Style: Musical Drama
Director: Brian De Palma
Starring: Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper
Working Time: 91 minutes
Synopsis: Omnipotent music producer Swan (Paul Williams) owns Loss of life Information and is searching for the subsequent massive sound to open his Paradise theatre. He spots potential within the elaborate Faust-inspired music of unknown composer Winslow Leach (William Finley), and decides to steal the compositions. Winslow doggedly makes an attempt to reclaim his music, resulting in violence, disfigurement, and a love triangle involving aspiring singer Phoenix (Jessica Harper).
What Works Effectively: With loads of panache, author and director Brian De Palma mixes The Phantom Of The Opera, The Image Of Dorian Gray, and Faust into a up to date music drama. Paul Williams wrote the operatic rock-pop soundtrack, yielding a music-driven fashionable tragic fantasy in regards to the exorbitant value of fame and loss of life because the which means of life. The songs and gothic soundtrack are good, the units and costumes imaginative, and Williams delivers a chillingly understated efficiency because the smug double-crossing impresario wielding huge energy over the lives of others.
What Does Not Work As Effectively: With many songs performed of their entirety, the narrative portion occupies at greatest about 60 minutes. The music performances characteristic Phoenix; a nostalgia band referred to as the Juicy Fruits; and a dim rocker often known as Beef. As characters they’re barely related to the drama, however all of them erode display time away from Swan and Winslow, who are sometimes notable for his or her absence.
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