Pressman Film is a production company that was founded by Ed Pressman, a prolific producer of over 90 films, including the likes of Wall Street, American Psycho, and The Crow. Sadly, Pressman passed away earlier this year at the age of 79. Now his son Sam Pressman is the CEO of Pressman Film, which recently rebooted The Crow – and landed an eight-figure domestic distribution deal for the film with Lionsgate. Moving forward, the company is working with Antoine Fuqua on a project called The Street, which was written by Goodfellas‘ Nicholas Pileggi, and planning an adaptation of the 1975 Edward Abbey novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which will be directed by Catfish‘s Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. They’re also trying to figure out how they can exploit titles in the Pressman Film library… and in a recent article, Deadline mentions that endeavor might involve remakes of the 1980 holiday horror film Christmas Evil...
- 9/25/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Happy #RobertEnglundDay!
About one third of the 150+ acting credits accumulated over the course of Robert Englund’s 50-year career fall under the horror genre. Screambox is streaming five of them, along with the all-new documentary, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story.
Here are six Robert Englund movies you can watch on Screambox now…
Galaxy of Terror
Before moving to Elm Street, Englund went to space for 1981’s Galaxy of Terror, the first of two back-to-back Alien knock-offs produced by Roger Corman. The film follows a ragtag spaceship crew on a rescue mission to a barren planet, where they encounter a deadly creature. In a slight twist on Ridley Scott’s sci-fi/horror classic, Galaxy of Terror uses its victims’ own fears against them — which, incidentally, is similar to Freddy’s modus operandi.
Englund plays the ship’s second technical officer, Ranger, but he’s not the only notable...
About one third of the 150+ acting credits accumulated over the course of Robert Englund’s 50-year career fall under the horror genre. Screambox is streaming five of them, along with the all-new documentary, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story.
Here are six Robert Englund movies you can watch on Screambox now…
Galaxy of Terror
Before moving to Elm Street, Englund went to space for 1981’s Galaxy of Terror, the first of two back-to-back Alien knock-offs produced by Roger Corman. The film follows a ragtag spaceship crew on a rescue mission to a barren planet, where they encounter a deadly creature. In a slight twist on Ridley Scott’s sci-fi/horror classic, Galaxy of Terror uses its victims’ own fears against them — which, incidentally, is similar to Freddy’s modus operandi.
Englund plays the ship’s second technical officer, Ranger, but he’s not the only notable...
- 6/6/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Even if you only have a passing interest in horror films, chances are you've been terrified by Robert Englund. The man who brought Freddy Krueger to life in the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise is a living legend, and fans are soon going to be able to peek behind the striped sweater and razor gloves in the new documentary, "Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story." Directed by Gary Smart and Chris Griffiths, who recently won the morbid statue for Best Documentary for "Pennywise: The Story of It" at Fangoria's Chainsaw Awards, the documentary follows the life and career of one of horror's most recognizable and prolific performers.
Ahead of the film's release on the Screambox streaming platform and VOD, I was honored to speak with Englund about the staying power of Freddy Krueger and how one becomes a horror icon. I wore a yellow button-up with black crosses on it,...
Ahead of the film's release on the Screambox streaming platform and VOD, I was honored to speak with Englund about the staying power of Freddy Krueger and how one becomes a horror icon. I wore a yellow button-up with black crosses on it,...
- 5/30/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
It’s time for a new episode of The Manson Brothers Show, the video series hosted by the writers/stars of the horror comedy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – Chris Margetis (Stone Manson) and Mike Carey (Skull Manson)! In this one, the Boys take in a viewing of the 1981 slasher The Funhouse (watch it Here), which was directed by the legendary Tobe Hooper To find out what they had to say about the film, check out the video embedded above!
Scripted by Larry Block, The Funhouse has the following synopsis: Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz, and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy “Funhouse” horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy...
Scripted by Larry Block, The Funhouse has the following synopsis: Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz, and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy “Funhouse” horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy...
- 3/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
A new episode of the Real Slashers video series has just been released, and in this one we’re looking at one of the more underrated films on director Tobe Hooper‘s list of classics: the 1981 release The Funhouse (watch it Here). To find out all about The Funhouse, check out the video embedded above!
Scripted by Larry Block, The Funhouse has the following synopsis: Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy “Funhouse” horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy and her friends must evade the murderous carnival workers and escape before it leaves town the next day.
The film stars Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff,...
Scripted by Larry Block, The Funhouse has the following synopsis: Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy “Funhouse” horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy and her friends must evade the murderous carnival workers and escape before it leaves town the next day.
The film stars Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff,...
- 9/22/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Tobe Hooper.
At the mere mention of his name, which of the late filmmaker’s works leap to mind?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, of course. Certainly his most iconic film, and surely his masterpiece.
How about that film’s gonzo 80s sequel? Or perhaps Eaten Alive, his EC-tinged grindhouse film featuring a maniacal hotel proprietor and his pet crocodile? Maybe your mind leaps to his blockbuster spook story Poltergeist, his nightmarish alien invasion remake Invaders from Mars, or his superb television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot?
But what of The Funhouse, Hooper’s stylish, scary entry in the then-burgeoning teen slasher boom? Released in 1981, a golden year for releases in that subgenre, The Funhouse stands as a vital entry in the filmmaker’s canon, marrying his penchant for dark humor and grisly horror with a studio budget, paving the way for much of his work throughout the next decade.
At the mere mention of his name, which of the late filmmaker’s works leap to mind?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, of course. Certainly his most iconic film, and surely his masterpiece.
How about that film’s gonzo 80s sequel? Or perhaps Eaten Alive, his EC-tinged grindhouse film featuring a maniacal hotel proprietor and his pet crocodile? Maybe your mind leaps to his blockbuster spook story Poltergeist, his nightmarish alien invasion remake Invaders from Mars, or his superb television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot?
But what of The Funhouse, Hooper’s stylish, scary entry in the then-burgeoning teen slasher boom? Released in 1981, a golden year for releases in that subgenre, The Funhouse stands as a vital entry in the filmmaker’s canon, marrying his penchant for dark humor and grisly horror with a studio budget, paving the way for much of his work throughout the next decade.
- 9/9/2022
- by Jason Jenkins
- bloody-disgusting.com
Anyone who has read any of my writing on Daily Dead or listened to me on the Corpse Club podcast probably already knows what a Tobe Hooper fan I am, and it’s his 1981 slasher The Funhouse that first started me down the path of reassessing his work and made me fall completely in love with him as a filmmaker. It’s rarely talked about as one of his greater efforts and is too often dismissed as a generic slasher, a characterization with which I could not disagree more. Not only is it a great horror film, but it’s also my favorite film from my favorite filmmaker.
Though he's something of a brand name and considered a "Master of Horror," Tobe Hooper has made only two movies that get much love and respect. The first, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, is rightfully considered a classic, albeit one that appeals primarily to diehard horror fans.
