse. Either way, the music has been stuck in my head growing up since.
Goodbye Eddie Goodbye has been in my head daily
I got this movie on dvd 2 years ago, for my 33rd birthday. One of my favorite movies of all time
Nice thoughtful review. My girlfriend (later my wife) loved Paul Williams' lyrics and music. We got to see it in an out of the way art film theater in Baltimore.
It always surprised me that PotP predates the Rocky Horror Picture Show
I saw the two of them on a doublebill when RHPS was released. Rocky was fun, but Phantom lives in my heart. Winslow Lives!
I love story driven songs like "Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye" from this movie's Juicy Fruits.
I saw this when I was little and never knew the name.
I’ve heard this from a few people and I can’t imagine watching this as a little kid lol
Casualty count.... 1 injury (security guard at Sing Sing.) I don't think he was killed but dang! Who thought you could knock a guy unconscious with a transistor radio. Beef.... char broiled. And the lighting guy....Winslow put his light out permanently.
Some phans wondered why Winslow would kill an innocent lighting tech, but then you have to remember...this kid has been messed over the the last time, AND by someone he once trusted. Trust betrayed is a powerful motivator for some scary consequences.
You pondered if Phoenix would continue on with her career, even after all the insanity of that 'Wedding' ..... I'm not so sure. Putting myself in her place, I think I'd be catatonic for a while after.
I loved it. I met Paul Willams. We spoke about the film. He was clean & sober by then.
Thank you Bear for this incredible heads-up!!❤🐻❤🐻❤
I loved this film. I saw it when it opened. It influenced me greatly. I never saw Rocky Horror until about 11 years later, and whenever someone would bring up that movie I would say "yeah, but have you ever seen Phantom of the Paradise?"
You had the story of Faust, the Phantom of the Opera, Dorian Gray all wrapped up together. I have the soundtrack on my phone, that''s how much I love this movie.
As a side note, I wonder how much the music (especially Faust (I was not myself last night - Winslow version) influenced Jim Steinman? It's very similar to Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler and Air Supply tunes he wrote years later.
I still remember, at nine-years-old, seeing this film twice in the theater back in ‘74. It was like nothing I had ever seen before and I fell in love with it. Especially Paul Williams songs. I played the vinyl soundtrack so many times, I think I wore it out.
For so many years this film was just forgotten and wasn’t available to watch on any format. It’s so great that this masterpiece has received the attention it deserves, including a magnificent remastered transfer on Blu-ray.
Saw this as a midnight movie in the 70's
I was one of the 10 people who saw it in movie theaters. Loved it then, love it now. Lost count how many times I've watched it just like Rocky Horror. DePalma most definitely has a style all his own for this one. Paul Williams provided the soundtrack for a large chunk of the 70s. He has an unmistakable sound to his music. The film Bugsy Malone, with a very young Jodie Foster, was kinda the same story. Wasn't a big hit, but the music by Williams is definitely going to stick with you. Tom Sawyer is another example. Great video. ✌️
I saw the film at a cinema palace in Toronto, in 1974. It was spot on to my lifestyle at that time.
I still play the CD now and then. Jessica Harpers' song about how old souls live forever still touches me.
Honestly one of my favorite Phantom of the Opera adaptations
I saw and loved this one time when i was quite young, and for years, i could not remember its name or find out about it till the internet rescued me!! It holds a special place in my heart!! Thank you for raising awareness of it!!
Well, it was big in Japan.
The first Lupin the Third movie modeled the character Mamu after The Swan after all.
I remember watching this for the first time when I was around 15. Though there aren't that many horror musicals (I think there are about six I can think of off the top of my head), this one tops the list as my all time favorite. The combination of both Williams' and Harper's vocal talents along with Williams' masterful songwriting is just amazing. Tacking on the directorial genius of De Palma is just icing on a superbly surreal cake that I would happily eat up any time I get it served to me. Awesome work on this video.
so glad you enjoyed it! it's a much better film than people might think and totally underrated. one of my favorite movies!
I saw this movie on release at the base theater on Ft. Monmouth N.J. in 1974! It set the stage for "Rocky Horror" and what followed...♥ Jessica Harper still has that voice!
Brian De Palma's bigger films overshadow his magnum opus: Blow Out, which is another ridiculous film. Then Raisin Caine.
I saw this first decades ago, it stayed in the dark corners of my brain, like it was just a strange dream I had. Not many movies can do that. Thanks for refreshing it.
I first saw this movie when I was in about sixth grade. While it was wild and memorable, I didn't get too, too many of the references. Twenty years later I came across it at a video store. I got the references now, and loved it even more!
