Where’s the Beef, you ask? He’s in Phantom of the Paradise, Brian De Palma‘s underrated rock opera gem. Released in October of 1974, almost a full year before The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Phantom tells the story of a disfigured musician who sells his soul so that the woman he loves can perform his cantata. Or something to that effect. It doesn’t really matter, because Gerrit Graham‘s campy performance as effete rock-god Beef is the real revelation here. With minimal screen time, Gerrit chews scenery like a cow in a high school production of Our Town. I see Daniel Day-Lewis in the remake. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