Though he's something of a brand name and considered a "Master of Horror," Tobe Hooper has made only two movies that get much love and respect. The first, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, is rightfully considered a classic, albeit one that appeals primarily to diehard horror fans.
- 8/23/2021
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
The style, temperament and humor of Brian De Palma were pretty much fully formed when he made his first foray into thrillers, Sisters (1973). His previous films were rambling, oddball comedies with trenchant social commentary; with this one he was able to include all of that with the first of many tributes to his idol, Alfred Hitchcock. Sisters is the blueprint of so much of his future output.
After a screening in November of ’72 at the Filmex Film Festival, Sisters opened wide in North America in Spring of ’73; this Aip release received some good notices (among them Roger Ebert) and solid box office against a half a million budget. A good thriller never goes out of style; although De Palma has always had his detractors (starting with this one), it’s hard to deny this muscular and droll take on the genre.
We open with the game show “Peeping Toms”, as...
After a screening in November of ’72 at the Filmex Film Festival, Sisters opened wide in North America in Spring of ’73; this Aip release received some good notices (among them Roger Ebert) and solid box office against a half a million budget. A good thriller never goes out of style; although De Palma has always had his detractors (starting with this one), it’s hard to deny this muscular and droll take on the genre.
We open with the game show “Peeping Toms”, as...
- 2/8/2020
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
While some cities are known for having midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show for decades, Winnipeg is the city that never stopped championing Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise since it was first released in 1974. The city's obsession with the cult film is explored in Malcolm Ingram and Sean Stanley’s new documentary Phantom of Winnipeg, which will make its Us premiere at this year's Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival.
Press Release: Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival (Shiff) proudly announces the U.S. premiere of directors Malcolm Ingram and Sean Stanley’s Phantom Of Winnipeg, a rollicking, deeply-felt love letter to the 1974 Brian De Palma cult classic Phantom Of The Paradise.
Hilarious and heartwarming, Phantom Of Winnipeg is the spirited chronicle of the unique obsession the locals of Winnipeg, Canada, have had with the cult film, Phantom Of The Paradise, since it opened in 1974. Upon release,...
Press Release: Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival (Shiff) proudly announces the U.S. premiere of directors Malcolm Ingram and Sean Stanley’s Phantom Of Winnipeg, a rollicking, deeply-felt love letter to the 1974 Brian De Palma cult classic Phantom Of The Paradise.
Hilarious and heartwarming, Phantom Of Winnipeg is the spirited chronicle of the unique obsession the locals of Winnipeg, Canada, have had with the cult film, Phantom Of The Paradise, since it opened in 1974. Upon release,...
- 6/28/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
"Why us? Why Winnipeg? There's so many theories..." A full-length official trailer has debuted for an indie documentary titled Phantom of Winnipeg, an obscure, fascinating look at an odd phenomenon. The doc film tells the story of how Brian De Palma's cult favorite musical Phantom of the Paradise (first released in 1974) became a local sensation in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. "Phantom of the Paradise proved hugely popular among young Winnipeggers, whose enthusiasm for the movie reportedly kept it playing at the city's Garrick Cinema for 18 straight weeks... [Years later] in 2005, the city celebrated the movie with a festival, 'Phantompalooza', which featured appearances by cast members Gerrit Graham and the late William Finley." The film originally flopped at the box office 45 years ago, but has clearly found some fans over time. Here's the first official trailer for Malcolm Ingram's doc Phantom of Winnipeg, originally from EW.com: A documentary about the unique-to-...
- 6/14/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
What more can be said about Chuck Norris? The ubiquitous ’80s B star, he made a series of mostly bland actioners that would only come alive if the director brought a little something different to the table, because they certainly weren’t going to work with an actor who has the charisma of a constipated two-by-four. This brings us to Silent Rage (1982), a hybrid sci-fi/horror/kung fu effort that is quite effective when it pushes away from The Hairy One’s usual antics. You want to see Michael Myers karate chopped by Lone Wolf McQuade? Step right up.
Okay he’s not Michael Myers, but he may as well be; Pov shots and the unstoppable killer’s relentless gait definitely harken back to Halloween and even the previous year’s Halloween II in a bid for some of that sweet slasher bread. It worked well enough at the box office,...
Okay he’s not Michael Myers, but he may as well be; Pov shots and the unstoppable killer’s relentless gait definitely harken back to Halloween and even the previous year’s Halloween II in a bid for some of that sweet slasher bread. It worked well enough at the box office,...
- 4/6/2019
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Review by Roger Carpenter
Before Brian De Palma became That De Palma and before Robert De Niro scored big with multiple high-profile roles, they were just two twenty-somethings trying to put together film careers. De Palma was a film school student and De Niro was a no-name actor.
The two first met around 1963 when De Niro was cast in a supporting role in De Palma’s first film, The Wedding Party. The film is a farce about a groom who visits his soon-to-be bride’s family estate for the forthcoming nuptials. His two friends and groomsmen (played by De Niro and William Finley), who are there to support him, initially try to talk the groom out of the marriage. The groom refuses to listen to their arguments and turns them away. Yet as the day looms large, the groom begins having second thoughts even as the groomsmen have changed their...
Before Brian De Palma became That De Palma and before Robert De Niro scored big with multiple high-profile roles, they were just two twenty-somethings trying to put together film careers. De Palma was a film school student and De Niro was a no-name actor.
The two first met around 1963 when De Niro was cast in a supporting role in De Palma’s first film, The Wedding Party. The film is a farce about a groom who visits his soon-to-be bride’s family estate for the forthcoming nuptials. His two friends and groomsmen (played by De Niro and William Finley), who are there to support him, initially try to talk the groom out of the marriage. The groom refuses to listen to their arguments and turns them away. Yet as the day looms large, the groom begins having second thoughts even as the groomsmen have changed their...
- 2/3/2019
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“Young Rebel With A Movie Camera”
By Raymond Benson
Arrow has released an interesting time capsule of a boxed set that features early work by director Brian De Palma and starring a very young Robert De Niro before either of them were significant names in the motion picture industry. The films are The Wedding Party, Greetings (1968), and Hi, Mom! (1970).
De Palma had embarked on a film career in the very early 1960s when he was a student at various institutions. While at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, he collaborated with then-theatre-professor Wilford Leach and Cynthia Munroe (who provided much of the script and funding) to make a feature entitled The Wedding Party. Most accounts (including IMDb) state that the movie was made in 1963; however, an essay by Brad Stevens in the accompanying Blu-ray booklet claims that the film was shot in 1964-65. It was eventually copyrighted in 1966, but wasn...
By Raymond Benson
Arrow has released an interesting time capsule of a boxed set that features early work by director Brian De Palma and starring a very young Robert De Niro before either of them were significant names in the motion picture industry. The films are The Wedding Party, Greetings (1968), and Hi, Mom! (1970).
