Episode #463: ‘Phantom of the Paradise’ [Listener Pick 2026!]

As a MaxFunDrive milestone goal, we set the challenge that if we got enough new/upgrading/joining supporters of Maximum Film!, one of those folks would get to pick a movie for us to do an episode on. Well, thanks to supporters like Molly, we hit that goal, and this episode is the result: PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (one of Molly’s faves) is a 1974 rock musical fantasmagoria from early in writer/director Brian DePalma’s career. It’s box-office flop-turned cult classic. And it is heavily reliant on the dubious cultural power of songwriter and actor Paul Williams.

As if this episode needed to be MORE special, we also mark the mid-year by naming some of our favorite films of the year so far.

What’s Good?
Alonso – oh, let’s call it “current events”
Drea – fixing her own portable AC unit
Marissa – Paramount+ (sorry) has a 90s sitcom “live” channel
Kevin – reading Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

ITIDIC
GLAAD Study Shows Drop in LGBTQ Characters in FIlm
A Look Back at the Pop Culture of 1974…

Staff Picks
Drea – Horsegirls
Alonso – Ishtar
Marissa – Tommy
Kevin –  River [Ribâ, nagarenaide yo]
Kevin at Comic-Con: 
Malcolm & Friends Panel: Thursday, 12:30pm, Room 6A
The Pitching Hour: Friday, 12pm, Room 32AB

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher