I failed earlier today to remember William Finley, the anguished central figure in Brian DePalma‘s Phantom of the Paradise (’73) who died four days ago in Manhattan, at age 71. It would appear that Finley was a fine fellow but face it — the world took note of his acting career mainly because of his roles in DePalma films (Sisters, The Wedding Party, The Black Dahlia).
Finley hit the mark in Phantom, portraying Winslow Leach and pouring his heart out for Jessica Harper, etc. But the stand-out performance in that flamboyant glamrock satire came from the brilliant Gerritt Graham as “Beef”…no?
