I saw Phantom of the Paradise in the theater when I was in high school. I loved it, but felt I was the only person who had seen it. Years later I watched it on HS fully expecting it to be terrible, something only a teenage boy in Ohio would find exciting. But it has worn very well. It’s an excellent film with a great score.
Thanks for reading my article! I had just started high school when "Phantom" was released in theaters back in 1974. Unfortunately, I was too young to drive and my parents refused to let me go see the movie. This happened again the following year when "Tommy" was released (actually it happened to me a lot to me back then; the joy of having ultra-conservative parents). But, a few years later, I began my first semester of college and was able to see virtually all of the movies my parents forbade me to watch when they played as midnight movies at a local theater. So that's when I first got to see "Phantom." I've been obsessed with it ever since.
My parents loved movies, and my dad frequently let my brother and me pick which one we would see. My brother chose ‘Tommy’ and off we went. I already had the concept album by The Who, so I knew the music. I was wowed by the Ken Russell film, but pretty traumatized by the TV scene with Ann Margret and all the baked beans and chocolate.
How do you feel about movies that are so unintentionally bad they’re good? At the top of that list fir me is ‘The Apple.’ It is the Citizen Kane of So-Bad-They’re-Wonderful movies. And it’s a musical!
I didn't get to see "Tommy" until I was in college (another movie my parents forbade me to see back then), but I really like it; in fact, I'm a big fan of almost all of Ken Russell's movies. Also, to answer your question, yes, I think movies (especially musicals) that are unintentionally bad actually are a lot of fun to watch, especially "The Apple." (What were they thinking?). Another favorite bad musical I like a lot is "Xanadu." For more traditional musicals, I loved the 1973 musical version of "Lost Horizon" when I was a kid, but now I look at it in a whole different way (I'll be writing articles about both "Xanadu" and "Lost Horizon" sometime soon). But if I had to pick one musical that really stands out for being unintentionally bad it would have to be Peter Bogdanovich's "At Long Last Love" (another movie I liked when I was young but now just makes my jaw drop in awe at how bad it truly is on so many levels).
You know, I never saw ‘At Long Last Love.’ I will have to put it on my list, as it is legend for being spectacularly terrible. I saw ‘Lost Horizon’ when it came out in the theaters, and remember thinking it was OK. I’ve since gone back and watched all of the musical sequences, and yes it is deeply cringe. That movie was actually what broke up the Bacharach-David partnership. They had been used to writing pop songs and had had a couple of successful Broadway shows (or maybe off Broadway) and we’re not prepared for the quick viciousness that often accompany movie premieres. In live theater one just to try things out over a period of time with different audiences and do rewrite as you go. Film doesn’t allow you to do that. They were so eviscerated by the reviews that they both retreated for a long time. Bacharach did some later interesting collaborations, one of which being with Elvis Costello.
I would add to this list ‘Roller Boogie’ and ‘Stayin’ Alive.’ And ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.’
"Starstruck" is one of my all-time favorites too. I first saw it college, and I still play my dvd and vinyl soundtrack of it all the time. I even have the original movie poster in my collection too. Thanks for reading my article!
Thanks for reading my article! I first saw "Starstruck" when I was in college and still love it today. It's just a fun, inventive, unpretentious new-wave movie musical. I'm also a big fan of Split Enz, so the Tim Finn/Phil Judd compositions really appeal to me too. I hope you'll enjoy watching it again too.
Not sure if you’d feel these would belong, but The Commitments from 1991 was a quintessential one for me, and the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction is also pretty stellar.
Thanks for reading my article! yes, I agree that the soundtrack to "The Commitments" would definitely belong. I also think that the soundtrack to "Pulp Fiction" was pretty popular back when it came out (as was "Reservoir Dogs"), but I'm not sure how many people (esp. younger cinephiles) know about those soundtracks now. Also, I was wondering...have you placed songs by your music clients in many movies and on soundtrack albums through the years?
I used to do quite a bit of sync placements, yes, especially when I represented big catalogs. But my favorite placement was this indie song “I Dream of Chicago” that I placed in the final episode of the series “The Chicago Code” - the next day a journalist for the Chicago Tribune called and they did a whole article on the band, the placement, and interviewed the artist and myself. That was highly unusual, and pretty cool. Here is the article. The article is called End of ‘Chicago Code’ is beginning for band (I am not allowed to paste in a link here).
Yes, for sure! I first saw it as a midnight movie in the late 70s when I was in college. Even so, I'm still surprised at how many people (even DePalma fans) are unaware of this film. It's one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for reading my article!
I found Neil Young’s soundtrack for Dead Man quite good—haunting.
Hi Epaninonda,
Yes, I agree. I'm a big fan of both Neil Young and Jim Jarmusch too. Thanks for reading my article!
I saw Phantom of the Paradise in the theater when I was in high school. I loved it, but felt I was the only person who had seen it. Years later I watched it on HS fully expecting it to be terrible, something only a teenage boy in Ohio would find exciting. But it has worn very well. It’s an excellent film with a great score.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for reading my article! I had just started high school when "Phantom" was released in theaters back in 1974. Unfortunately, I was too young to drive and my parents refused to let me go see the movie. This happened again the following year when "Tommy" was released (actually it happened to me a lot to me back then; the joy of having ultra-conservative parents). But, a few years later, I began my first semester of college and was able to see virtually all of the movies my parents forbade me to watch when they played as midnight movies at a local theater. So that's when I first got to see "Phantom." I've been obsessed with it ever since.