Still one of my favorites. And I heartily recommend it to as many people as possible.
As soon as I saw this, I just HAD to hear what you had to say about it. Seen this as a child and as you can imagine, it left an impression on me. In a good way. It likely contributed in no small way to my life long obsession with bizzare cult films. If you even remotely are interested in weird movies, this is a MUST SEE!
3:21 Mr. Williams also played The Penguin in BTAS!
Oh I dropped the ball on that one. Good catch! 🐻❤️
Perfect casting if you ask me!
@@jayanxietyI would love for WB to make a live-action movie starring PW as an elderly Penguin, perhaps in the businessman/informant role he has in some stories.
@@jonothanthrace1530 Possibly a cameo in the rumored "Penguin" movie would certainly give a nod to the highly-influencial Animated Series!
I remember this movie....freaked me the hell out.
And nice to see the Berserk shout out!
I saw this film in its original release. I can confirm that theater was a lonely place that night. But hey, I liked it!
I watched two minutes of this video then instantly went to watch the movie (I have herd of it though Edgar Wright loving it) and I found it to be amazing
It’s a fantastic film!
Fun fact. That giant modular synthesizer in the background, that they have the Phantom playing, is a real, and very famous Moog synthesizer called the TONTO. It was used by a LOT of very famous artists.
Been a favorite for a long time. Although Jessica Harper gets to sing more in the Rocky Horror sequel "Shock Treatment"
Looks like Griffith's helmet from Berserk too!
Not for everybody, but I would recommend it for the homages to classic horror literature and film.
The moment I discovered this movie a few years ago I fell in love with it. Everything about it was just perfect, definitely one of my all time favorite musicals.
This is amazing. I remember seeing the advertising for this as a kid, but my sister talked me out of seeing it. I never knew what this film was about all these years. Thanks for sharing.
I saw PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE at the theatre when it was first released, and was totally gobsmacked! I’ve owned the VHS tape, I still have the DVD and the CD soundtrack. I’ve written about it in Scary Monsters magazine. For decades, I’ve said that if ROCKY HORROR didn’t exist, PHANTOM would have taken on a different life and filled the void. The look of the film, the sets, the colour scheme, the costumes (especially the mask!), the script, everything comes together in a way that films rarely do these days. Then, there’s the music: The best thing about the film is that Paul Williams wrote the music, and the worst thing about it is that Paul Williams wrote the music. Make of that what you will.
Not only have I seen Phantom of the Paradise, I have three different versions of it.
This feels like a Tim Burton movie.
The fact that it isn't makes me happy that more people see things in a strange and unusual way.
Paul Williams was also the voice of the Penguin in Batman the Animated Series.
Phantom of the Paradise is one of the best, weirdest movies ever made.
I saw it when it opened, it played a double bill with RHPS, which had come out like a year earlier. Loved them both then, love them both now! My teenhood
Beef wasn't his first kill. Your forgetting about the bomb in the car.
Was it confirmed he killed someone with the bomb? I just assumed they got injured since the same actors playing The Beach Bums showed up later in the film as The Undead
I love the way you verbed Cask of Amontillado!
this movie is so awesome, I totally forgot about it. I need to buy this on bluray and track down the soundtrack
I don't watch movies anymore. Considering I went to school for cinema, worked at a movie rental, and spent most of my free time watching films, it's still a bit surprising. It is what it is. When other film fanatics found out I cherished movies like: Forbidden Zone, El Topo, Street Trash, The Loved One, Population 1, most assumed I've seen this one- I never had. Considering I don't have free time to watch a full-length films at this time, this is the next best thing. Thank you! It was on my list for some time❤
Paul Williams is also the voice the Penguin from Batman the Animated Series!
I remember watching cable TV with my buddy one night and he was flipping through the channels and Phantom of the Paradise was on. There was a shot of the contract and my buddy goes, "It's Swan, dude!" It made me crack up that I still laugh about it years later. 😆
I know I'm yammering a lot here, but this movie has INSANE avenues for imagination. For example..... what if you were one of those guys who 'stabbed' Swan, thinking it was all 'part of the show' . Next day (or mid-afternoon) , you wake up, and meander downstairs for 'breakfast' (It's Sunday) .
Suppose you're living with your parents, who are getting ready for DINNER and dad 'casually' asks, "So how did the concert go?"
"Cool", you reply, wondering what time it is. "Can't wait to see what Swan does next. Man, can that dude put on a show!"
