Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Premise: Inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. Set in the popular music industry of the 1970s, a corrupt producer (Paul Williams) steals the masterwork of an unknown singer-songwriter (William Finley). The singer haunts the rock palace known as The Paradise.
What Works: The Phantom of the Opera story lends itself to critiques of the music and entertainment industry. Although that isn’t part of Gaston Leroux’s original novel, publishing and performing were an important part of Universal’s 1943 version and Hammer’s 1962 production. Phantom of the Paradise has more to do with those film adaptations than it does with Leroux’s book and it riffs on some of the ideas introduced in those movies. Much like the earlier versions, the Phantom is a musician whose work is stolen, is wrongly accused, and becomes disfigured. As a then-contemporary take on the material, Phantom of the Paradise modernizes the story and suggests a continuous conflict between commerce and art. This film is a musical and it has a terrific soundtrack by Paul Williams who co-stars as the villainous music producer Swan. The songs have a distinctly 1970s rock sound with standout tracks including “Phantom’s Theme (Beauty and the Beast)” and “Old Souls” and “The Hell of It.” The music is well performed by the cast, in particular Jessica Harper as Phoenix, an up-and-coming singer and the focus of the Phantom’s obsession.Phantom of the Paradise is also distinguished by its style and sense of humor. The picture was directed by Brian De Palma and it has the filmmaker’s characteristic style such as the use of split screens and unusual camera angles. The set design and costumes suggest surrealism. This is a nightmarish and satirical take on show business and it’s also darkly funny.
What Doesn’t: The relationship between the Phantom and Phoenix is more professional than personal which diminishes the betrayal when Phoenix gets together with Swan. The Phantom’s heartache is not convincing. Phoenix is the ideal vessel for the Phantom’s music but that’s a less dramatically compelling motive than a broken heart. The weakest element of Phantom of the Paradise is the ending. Swan schemes to marry and then murder Phoenix which doesn’t make much sense and the Phantom’s effort to save her isn’t as compelling because of their lack of a personal relationship. The action of the climax is chaotic to the point of being indecipherable because the editing is so erratic. The conclusion does not play to the strengths of the film, namely its satirical take on the music industry.
Disc extras: The Shout! Factory release includes interviews, alternate footage, an image gallery, commentary tracks, a documentary, radio and TV spots, and trailers.
Bottom Line: Phantom of the Paradise is an underappreciated rock musical. While far from perfect, it does have a cult appeal with some great songs and a distinct cinematic style. It’s also a unique title in the pantheon of Phantom of the Opera adaptations, especially in its satirical approach.
Episode: #1069 (October 19, 2025)