De Palma had embarked on a film career in the very early 1960s when he was a student at various institutions. While at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, he collaborated with then-theatre-professor Wilford Leach and Cynthia Munroe (who provided much of the script and funding) to make a feature entitled The Wedding Party. Most accounts (including IMDb) state that the movie was made in 1963; however, an essay by Brad Stevens in the accompanying Blu-ray booklet claims that the film was shot in 1964-65. It was eventually copyrighted in 1966, but wasn...
- 12/14/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
No 1960s film student had more on the ball than Brian De Palma, who enlisted a smart group of collaborators to pull together his voyeuristic student-filmmaking, Alfred Hitchcock-worshiping early experimental pictures. In these three early features we can feel the director being influenced in multiple directions — do ensemble comedy and Godard-esque minimalism have a future?
De Niro & De Palma The Early Films
The Wedding Party, Greetings and
Hi, Mom!
Blu-ray
Arrow Video
1966-1970 / B&W & Color / 1:37 & 1:85 widescreen / 92, 88, 87 min. / Street Date December 11, 2018 / Available from Arrow Video
Directed by Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma fans tend to love his later overdone exercises in Hitchcockian excess and voyeurism, whereas I tend to enjoy his creative student work, his hit & run, improvise-and-hope enterprises. The man certainly had the drive. By 1964 he was co-directing a film on Long Island with the money of a rich student friend. De Palma’s lopsided...
De Niro & De Palma The Early Films
The Wedding Party, Greetings and
Hi, Mom!
Blu-ray
Arrow Video
1966-1970 / B&W & Color / 1:37 & 1:85 widescreen / 92, 88, 87 min. / Street Date December 11, 2018 / Available from Arrow Video
Directed by Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma fans tend to love his later overdone exercises in Hitchcockian excess and voyeurism, whereas I tend to enjoy his creative student work, his hit & run, improvise-and-hope enterprises. The man certainly had the drive. By 1964 he was co-directing a film on Long Island with the money of a rich student friend. De Palma’s lopsided...
- 12/11/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Brian De Palma unleashes 101 ferocious Hitchcock references for this great horror opus, all bolstered by Bernard Herrmann’s nerve-jangling music score. Plus a very young Margot Kidder and the impressive Jennifer Salt. It’s a fine revisit of an early Criterion disc, with some highly amusing extras — such as a surprising 1970 talk-show excerpt with Margo Kidder, Janis Joplin and Gloria Swanson.
Sisters
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 89
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 92 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date , 2018 / 39.95
Starring Margot Kidder, Jennifer Salt, Charles Durning, William Finley, Dolph Sweet
Cinematography Gregory Sandor
Production Designer Gary Weist
Film Editor Paul Hirsch
Original Music Bernard Herrmann
Writing credits Brian De Palma and Louisa Rose
Produced by Edward R. Pressman
Directed by Brian DePalma
In 1971, New York Filmmaker Brian De Palma was just beginning to become well-known among the hipper cinema literati … like Martin Scorsese and Paul Bartel, he was already a legend in...
Sisters
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 89
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 92 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date , 2018 / 39.95
Starring Margot Kidder, Jennifer Salt, Charles Durning, William Finley, Dolph Sweet
Cinematography Gregory Sandor
Production Designer Gary Weist
Film Editor Paul Hirsch
Original Music Bernard Herrmann
Writing credits Brian De Palma and Louisa Rose
Produced by Edward R. Pressman
Directed by Brian DePalma
In 1971, New York Filmmaker Brian De Palma was just beginning to become well-known among the hipper cinema literati … like Martin Scorsese and Paul Bartel, he was already a legend in...
- 10/30/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Foreplays is a column that explores under-known short films by renowned directors. Brian De Palma's Woton's Wake (1962) is free to watch below.Woton’s Wake is Brian De Palma’s third short film, made when he was a student at Columbia University. Watched today, Woton’s Wake signals a strong tendency in the filmmaker’s career: his investment in collage. Collage takes many forms in De Palma’s cinema. It’s in his taste for mosaic-narratives that merge almost-autonomous plot lines. It’s in the way he fits together disparate tones, genres, and styles of acting. It’s in the play with surfaces and depth, fostered by some of his favorite ‘composite’ images—split screens, materialized memory flashes or mental hypotheses, split focus diopter shots. It’s in his very conception of reality as a complex puzzle that can only be grasped via a laborious reconstruction and rearrangement of the pieces.
- 9/3/2018
- MUBI
The Criterion Collection certainly walks its own path in making films available on Blu-ray. In October 2018, for example, traditionally a month when distributors focus on horror titles, Criterion will be issuing only one thriller that might fall into that category. But what a thriller! Just 32 years of age at the time of its release, Brian DePalma's Sisters started a delirious run of thrillers for him during the 70s -- my personal favorite remains Obsession -- that firmly established him in New Hollywood. The late Margot Kidder is great as a mysterious model, with Jennifer Salt as a reporter who witnesses a murder in the model's apartment. The cast includes William Finley, Charles Durning and Barnard Hughes. But writer/director DePalma is really the star...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/17/2018
- Screen Anarchy
For me, the most interesting thing about horror maestro Tobe Hooper’s storied career is he takes chances. He always swings big; from his landmark second feature The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), to Lifeforce (1985), to even The Mangler (1995), he pushes the genre into the absurd through concept and execution, audiences be damned. It’s an admirable trait in a filmmaker, and one that’s on full display with Eaten Alive (1976), probably his most bizarre film to date. (Which is saying a lot.)
After a limited stateside release in October of ’76, EA was given a wide release in May of ’77 by Virgo International Pictures to theatres and drive-ins across the land. The start of the ever undulating arc of Hooper’s career, it was met with a resounding “Whaaaat?” by the public and critics alike. This was not the follow up to the cultural explosion that was Chainsaw people were expecting. And to be honest,...
After a limited stateside release in October of ’76, EA was given a wide release in May of ’77 by Virgo International Pictures to theatres and drive-ins across the land. The start of the ever undulating arc of Hooper’s career, it was met with a resounding “Whaaaat?” by the public and critics alike. This was not the follow up to the cultural explosion that was Chainsaw people were expecting. And to be honest,...
- 4/29/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
It was trouble in paradise for festival goers at Ja Rule’s Fyre Festival.
Those who shelled out between $4,000 to upwards of $250,000 for tickets to the “luxury” weekend concert in the Bahamas found themselves treated to “mass chaos,” flimsy tents and scarce amounts of food instead of the top-notch entertainment, private jets and gourmet meals they were promised.
“If you walked on that island right now, you would say, ‘This concert is in about a month,'” attendee William Finley tells People. “There were air mattresses, boxes and shipping containers of stuff everywhere. It was just so unorganized.”
When Finley...
Those who shelled out between $4,000 to upwards of $250,000 for tickets to the “luxury” weekend concert in the Bahamas found themselves treated to “mass chaos,” flimsy tents and scarce amounts of food instead of the top-notch entertainment, private jets and gourmet meals they were promised.