"Killer," your dad semi-sarcastically replies before setting down the front page of the newspaper, showing the bloodied faces of Swan, Philbin and Winslow, with a sobbing Phoenix kneeling over him under the banner headline, *"SWAN'S SONG ENDS ON A TRAGIC NOTE* {Police investigate string of fatalities connected with legendary Producer's rock music theater}.
There is SO MUCH *"Scope for Imagination"* in the aftermath of that night. I'm tempted to re-write a story I started a while ago; "Now and THEN" . Think it's worth a go?
This Movie was one the weird an coolest Movies I Ever Watched, It really make's you wander, but its only a Movie
I grew up loving this film thanks to my mom. It's such an amazing mix of true beauty and pathos, and utter cheesy camp. Perfection!
Clerks being a cult classic can be debated. For a movie that only cost 30 grand to make pulling in 4.4 million is a huge success. Plus people talked about that movie alot when it came out and the soundtrack sold a ton too. If i had to guess its probably the most pop culture successful movie that made a profit upon release and yet still considered cult. Kind of a conundrum
While everyone says this film is a Phantom of the Opera, it is actually supposed to be a remake of Faust.
There’s a lot of different influences going on. But part of it is Faust for sure 🐻❤️
@@BearBitesShow True. Not as much as Faust Love Of The Damned (the movie based on an almost x-rated pseudo superhero comic book series), but yes.
There have been a few movies that left my mother in utter confusion and this is one of them. We got this on VHS from the Video Shop and she started questioning my sanity after about 10 minutes. I was about 15 at the time maybe but I still remember this to be a wild ride. It is time for a rewatch.
Always liked this movie, I always took it as a "fairy tale" kind of story, and I liked the music/songs. yes, I liked it even more than "Tommy".
I wanted to comment on the hidden camera bedroom scene, Swan didn't know that the phantom was on the roof, he just turned that camera on, so that he had blackmail material the girl, probably something he used on all his starlets, , but once he noticed he was up there, he smiled and of course gave him a good show so that he would suffer. it's also the phantoms self inflicted suicide wound, that kills him at the end, once the contract was void, so in essence swan took him to hell with him.
I saw this movie on my local tv station, it was one of the movies you see and want to change the channel but for some reason or another you keep watching. Thank you for the analysis, I had no idea that de Palma was behind this. Keep up the good work.
I watched this movie looking out the back window of a station wagon while my parents watched something else in the front seat at a Drive-In. So I got all of the visuals and none of the music. On subsequent viewings, I came to really appreciate it. It would make a great Broadway musical (as would Streets Of Fire, btw) and on a side note, I think Phoenix has a degree from the Elaine Benes School Of Dance.
Phantom of the Paradise has been among my top 3 favourite movies of all time (along with Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" and Hal Ashby's "Being There" (Peter Sellers greatest performance)) since I attended the local preniere. 50 years after its release (geez I'm old), I've lost count of how many times I've seen it, but I know the lyrics of all the (wonderful) songs by heart.
Frankenfurter's got nothing on Swan.
You should have allowed the audio for "I'm under contract too". (and did you actually use "That's the hell of it" in your summary ? Well done!)
This one's a masterpiece. Basically the story of someone selling their soul to the devil 😈
Your great tribute has been up for a while. I can't be the first to mention (ironically?) Paul Williams today is president and chairman of ASCAP, big shot among big shots. ...an amazing career.
I was a kid in the 80’s teen in the 90’s. I had completely forgotten about this movie until I just saw it pop up in my recommendations. I use to see this on TV on the weekends when I was a kid and always tried to watch it but never really knew what the heck was going on exactly because I never caught it from the beginning. I always watched it wherever it was in the film because it was pretty crazy and had to do with music. It eventually just faded away in my memories until now. I’m definitely going to buy this on dvd and finally give it a go from beginning to end. Thanks : )
I saw this in the theater and wasn’t sure of the year but if it was 1974 then I was only 8 years old and I swear I really can’t believe my parents let me go to the movies on my own at that age.
The composing room that Swan keeps Winslow in is none other than the control room of TONTO, the original Moog synthesizer studio where Stevie Wonder recorded hundreds of songs, including "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life".
One of many strange movies on my shelf, in blu ray form. Right next to Phantom Of The Opera with Robert Englund.
The one and only time I’ve seen this film was in the theater when it came out. It’s time for a long overdue reviewing. Thanks for this!
I first saw it as part of a double feature at an all night theatre in Toronto '76/'77 along with the Rocky Horror Picture show. I have loved this movie since that first viewing and have told anyone and everyone I have met about it. Just a great movie.