The Movie Musicals of Paul Williams: 'Phantom of the Paradise' (1974), 'Bugsy Malone' (1976), & 'The Muppet Movie' (1979)

To wrap up our episode cycle featuring "Off-Beat Musicals", Madeline, Julian and Emilio close in on a prolific songwriter whose career has notably dovetailed with film over the years: Paul Williams.  An unconventional public figure with the gift of gab and an ear for making timeless music, Williams left his mark on the 1970s, penning memorable scores for some truly unique movie musicals.  First, we cover 'Phantom of the Paradise', Brian De Palma's 1974 rock musical featuring Williams in a lead role, the nefarious music producer Swan whose deal with the devil sets the stage for a WILD mix of camp, vengeance, and glam rock swagger.  Then there's 'Bugsy Malone', Alan Parker's 1976 gangster film satire with a cast of nothing but children, yet another wild ride of fun performances and some era-specific songs.  And we wrap up the conversation with a look at 'The Muppet Movie' from 1979, one last off-beat musical featuring puppets with a witty script and several equally clever heartfelt tunes from Williams and collaborater Kenneth Ascher.  It's an earnest look back on the work of one of the more influential songsmiths of his era, with an off-beat musical performance of our own just for kicks!     

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