“If you walked on that island right now, you would say, ‘This concert is in about a month,'” attendee William Finley tells People. “There were air mattresses, boxes and shipping containers of stuff everywhere. It was just so unorganized.”
When Finley...
- 4/28/2017
- by Brianne Tracy
- PEOPLE.com
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I can often spend hours upon hours trawling through iTunes looking for new movies to buy… Usually I’ll randomly come across a title I haven’t seen in years and use the “Cast & Crew” links to make my way down the rabbit hole to the more obscure side of Apple’s digital movie service.
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
- 3/24/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Manic, messy, and experimental, The Wedding Party serves as a 90-minute preamble, both technically and thematically, to the next decade of Brian De Palma’s young career. Co-directed with two others (Wilford Leach and Cynthia Munroe), the film was shot in 1963, only to be released in 1969, after both De Palma and Robert De Niro’s stars were on the rise. Leach was a theater professor at Sarah Lawrence, De Palma and Munroe two of his students. Fellow student Jill Clayburgh stars as Josephine, the bride-to-be, while Charles Pfluger plays Charlie, the impending groom. Jennifer Salt — who would go on to star in Murder à la Mod, Hi, Mom! and Sisters — also appears as Phoebe, friend of the bride.
Not too long after Charlie docks on the upscale island where the wedding is to take place and meets Josephine’s whole, judgmental family, his two groomsmen, Cecil (De Niro) and Alistair (William Finley,...
Not too long after Charlie docks on the upscale island where the wedding is to take place and meets Josephine’s whole, judgmental family, his two groomsmen, Cecil (De Niro) and Alistair (William Finley,...
- 9/8/2016
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
“We’ll remember you forever, Eddie / Through the sacrifice you made / We can’t believe the price you paid / For love”
After a brief, eerie opening voiceover from Rod Serling, Brian De Palma’s biting 1974 Phantom of the Paradise opens with these lyrics from The Juicy Fruits — a literally named bubblegum nostalgia pop outfit — that combine the easily digestible with the macabre. The song’s musician subject exploits the American cult of celebrity, becoming an overnight sensation by strategically committing suicide for chart success. This mesh of exploitation and idealism peaks as ghoulish producer Swan (Paul Williams) and aspiring singer Winslow Leach (William Finley) do Faustian battle over the fate of music and their souls. In De Palma’s first big-budget film — relatively: it was twice the cost of 1973’s Sisters — the money went to making the biggest, flashiest middle finger to creative industry you could ask for while cementing his meta-fascination with death.
After a brief, eerie opening voiceover from Rod Serling, Brian De Palma’s biting 1974 Phantom of the Paradise opens with these lyrics from The Juicy Fruits — a literally named bubblegum nostalgia pop outfit — that combine the easily digestible with the macabre. The song’s musician subject exploits the American cult of celebrity, becoming an overnight sensation by strategically committing suicide for chart success. This mesh of exploitation and idealism peaks as ghoulish producer Swan (Paul Williams) and aspiring singer Winslow Leach (William Finley) do Faustian battle over the fate of music and their souls. In De Palma’s first big-budget film — relatively: it was twice the cost of 1973’s Sisters — the money went to making the biggest, flashiest middle finger to creative industry you could ask for while cementing his meta-fascination with death.
- 6/29/2016
- by Jacob Oller
- The Film Stage
Debut features are often some of the most interesting cases one comes across when undertaking the deep-dive of an auteur’s filmography. Oftentimes, signature aesthetic tics are nascent, not developed, and these premiere outings are less than fully formed visions. However, there are plenty of impressive first films that present a filmmaker’s particular fixations as more or less formulated, a clear direction leading to the later canonical landmarks. Such is the case with Brian De Palma’s Murder à la Mod, which bares the thrillmeister’s genre proclivities in full view. Although Murder is technically the second film De Palma made, it was the first to get released, as 1963’s The Wedding Party wasn’t distributed until six years after its production. (It also stands as the man’s first solo feature effort.) Indeed, Murder à la Mod is less aligned with De Palma’s pre-Sisters satires than the...
- 6/20/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Fighting off a 60’s sugar hangover of Disney singalongs and reluctant nannies, musicals took turns being either idealistic (Hair) or Good Book Wavin’ moralistic (Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar), and we called them Rock Musicals – the music (slightly more) hard hitting, the lyrics speaking to the issues of the day – spirituality, war – heady stuff (on paper). But who was giving the Devil his due? Where was a musical about the fun side of sin, temptation, sacrifice, and ill gained ecstasy? Where was the rock musical About rock and roll? And then, yay and verily, it did arrive on the world’s doorstep in a black bassinet, cackling and screaming, eager to please and ready to reign. Welcome to Phantom of the Paradise (1974). As a wise old Glam queen once said, “Life at last! Salutations from the other side!”
Released on Halloween by 20th Century Fox, PotP did not reign. At all.
Released on Halloween by 20th Century Fox, PotP did not reign. At all.
- 10/31/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Following the unprecedented success of his monolithic sophomore feature, 1974’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which would forever immortalize director Tobe Hooper in the annals of great horror filmmakers, he would return to the Southern Fried grindhouse realm with 1976’s Eaten Alive, another ‘based-on-a-true-story’ effort featuring a set of original backwoods kooks. Though the film failed to attain the same attention, Hooper managed to obtain a higher profile cast for a film arguably less off-putting thanks to its more comedic moments.
Opening with a line that would go on to be famously recycled by Quentin Tarantino, ornery redneck Buck (Robert England) assails Clara (Roberta Collins), a reluctant prostitute in a bad blonde wig. Kicked out of the brothel by the no-nonsense owner, Miss Hattie (Carolyn Jones), Clara stumbles through the swampy Louisiana bayou and comes upon a dilapidated motel run by Judd (Neville Brand). The lonely, repressed old coot gets overexcited...
Opening with a line that would go on to be famously recycled by Quentin Tarantino, ornery redneck Buck (Robert England) assails Clara (Roberta Collins), a reluctant prostitute in a bad blonde wig. Kicked out of the brothel by the no-nonsense owner, Miss Hattie (Carolyn Jones), Clara stumbles through the swampy Louisiana bayou and comes upon a dilapidated motel run by Judd (Neville Brand). The lonely, repressed old coot gets overexcited...
- 10/7/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The Beast
• Release Date: Available Now on Blu-ray
• Written By: Walerian Borowczyk
• Directed By: Walerian Borowczyk
• Starring: Sirpa Lane, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kaza
I absolutely love the off-kilter, ridiculously horny horror flicks of Polish madman Walerian Borowczyk! While undoubtedly a master of softcore shenanigans, ol’ Borowczyk plied his trade in the horror biz as well (most notably with The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Miss Osbourne), and the film I’m goin’ to be turnin’ my putrid peepers on today, The Beast!
