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One more for the Halloween collection :

Phantom of he Paradise (1974)
In some ways similar to Rocky Horror, in that it is both funny, and a musical with a number of well-composed and performed songs. In addition to the humor and musical elements, it also has a sinister and foreboding edge to it.
It centers on a famous musician named "Swan" (played by Paul Williams), who became famous about 15 years ago, and has the highest number of gold records of any musician in the field, who at this point has expanded into Swan's Death Records label, and it becomes obvious as the film progresses that Swan has remained on top in the field by stealing music and songs from those he signs on to publish. Particularly using and spitting out aspiring female performers. Swan, it becomes clear, literally sold his soul to the devil for success in the music industry, and weaves those he does business with into a similar fate. Right down to contracts signed in blood.

In particular, Swan wants to open a Paradise Theatre, and is frustrated at his inability to come up with new songs that will give the new theatre a successful and memorable opening. Until he meets a young songwriter and composer named Winslow Leach, who he recognizes as enormously talented, and Swan promises him great success. But then Swan never calls Winslow back, steals his music to use for opening the Paradise Theatre, and in multiple efforts by Winslow to meet Swan again and get his due credit and payment for his work, is violently thrown out by Swan's thugs, And then Winslow Leach suffers a terrible fate.
Horribly disfigured, Winslow hides in the Paradise Theatre, wears a mask and costume, and plots his revenge on Swan. With obvious parallels to the Phantom of the Opera storyline.

It's a great little movie, both fun and intense, and a beautiful commentary on the cut-throat music industry, how it exploits and discards music talents, particularly women, many of whom willingly endure the abuse in exchange for fame and lucrative contracts.

I also love the musical scores, all written by Paul Williams, performed by Swan's band "The Juicy Fruits", who constantly re-invent themselves and rip off whatever popular trend currently dominates the music industry, and over the course of the movie, you see them morph to whatever the current trend is. From Rockabilly, to Doo-Wop, to Beach Boys-variety surf music, to country, to pop vocalists, to Kiss or Alice Cooper-variety glam rock. The commentary on the music industry, combined with the visceral revenge story, the Phantom of the Opera element, and the supernatural element of selling their souls for success in the music industry, all together make this an engaging movie on many levels, with a delicious mix of drama and humor.


full movie at :
https://ok.ru/video/1118790748728 (running time: 1 hour 31 minutes )


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_of_the_Paradise