The Phantom of the Paradise

[Maledicte]

Not a typo!



I am currently trying to infect my friends with this movie. It's a staple of 70's camp and first in the unofficial trilogy followed by the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shock Treatment. It's a story about a nerdy songwriter who gets his head stuck in a record press and seeks revenge on the music mogul who stole his work.



On top of being very hokey, low-budget, and dated, the movie is chock-full of references to such literary works as Faust, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, along with songs that drill themselves into your head.

Also, there is Beef, but you'll have to see the movie to understand who I'm talking about.

I'm absolutely nuts about this movie: I think this Phantom has the coolest mask and costume combo, despite the fact that his cape changes from scene to scene; Jessica Harper has a great voice (yes, that is her singing); would you believe that the songs were written by the guy who wrote songs for the Carpenters (and who also plays the villain in the movie)?; there's Beef; there's chicken-dancing; I went and got the sheet music, I love the songs so much; it's just the craziest combination of horror, musical, comedy, social satire, literary allusions, and camp.



Also, it's directed by Brian dePalma, which is pretty cool.

So now, I ask you: have you seen this movie, or now that you have heard about it, do you want to? because ASDDHSKLGGADSGGD I LOVE THIS MOVIE FANGASM CANNOT BE CONTAINED

[christianfriend]

Oh my gosh, it's hilarious that you posted this! XD I saw this movie on TV a couple weeks ago, but it was in the middle so I only saw a little since I don't like to watch just the ending of movies. It was pretty darn..er..unique to say the least, and I was a little freaked out by it, but I was also intrigued by it too. Definitely a one of a kind movie. I liked what I saw of it though! I'll have to watch the whole movie soon and tell you what I think of it. I'll probably end up becoming a fan too!

[Cognitive Gear]

I am currently trying to infect my friends with this movie.

I am among the infected, and infection is good. Watch it, people of CAA!

It's a shame that this movie hasn't had more attention. It deserves it.

[Animus Seed]

People have assured me that I'm missing out having not seen Rocky Horror. So I guess I'll see this first.

[Scarecrow]

Well I don't think you're missing out by not having seen it... I finally saw Rocky Horror and... . The songs are good but... wow. Weird movie. Although I did like Repo! The Genetic Opera which people have compared to Rocky Horror a lot. Repo was better though.

I'm interested in seeing this. I'll have to put it in my queue.

Edit: Oh, and apparently, a remake is in development...

[Maledicte]

I've never seen RHPS. There's a local theatre that has midnight showings every weekend...maybe I'll warm up with Shock Treatment before taking the plunge.

A remake for POTP has been bandied around for a while now. I could see it being a good movie, if they just knew how to handle it right. My suggestions would be:

-more character development, particularly with Phoenix. She's mostly a catalyst for events and we don't really get her motivations for anything. Some backstory would be nice.
-more songs, particularly after "Old Souls." The last quarter of the movie kind of takes a dip after that point and I think a song or two might perk it back up. Written by Paul Williams, of course!
-someone who's actually good-looking to play Swan. I think it's great that they got someone who's actually in the music biz to play Swan, and that he's actually a good actor, but I have such a hard time believing all the girls swarming over him.
-keep the creepy/endearing dynamic in Winslow. It's too easy to cast the masked guy as a sexy-yet-lonely genius and downplay the fact that he's obsessed with a girl who he barely knows and who barely knows him, and is murdering people left and right for her *coughALWPhantommoviecough*
-make the movie a period piece. The story was fresh at the time it was released, but now that people are actually doing what the movie warned against (destroying oneself and/or others for the sake of mass entertainment), it's hard to make that point relevant in a modern setting.
-Keep the literary allusions. All of them.

My biggest worry would be the character of Beef; Gerrit Graham was just too perfect in the role, and the character would be likely to offend people in this PC age. But he's so hysterical I wouldn't want him changed at all.