Originally created for (and then cut from) Borowczyk’s Immoral Tales anthology (also available from Arrow on Blu-ray, but I opted out on that one as it’s primarily a horror-less softcore art film), La Bête (the footage of which now comprises a sizeable chunk of The Beast) presented the simple tale of a young lass who has copious amounts of sex with a continuously ejaculating werewolf...
• Release Date: Available Now on Blu-ray
• Written By: Walerian Borowczyk
• Directed By: Walerian Borowczyk
• Starring: Sirpa Lane, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kaza
I absolutely love the off-kilter, ridiculously horny horror flicks of Polish madman Walerian Borowczyk! While undoubtedly a master of softcore shenanigans, ol’ Borowczyk plied his trade in the horror biz as well (most notably with The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Miss Osbourne), and the film I’m goin’ to be turnin’ my putrid peepers on today, The Beast!
Originally created for (and then cut from) Borowczyk’s Immoral Tales anthology (also available from Arrow on Blu-ray, but I opted out on that one as it’s primarily a horror-less softcore art film), La Bête (the footage of which now comprises a sizeable chunk of The Beast) presented the simple tale of a young lass who has copious amounts of sex with a continuously ejaculating werewolf...
- 9/24/2015
- by DanielXIII
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Stars: Neville Brand, Carolyn Jones, Mel Ferrer, William Finley, Marilyn Burns, Robert Englund, Stuart Whitman | Written by Alvin L. Fast, Mohammed Rustam, Kim Henkel | Directed by Tobe Hooper
After The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it comes as no surprise that Tobe Hooper would move onto another horror based in the south. Taking inspiration from Jaws, Eaten Alive (aka Death Trap), even with some drama behind the scenes, still managed to be a memorable cult movie… Loosely based on the legend of Joe Ball (featured in a documentary on the Blu-ray) Eaten Alive tells the tale of a crazy old hotel owner Judd (Neville Brand) whose grudge against society sees him feeding most of his customers to his pet crocodile he conveniently keeps just outside the hotel doors.
While Neville Brand’s intense performance as Judd does take centre stage there is an impressive cast featured in Eaten Alive, especially for fans of cult films.
After The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it comes as no surprise that Tobe Hooper would move onto another horror based in the south. Taking inspiration from Jaws, Eaten Alive (aka Death Trap), even with some drama behind the scenes, still managed to be a memorable cult movie… Loosely based on the legend of Joe Ball (featured in a documentary on the Blu-ray) Eaten Alive tells the tale of a crazy old hotel owner Judd (Neville Brand) whose grudge against society sees him feeding most of his customers to his pet crocodile he conveniently keeps just outside the hotel doors.
While Neville Brand’s intense performance as Judd does take centre stage there is an impressive cast featured in Eaten Alive, especially for fans of cult films.
- 9/23/2015
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
It’s a big week for cult horror fans, as there are some supremely awesome titles making their way home on September 22nd, including The Sentinel from Scream Factory and Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive, which is being released by Arrow Video. For all you Time Warp fans out there, 20th Century Fox is celebrating The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s 40th anniversary in grand style with a stellar Blu-ray set and Kino Lorber is resurrecting the often overlooked early ’90s thriller Lisa, starring the adorable Staci Keanan from My Two Dads.
Other titles being released on Tuesday include Arrow: Season Three, The Flash: Season One, and a pair of kid-themed Halloween movies perfect for younger viewers this upcoming October.
Eaten Alive Two-Disc Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Meet The Maniac & His Friend. Nearly a decade before he donned Freddy Kruger's famous red and green sweater,...
Other titles being released on Tuesday include Arrow: Season Three, The Flash: Season One, and a pair of kid-themed Halloween movies perfect for younger viewers this upcoming October.
Eaten Alive Two-Disc Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Meet The Maniac & His Friend. Nearly a decade before he donned Freddy Kruger's famous red and green sweater,...
- 9/21/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Shaggy maniac Neville Brand was born on the bayou. He lives by his high morals and so just can't resist feeding random visitors to his gargantuan crocodile. If they resist that idea, he uses a giant scythe for a persuader. Tobe Hooper's sopho-gore feature boasts several name stars, plus, in this new edition, a brightly colored, picture-perfect transfer. Eaten Alive Blu-ray + DVD Arrow Video (U.S.) 1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 87 min. / Death Trap, Starlight Slaughter, Horror Hotel / Street Date September 22, 2015 / 39.95 Starring Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Carolyn Jones, Marilyn Burns, William Finley, Stuart Whitman, Roberta Collins, Kyle Richards, Robert Englund, Crystin Sinclaire, Janus Blythe, Betty Cole. Cinematography Robert Caramico Special Effects Robert A. Mattey Makeup Effects Frank Gluck Confirmed Original Music Wayne Bell, Tobe Hooper Written by Alvin Fast, Mardi Rustam, Kim Henkel Produced by Mardi Rustam Directed by Tobe Hooper
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Tobe Hooper is an odd duck...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Tobe Hooper is an odd duck...
- 9/15/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
At a motel, hotel, or inn, you expect to have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep on, and the peace of mind that you'll live to see the sun shine through your window come morning. But as horror fans know, that last expectation isn't always met in places like the Bates Motel of Psycho, the Motel Hello of Motel Hell, the Pinewood Motel of Vacancy, and the Starlight Hotel of Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive. Soon, viewers can experience the scaly scares and scythe slices of the lattermost overnight establishment like never before, as Arrow Video has announced they will release Eaten Alive on Blu-ray and DVD in both the Us and UK with a bunch of bonus features and a fresh 2k transfer from the original camera negative.
Arrow Video will release Eaten Alive on Blu-ray and DVD in the Us on July 28th and in the UK on July 27th.
Arrow Video will release Eaten Alive on Blu-ray and DVD in the Us on July 28th and in the UK on July 27th.
- 4/3/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Welcome back everyone for the final day of Daily Dead’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! Because it’s been an exceptional year for genre fans, we’re focusing today on recapping more books and films that would make for great gifts this holiday season and are perfect for all fans. We’ve also got another great find from over on Etsy and we’re celebrating a new subscription service from the fine folks over at Waxworks Records.
And be sure to check out today’s final Holiday Horrors trivia question below for your shot at winning some awesome merchandise from our fine sponsors at HorrorDecor.net, Scream Factory and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
Thanks so much for following along with our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide and I hope you guys had as much fun reading the series as I had putting it together!
Vendor Spotlight: Waxwork Records
Waxwork Records specializes in releasing horror,...
And be sure to check out today’s final Holiday Horrors trivia question below for your shot at winning some awesome merchandise from our fine sponsors at HorrorDecor.net, Scream Factory and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
Thanks so much for following along with our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide and I hope you guys had as much fun reading the series as I had putting it together!
Vendor Spotlight: Waxwork Records
Waxwork Records specializes in releasing horror,...
