PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE!

[NightOfTheLivingDon]

Thanks to GrislyGus' suggestion to check out monstersinmotion.com, I am reminded of a greatly overlooked movie by Brain De Palma. Almost a decade before Scarface, two before Carlito's Way and Mission Impossible, De Palma wrote and directed the Musical/Horror/Comedy Phantom of the Paradise. I remember seeing this movie because my dad had the LP soundtrack and I used to listen to it often as a kid. A great rock 'n roll movie that, along with (though not nearly as phenomenal as) Forbidden Zone, begs me to ask the question "Why the hell is Rocky Horror Picture Show so goddamn popular?" Anyway, it's a RnR take on the classic Devil and Tom Walker along with its obvious Phantom of the Opera themes. And if you haven't seen Forbidden Zone (Richard and Danny Elfman's Oingo Boingo opus), well then you've got some homework to do...

[J. Tithonus Pednaud]

I was really into Phantom of the Paradise when I was a kid. So much so that I went as Winslow Leech (as the Phantom) for Halloween.

[sadie]

i've never even heard of it, but it's going on my list!

[Grislygus]

Paul Williams did a great job on the campy soundtrack.

[J. Tithonus Pednaud]

It's a shame that tiny mo'fo has gone to hell and back since his hayday.

Who can forget his 'Short People' routine on The Muppet Show.

[Sacks]

Rocky Horror taught everyone a fun dance, that's why.

[Grislygus]

Well, Phantom of Paradise featured neon lightning bolts smiting overly-masculine homosexuals named "Beef".

That sounds like a fun dance to me, mister.

[Sacks]

Hey, cool it brother.



I'm down.

[Rabid Child]

An Underated Cult Classic