WINNIPEG - When the American rock musical film “Phantom of the Paradise” was released in theatres in Winnipeg in 1974, Craig Wallace was one of the first to line up on opening day. Wallace was 12 years old and would go on to watch the cult classic 18 times in the first week it screened in the city. “I was enthralled with this movie.
Matter of fact, one of the songs, ‘Somebody Super Like You’ — the opening chord made me decide to learn guitar,” Wallace said in a recent interview. “It carved my path in music.” Fifty years later, Wallace estimates he’s seen the film 600 times and spends part of his time playing in a tribute band called SWANAGE.
The 61-year-old is also one of four organizers putting on special screenings of the film at Winnipeg’s Burton Cummings Theatre this weekend. They’re set to include appearances by some original cast members and an evening concert with SWANAGE playing the soundtrack. “Phantom of the Paradise” was first released in the United States before making its debut in Winnipeg on Dec.
26, 1974. The Brian De Palma film blends elements of rock music, comedy and horror to create a glam-rock twist on “The Phantom of the Opera.” The film was critically panned and considered a box office failure everywhere except Winnipeg and Paris.
The movie was reportedly in theatres in Winnipeg for more than four months. In 2005, a group of super fans banded together to put on the first Phantompalooza in Winnipeg to celebrate the film. It.