- 12/12/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Just in time for its 40th year anniversary, Shout Factory has amassed a glorious Blu-ray remastering of Brian De Palma’s 1974 classic, Phantom of the Paradise. A glam-rock musical that’s enjoyed a sizeable cult following after an initial muted theatrical release, it represents the filmmaker’s most enjoyable attempt at comedy in this vintage satire about consumerism vs. creative control.
On the eve of unveiling his glam rock palace The Paradise, cutthroat music mogul Swan is struggling with how to open with just the right song to be performed by doo-wop group the Juicy Fruits (modeled after Sha Na Na). When Swan hears the music of aspiring singer songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finely, a De Palma regular), he decides he wants his music, an epic cantata modernizing Faust, but not the man. After his tunes are stolen, the songwriter tries to barge his way into Swan’s rehearsals but is thrown out,...
On the eve of unveiling his glam rock palace The Paradise, cutthroat music mogul Swan is struggling with how to open with just the right song to be performed by doo-wop group the Juicy Fruits (modeled after Sha Na Na). When Swan hears the music of aspiring singer songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finely, a De Palma regular), he decides he wants his music, an epic cantata modernizing Faust, but not the man. After his tunes are stolen, the songwriter tries to barge his way into Swan’s rehearsals but is thrown out,...
- 8/19/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
I don’t like musicals. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I hate musicals. Even that one that you think I should see because it just might change my mind, no, I probably hate it. I couldn’t understand why everybody flipped over Repo. I watched it and wanted to turn it off the entire time. I never watched Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd, I didn’t even bother watching Devil’s Carnival. The extent of my enjoyment of the musical ends in things like South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Cannibal the Musical, The Wall, and that’s pretty much it. When I saw that Scream Factory were releasing Phantom of the Paradise, I had mixed emotions. I love Scream, so naturally I want to support one of their releases, and I love De Palma, so of course I want to see one...
- 8/6/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
Welcome back to This Week In Discs! If you see something you like, click on the title to buy it from Amazon. Phantom of the Paradise Winslow Leach (William Finley) is a musician and songwriter hoping to make it big, but his efforts to get his work noticed by the infamous producer and personality, Swan (Paul Williams), results in trouble. Swan hears, loves, and steals Winslow’s music leaving the artist deranged and badly burned in the process, but Winslow returns behind a mask to wreak havoc on the man’s hot new club. Toss in a thief of another kind, a dame named Phoenix (Jessica Harper) who steals Winslow’s heart, and the stage is set for tragedy. It’s Phantom of the Opera meets Faust, part comedy and part musical, and it had to have been clear from the outset that it was not going to find a home with general audiences. It...
- 8/5/2014
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
It’s hard to believe that it’s already August, which means fall (and Halloween!) are just right around the corner. To keep all you genre fans busy in the meantime, there are a couple of classic releases coming this week from Scream Factory, as well as Mike Flanagan’s Oculus.
Spotlight Titles:
Oculus (20th Century Fox, Blu-ray & DVD)
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence,...
Spotlight Titles:
Oculus (20th Century Fox, Blu-ray & DVD)
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence,...
- 8/5/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
From a suburban werewolf to a farmer who plants people, Scream Factory will continue to deliver cult horror films to viewers’ doorsteps throughout this Summer of Fear. Those attending Sdcc next week will get a taste of their terror treats firsthand at booth #4248, where a number of Blu-rays will be available, as well a limited edition t-shirt, posters, and an “inside look” panel that will include special announcements and sneak peeks of upcoming Blu-ray releases.
The panel, titled An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory, will take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 7pm in Room 23Abc. In addition to exclusive panel announcements, a Comic-Con exclusive blood-red Scream Factory t-shirt will be available at their booth, as well as a free 2014 button pack, collectible keychains, screen wipes, and more. Also available at booth #4248 will be the following batch of Scream Factory Blu-rays, each one coming with...
The panel, titled An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory, will take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 7pm in Room 23Abc. In addition to exclusive panel announcements, a Comic-Con exclusive blood-red Scream Factory t-shirt will be available at their booth, as well as a free 2014 button pack, collectible keychains, screen wipes, and more. Also available at booth #4248 will be the following batch of Scream Factory Blu-rays, each one coming with...
- 7/14/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Scream Factory is just cranking out the classics! Brian De Palma’s cult hit Phantom of the Paradise will be making its American Blu-Ray debut on August 5th and we have all the detailed specs for you down below. While I’m not sure why the second disc isn’t a Blu-Ray, this looks like a great set for fans of the film.
From the Press Release
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, Score and Adaptation, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, Phantom of the Paradise is the Faustian tale of Swan, (Paul Williams, who also wrote the acclaimed score) an evil record tycoon who is tormented by the disfigured composer Winslow Leach (William Finley, Sisters) he once wronged. Also starring Jessica Harper (Suspiria, Shock Treatment) and Gerrit Graham (Used Cars, Terrorvision), Phantom of the Paradise is a hilarious send-up...
From the Press Release
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, Score and Adaptation, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, Phantom of the Paradise is the Faustian tale of Swan, (Paul Williams, who also wrote the acclaimed score) an evil record tycoon who is tormented by the disfigured composer Winslow Leach (William Finley, Sisters) he once wronged. Also starring Jessica Harper (Suspiria, Shock Treatment) and Gerrit Graham (Used Cars, Terrorvision), Phantom of the Paradise is a hilarious send-up...
- 5/27/2014
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
As we learned last year, our friends over at Scream Factory are bringing Brian De Palma's cult classic horror musical Phantom of the Paradise to Blu-ray for the very first time this summer, and on tap for you today are those full release details that you've been waiting for.
From the Press Release
The music made him do it! Phantom of the Paradise, the darkly satirical cult favorite from acclaimed writer and director Brian De Palma (Carrie, Dressed To Kill) will make its American Blu-ray debut as a Collector’s Edition 2-Disc set on August 5th, 2014 from Scream Factory. The new edition of this Academy-Award nominated horror musical classic is packed to the rafters with bonus features, including new interviews with Brian De Palma, Paul Willaims and Tom Burman; new audio commentary with producer Jack Fisk, a new audio commentary with Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham and the Juicy Fruits (Archie Hahn,...
From the Press Release
The music made him do it! Phantom of the Paradise, the darkly satirical cult favorite from acclaimed writer and director Brian De Palma (Carrie, Dressed To Kill) will make its American Blu-ray debut as a Collector’s Edition 2-Disc set on August 5th, 2014 from Scream Factory. The new edition of this Academy-Award nominated horror musical classic is packed to the rafters with bonus features, including new interviews with Brian De Palma, Paul Willaims and Tom Burman; new audio commentary with producer Jack Fisk, a new audio commentary with Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham and the Juicy Fruits (Archie Hahn,...
- 5/22/2014
- by John Squires
- DreadCentral.com
Scream Factory is giving Phantom of the Paradise a Blu-ray release this August and they just revealed an extensive list of bonus features that will please any fan of the 1974 cult classic. Written and directed by Brian De Palma, Phantom of the Paradise stars Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper and features narration by Rod Serling.
“Our 4-month “Summer of Fear” celebration continues by announcing today the final (and stacked) list of extras for one of our titles within it: Brian DePalma’s Phantom Of The Paradise–on Blu-ray for the first time!”
Disc One (Blu-ray):
New Audio Commentary with Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham and the Juicy Fruits (Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor and Harold Oblong aka Peter Eibling) New Audio Commentary with Production Designer Jack Fisk New Interview with director Brian DePalma New Interview with Paul Williams talking about the music of Phantom New Interview with Make-up Effects wizard...
“Our 4-month “Summer of Fear” celebration continues by announcing today the final (and stacked) list of extras for one of our titles within it: Brian DePalma’s Phantom Of The Paradise–on Blu-ray for the first time!”
Disc One (Blu-ray):
New Audio Commentary with Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham and the Juicy Fruits (Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor and Harold Oblong aka Peter Eibling) New Audio Commentary with Production Designer Jack Fisk New Interview with director Brian DePalma New Interview with Paul Williams talking about the music of Phantom New Interview with Make-up Effects wizard...
- 5/22/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
I’ll admit two things. Number one, I’ve never seen Phantom of the Paradise before. I’ve known of its existence, but I have yet to take it in. Number Two, I’m not the worlds biggest musical fan, even when it deals with subject matter that interests me, but I’m willing to give anything a shot. Especially if it’s coming from my favorite Blu-ray label, Scream Factory. The company has announced the extras that will be available on the disc, and they look to be plentiful. I’m looking forward to giving this one a shot when it hits on August 5th. Check out the press release below.
He Sold His Soul for Rock N’ Roll!
Phantom of the Paradise
Cult Favorite Makes its American Blu-ray Debut in
Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Set
August 5th, 2014 from Shout! Factory
The music made him do it! Phantom of the Paradise,...
He Sold His Soul for Rock N’ Roll!
Phantom of the Paradise
Cult Favorite Makes its American Blu-ray Debut in
Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Set
August 5th, 2014 from Shout! Factory
The music made him do it! Phantom of the Paradise,...
- 5/22/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
Stars: Jennifer Salt, Margot Kidder, William Finley, Charles Durning, Lisle Wilson, Barnard Hughes, Mary Davenport, Dolph Sweet | Written by Brian De Palma, Louisa Rose | Directed by Brian De Palma
Fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies will watch Brian De Palma’s Sisters and at the beginning notice that the music sounds a little like that out of Psycho. Then they’ll notice that the relationship between the two sisters is a little like Norman and his mother, before they are suddenly slapped in the face with a change in tone and suddenly it’s Rear Window. I guess you could say that De Palma was ripping off Hitchcock, it’s been said many times. In my view though this is of little importance when Sisters works so well. If you are going to take inspiration in your filmmaking from anywhere, why not copy off the master? Plenty of others have done so.
Fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies will watch Brian De Palma’s Sisters and at the beginning notice that the music sounds a little like that out of Psycho. Then they’ll notice that the relationship between the two sisters is a little like Norman and his mother, before they are suddenly slapped in the face with a change in tone and suddenly it’s Rear Window. I guess you could say that De Palma was ripping off Hitchcock, it’s been said many times. In my view though this is of little importance when Sisters works so well. If you are going to take inspiration in your filmmaking from anywhere, why not copy off the master? Plenty of others have done so.
- 4/30/2014
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
By Darren Allison
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"The Next Alfred Hitchcock" was how director Brian De Palma was being celebrated by some back in 1973. It was largely in praise of his latest film, the thriller ‘Sisters’. There is little doubt that ‘Sisters’ is not only homage to Hitchcock’s Psycho, but also a huge nod towards Hitchcock’s entire body of work. As the saying goes - ‘You only borrow from the best’ and of course, it was no secret that De Palma was a huge admirer of Hitchcock’s work.
‘Sisters’ was inspired by a Life Magazine article read by De Palma, about the Russian Siamese twins Masha and Dasha. The film begins with a model named Danielle (played by Margot Kidder), who appears on the local TV game show, Peeping Toms (the film’s first example of its voyeuristic theme). Danielle goes out to dinner with the winning contestant,...
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"The Next Alfred Hitchcock" was how director Brian De Palma was being celebrated by some back in 1973. It was largely in praise of his latest film, the thriller ‘Sisters’. There is little doubt that ‘Sisters’ is not only homage to Hitchcock’s Psycho, but also a huge nod towards Hitchcock’s entire body of work. As the saying goes - ‘You only borrow from the best’ and of course, it was no secret that De Palma was a huge admirer of Hitchcock’s work.
‘Sisters’ was inspired by a Life Magazine article read by De Palma, about the Russian Siamese twins Masha and Dasha. The film begins with a model named Danielle (played by Margot Kidder), who appears on the local TV game show, Peeping Toms (the film’s first example of its voyeuristic theme). Danielle goes out to dinner with the winning contestant,...
- 4/30/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Late last year, Scream Factory announced that the 1974 cult classic, Phantom of the Paradise, will be getting a Collector’s Edition in 2014. An August 5th release date has just been announced and we have a look at the new cover art from Justin Osbourn:
Previously: “We’re thrilled to report today that we are planning to release Brian DePalma’s classic 1974 film Phantom Of The Paradise sometime in the later half of the Summer! This marks the first time the film will be on blu-ray for the first time in the U.S. and Canada. Expect this to be in the “Collector’s Edition” series with new extras but we have no other details to report at this time as our deal for this was literally just signed so stay tuned here in the Spring of next year for more info to emerge.”
Written and directed by Brian De Palma,...
Previously: “We’re thrilled to report today that we are planning to release Brian DePalma’s classic 1974 film Phantom Of The Paradise sometime in the later half of the Summer! This marks the first time the film will be on blu-ray for the first time in the U.S. and Canada. Expect this to be in the “Collector’s Edition” series with new extras but we have no other details to report at this time as our deal for this was literally just signed so stay tuned here in the Spring of next year for more info to emerge.”
Written and directed by Brian De Palma,...
- 3/10/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
★★★★☆ Coming two years before his breakout commercial horror hit Carrie, Phantom of the Paradise (1974) finds revered seventies "movie brat" Brian De Palma in a lively and altogether more playful mode - and all the better for it. For anyone yet to see this uproariously kitsch comedy-musical, Arrow Video's stunning transfer is a great way in, and the film really is as entertaining as those rabid fans would have you believe. The late, fabulously bug-eyed character actor William Finley is wannabe composer and singer Winslow Leach, slavishly working away at his musical opus about the story of Faust.
- 3/5/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
To mark the release of Phantom of The Paradise on 24th February, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on Blu-ray Steelbook.
