About the film
- Directed by
- Brian De Palma
- Released
- October 31, 1974
- Certification
- PG
- Country
- United States of America
- Starring
- William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, George Memmoli, Gerrit Graham
More credits
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US
- Studios
- Harbor Productions, Pressman-Williams
- Written by
- Brian De Palma, Louisa Rose
- Produced by
- Edward R. Pressman, Gustave M. Berne
- Cinematography
- Larry Pizer
- Music
- Paul Williams
- Also starring
- Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor, Peter Elbling, Colin Cameron, David Garland
- Budget
- $1,300,000
- Box office
- $250,000
It was huge in Winnipeg. The soundtrack sold twenty thousand copies in that one city and went gold across Canada. Everywhere else... not so much.
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974) is Brian De Palma's rock opera, Faust crossed with The Phantom of the Opera. Paul Williams wrote all the songs and stars as a record executive who has sold his soul.
The villain's label was called Swan Song, until Led Zeppelin's label of the same name objected. The picture was already finished. In a rush, they covered the signage with wobbly traveling mattes, and the name is still visible in places if you look.
Actually, the movie was a hit somewhere else: in the imaginations of two young Parisian boys who would grow up to wear their own iconic headgear. In 2013, Daft Punk asked Paul Williams to write for Random Access Memories. It won Album of the Year.
How to see Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Streaming
United States
Also available internationally
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Source: JustWatch
Physical media
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I had to buy a second copy of the sound track as I wore through the first one. 🙂 Love that movie and that sound track…. (I know every word…) We salute you Eddie…. 🙂
I have this on DVD. Great early DePalma.
Never heard of it. Sounds good.
I still have my vinyl!!
Love this movie, love the music and Paul Williams and love Beef!!! Wish Brian DePalma and Paul Williams would get together and do a “making of” interview or documentary!! ♥️
Carburetors man , that’s what life is all about
BEEF !!!
Superb film & soundtrack🏆
Da BEST.
I’ve bought that soundtrack twice now.
I got my vinyl copy of the soundtrack used when I was visiting Montreal in the late 80’s, and have never seen another copy before or since.
I was not myself last night. I couldn’t set things right with apologies or flowers! “This place is possessed!!!” Where to go? What to do? Could it be? SOMEBODY SUPER LIKE YOU??!!!
Saw the movie at the first Sleepy Hollow Film Festival a few years back with a Q&A with most of the cast afterwards, including Paul Williams.
Some really great music and very entertaining movie. My favorite gag is recycling the 3 man group for every music fad. And of course BEEF.
One of my Guilty Pleasures
“Old Souls” is an amazing song.
saw this at the midnight movies on a double bill with Zardoz while tripping on acid, they’re both great f*ckn’ movies
Great soundtrack
I remember seeing it in the theater and not hating it, but it didn’t do much for me either.
It’s AMAZING.
Watched it on the original Channel 100 streaming system in the 70’s over and over again. Can’t count how many times I’ve seen this great flick. One of my favorites!