My parents loved movies, and my dad frequently let my brother and me pick which one we would see. My brother chose ‘Tommy’ and off we went. I already had the concept album by The Who, so I knew the music. I was wowed by the Ken Russell film, but pretty traumatized by the TV scene with Ann Margret and all the baked beans and chocolate.
How do you feel about movies that are so unintentionally bad they’re good? At the top of that list fir me is ‘The Apple.’ It is the Citizen Kane of So-Bad-They’re-Wonderful movies. And it’s a musical!
Hi Eric,
I didn't get to see "Tommy" until I was in college (another movie my parents forbade me to see back then), but I really like it; in fact, I'm a big fan of almost all of Ken Russell's movies. Also, to answer your question, yes, I think movies (especially musicals) that are unintentionally bad actually are a lot of fun to watch, especially "The Apple." (What were they thinking?). Another favorite bad musical I like a lot is "Xanadu." For more traditional musicals, I loved the 1973 musical version of "Lost Horizon" when I was a kid, but now I look at it in a whole different way (I'll be writing articles about both "Xanadu" and "Lost Horizon" sometime soon). But if I had to pick one musical that really stands out for being unintentionally bad it would have to be Peter Bogdanovich's "At Long Last Love" (another movie I liked when I was young but now just makes my jaw drop in awe at how bad it truly is on so many levels).
You know, I never saw ‘At Long Last Love.’ I will have to put it on my list, as it is legend for being spectacularly terrible. I saw ‘Lost Horizon’ when it came out in the theaters, and remember thinking it was OK. I’ve since gone back and watched all of the musical sequences, and yes it is deeply cringe. That movie was actually what broke up the Bacharach-David partnership. They had been used to writing pop songs and had had a couple of successful Broadway shows (or maybe off Broadway) and we’re not prepared for the quick viciousness that often accompany movie premieres. In live theater one just to try things out over a period of time with different audiences and do rewrite as you go. Film doesn’t allow you to do that. They were so eviscerated by the reviews that they both retreated for a long time. Bacharach did some later interesting collaborations, one of which being with Elvis Costello.
I would add to this list ‘Roller Boogie’ and ‘Stayin’ Alive.’ And ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.’
Do any hold a candle to the Navy SEALS soundtrack?
Hi, I don't know - you'll have to listen to all of them and decide that for yourself. Thanks for reading my article!
Some great movies on that list but Starstruck is easily one of my all time favourites.
Hi Mark,
"Starstruck" is one of my all-time favorites too. I first saw it college, and I still play my dvd and vinyl soundtrack of it all the time. I even have the original movie poster in my collection too. Thanks for reading my article!
I love Starstruck!
Me too! Thanks for reading!
yay shock treatment, phantom
Hi Graywyvern,
These are two of my favorite off-beat movie musicals. I re-watch them all the time. Thanks for reading my article!
These movies and their music bring back many memories, Jim. I have to watch Starstruck again this weekend. It was all the rage when I was 13.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for reading my article! I first saw "Starstruck" when I was in college and still love it today. It's just a fun, inventive, unpretentious new-wave movie musical. I'm also a big fan of Split Enz, so the Tim Finn/Phil Judd compositions really appeal to me too. I hope you'll enjoy watching it again too.
I can’t wait, Jim. I love the work of Gillian Armstrong. Have you seen Chez Nous?
Hi Dave,
Yes, I have - I'm a big fan of all of her movies. Thanks!
Me too.
Queen of the Damned. The music from the opening scene alone.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reading my article! I haven't seen "Queen of the Damned" or heard the music from it. I'll check it out - thanks for the recommendation!
Both lists very interesting. I remember most but some are certainly obscure. You get extra points for Electra Glide!
Hi Jeff,
Thanks! It's a shame more people haven't seen "Electra Glide in Blue."
I have several of the movies credited up and ready to watch!
Hi Rose,
That's awesome! I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Thanks for reading my article.
Great list - and lots I need to listen to, Jim.
Not sure if you’d feel these would belong, but The Commitments from 1991 was a quintessential one for me, and the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction is also pretty stellar.
Hi Erik,
Thanks for reading my article! yes, I agree that the soundtrack to "The Commitments" would definitely belong. I also think that the soundtrack to "Pulp Fiction" was pretty popular back when it came out (as was "Reservoir Dogs"), but I'm not sure how many people (esp. younger cinephiles) know about those soundtracks now. Also, I was wondering...have you placed songs by your music clients in many movies and on soundtrack albums through the years?
I used to do quite a bit of sync placements, yes, especially when I represented big catalogs. But my favorite placement was this indie song “I Dream of Chicago” that I placed in the final episode of the series “The Chicago Code” - the next day a journalist for the Chicago Tribune called and they did a whole article on the band, the placement, and interviewed the artist and myself. That was highly unusual, and pretty cool. Here is the article. The article is called End of ‘Chicago Code’ is beginning for band (I am not allowed to paste in a link here).
Hi Erik,
That's really cool - thanks for sharing this with me!
Phantom of the Paradise. Paul Williams showing that he can compose in any style. This was cult even back in college in the 80s.
Hi Ellen,
Yes, for sure! I first saw it as a midnight movie in the late 70s when I was in college. Even so, I'm still surprised at how many people (even DePalma fans) are unaware of this film. It's one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for reading my article!
Thank you for including Rumble Fish!
Hi ktiranno,
"Rumble Fish" is one of my favorite films and also one of my favorite soundtracks. I'm glad it's one you like a lot too.