Brian De Palma’s inspired rock ’n’ roll fusion of Faust, The Phantom of the Opera and The Picture of Dorian Gray boasts an Oscar-nominated score by Paul Williams, who also stars as an evil record producer who not only steals the work of composer/performer Winslow Leach (William Finley) but gets him locked up in Sing Sing – and that’s not the worst that happens to him along the way.
Few revenge scenarios have ever been so amply justified, but the film is also constantly aware of the satirical possibilities offered by the 1970s music industry, exemplified by Gerrit Graham’s hilariously camp glam-rock star. Jessica Harper (Suspiria) appears in her first major role as the naïve but ambitious singer, on whom Winslow secretly dotes.
Please...
Brian De Palma’s inspired rock ’n’ roll fusion of Faust, The Phantom of the Opera and The Picture of Dorian Gray boasts an Oscar-nominated score by Paul Williams, who also stars as an evil record producer who not only steals the work of composer/performer Winslow Leach (William Finley) but gets him locked up in Sing Sing – and that’s not the worst that happens to him along the way.
Few revenge scenarios have ever been so amply justified, but the film is also constantly aware of the satirical possibilities offered by the 1970s music industry, exemplified by Gerrit Graham’s hilariously camp glam-rock star. Jessica Harper (Suspiria) appears in her first major role as the naïve but ambitious singer, on whom Winslow secretly dotes.
Please...
- 2/24/2014
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Stars: Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham, George Memmoli, Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor, Peter Elbling | Written and Directed by Brian De Palma
If I was to confess that I’d not seen Phantom of the Paradise before I was sent the Arrow Video Blu-ray release for review I’m sure there are many out there who haven’t seen it too. For somebody like me though who has an obsession with films I’ve not seen yet (they tend to pray on my mind), I jump at the chance to see films like Phantom of the Paradise – and with this release I’m very glad I did.
Phantom of the Paradise is a rock opera that takes a little dash of Faust, a little Phantom of the Opera and some The Picture of Dorian Gray and creates something pretty spectacular. It tells the tale of Winslow Leach (William Finley...
If I was to confess that I’d not seen Phantom of the Paradise before I was sent the Arrow Video Blu-ray release for review I’m sure there are many out there who haven’t seen it too. For somebody like me though who has an obsession with films I’ve not seen yet (they tend to pray on my mind), I jump at the chance to see films like Phantom of the Paradise – and with this release I’m very glad I did.
Phantom of the Paradise is a rock opera that takes a little dash of Faust, a little Phantom of the Opera and some The Picture of Dorian Gray and creates something pretty spectacular. It tells the tale of Winslow Leach (William Finley...
- 2/23/2014
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Most home video releases are mass produced and marketed by faceless conglomerates interested only in separating you from your hard-earned cash. If you look closely though you’ll find smaller labels who love movies as much as you do and show it by delivering quality Blu-rays and DVDs of beloved films and cult classics, often loaded with special features, new transfers, and more. But yes, they still want your cash, too. Arrow Films is not only the UK’s best specialty Blu-ray/DVD label, but they’re also one of the most exciting regardless of geographical boundaries. Part of their appeal can be found in their unabashed affection for genre entertainment, but they’re equally adept and interested in more highbrow fare. They love movies as much as we do, and the proof is in a catalog diverse enough to include both Cinema Paradiso and Hell Comes to Frogtown. They have two new releases hitting UK shelves...
- 2/19/2014
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Phantom of the Paradise is coming to Blu-Ray on February 24, 2014. It's a features packed release presented in High Definition for the first time on UK shores. Special features include a 50-minute documentary on the making of the film featuring Brian De Palma, and an all new 72-minute interview with Paul Williams by Guillermo del Toro. We'll be reviewing this cult classic - courtesy of Arrow Films - in the coming weeks so keep a look out. Few revenge scenarios have ever been so amply justified, but the film is also constantly aware of the satirical possibilities offered by the 1970s music industry, exemplified by Gerrit Graham’s hilariously camp glam-rock star. Jessica Harper (Suspiria) appears in her first major role as the naïve but ambitious singer, on whom Winslow secretly dotes. Prodigiously inventive both musically and visually, this is one of De Palma’s most entertaining romps, not least because...
- 1/31/2014
- 24framespersecond.net
Scream Factory already has a pretty fantastic list of genre films heading to Blu-ray in 2014 and they”ve just announced that the 1974 cult classic, Phantom of the Paradise, will be getting a Collector’s Edition release next year:
“We’re thrilled to report today that we are planning to release Brian DePalma’s classic 1974 film Phantom Of The Paradise sometime in the later half of the Summer!
This marks the first time the film will be on blu-ray for the first time in the U.S. and Canada. Expect this to be in the “Collector’s Edition” series with new extras but we have no other details to report at this time as our deal for this was literally just signed so stay tuned here in the Spring of next year for more info to emerge.”
Written and directed by Brian De Palma, Phantom of the Paradise stars Paul Williams,...
“We’re thrilled to report today that we are planning to release Brian DePalma’s classic 1974 film Phantom Of The Paradise sometime in the later half of the Summer!
This marks the first time the film will be on blu-ray for the first time in the U.S. and Canada. Expect this to be in the “Collector’s Edition” series with new extras but we have no other details to report at this time as our deal for this was literally just signed so stay tuned here in the Spring of next year for more info to emerge.”
Written and directed by Brian De Palma, Phantom of the Paradise stars Paul Williams,...
- 12/12/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
The wizards at Arrow Video have been focusing their brain waves on bringing another cult treasure to hi-def life in the UK, and the result is a brand new restoration of Brian De Palma's The Fury, hitting shelves on October 28th. Don't stare too long...
From the Press Release:
Marking the film’s UK Blu-ray premiere in style, Arrow’s team of restorers have breathed new life into this telekinetic masterpiece – it’s crystal clear, incredibly vibrant and has been newly graded, all the while keeping true to Richard H. Kline’s brilliant original cinematography. 2013 year marks The Fury’s 35th birthday... it’s never looked better.
Restoration Supervisor James White says of the project – "It's been a great honour to restore The Fury, a truly fantastic film by one of my favourite directors. Its combination of sci-fi, horror and post-Watergate paranoia thriller makes it one of the key...
From the Press Release:
Marking the film’s UK Blu-ray premiere in style, Arrow’s team of restorers have breathed new life into this telekinetic masterpiece – it’s crystal clear, incredibly vibrant and has been newly graded, all the while keeping true to Richard H. Kline’s brilliant original cinematography. 2013 year marks The Fury’s 35th birthday... it’s never looked better.
Restoration Supervisor James White says of the project – "It's been a great honour to restore The Fury, a truly fantastic film by one of my favourite directors. Its combination of sci-fi, horror and post-Watergate paranoia thriller makes it one of the key...
- 10/9/2013
- by Pestilence
- DreadCentral.com
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