"We'll remember you forever..." - The Juicy Fruits
I was terribly saddened to hear of the passing of the brilliant William Finley, an actor best known for his collaborations with director Brian De Palma and most famously, playing Winslow Leach, the Phantom in De Palma's PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time and I hope they realise how much William's work has influenced and inspired those of us who grew up watching him.
I've always had a mini infatuation with Phantom, a movie that I feel has always been wrongfully shadowed by THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and cast aside by genre fans as a lesser Rock Opera. Personally, and I know I'm not alone, I consider Phantom to be superior in every way to Rocky. The music, written by Paul Williams is wonderful, the filmmaking is off the chart and the performances by Williams, Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham and of course William Finley, are unforgettable.