One of the things we discuss often is what we have called the “headphone culture” - a place where everyone listens to their own music in their own world without sharing anything with others. Alone with our devices - On the other side there is this sense of #community this vibration that we know is powerful - tonight #BryantPark has #movienight with #Carrie directed by #BrianDePalma and written by #StephenKing #1976 - This is also #NYC.

Meanwhile, at the eventbrite page for the screening, Secret Movie Club programmer Craig Hammill writes:

One of the most surprising aspects of Brian De Palma’s long career is his early penchant for and talent with satiric comedy that was able to both critique and celebrate the craziness and excesses of the times in which he was living. Along with Hi Mom and Scarface, Phantom of the Paradise belongs in an unofficial trilogy of satire and genre that reveals deeper veins of observation.

De Palma’s unhinged, hilarious, cinematic musical re-telling of The Phantom of the Opera finds Winslow selling his soul so that he can give his music to Phoenix (played by Suspiria’s always wonderful Jessica Harper) to make her famous. But Swan (played to the hilt by music legend Paul Williams) steals the music and instead opens up a kind of Fillmore/Palladium/Hollywood Disco Bowl from hell, The Paradise.

What follows is a series of over the top but wonderfully delicious musical numbers that skewer and celebrate the musical genres of the 1970’s while delivering the trademark De Palma cinematic fireworks. All wrapped up in a satire/horror movie/1970’s glam rock musical bow.

This is one of those movies that folks just love more and more. Come join us for one of De Palma’s all-time best.

The other two quotes on the Hard Case Crime page:

"Brilliant, lurid, twisty fun...compulsively readable and fiendishly constructed."
— David Koepp, screenwriter of Jurassic Park

"One of the world’s greatest filmmakers has helped produce a fast-moving page turner, breathlessly paced...irresistible for any De Palma fan."
— Bret Easton Ellis, author of American Psycho

Here's the Hard Case Crime description:

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SCARFACE AND DRESSED TO KILL—
A FEMALE REVENGE STORY

When the beautiful young videographer offered to join his campaign, Senator Lee Rogers should’ve known better. But saying no would have taken a stronger man than Rogers, with his ailing wife and his robust libido. Enter Barton Brock, the senator’s fixer. He’s already gotten rid of one troublesome young woman—how hard could this new one turn out to be?

Pursued from Washington D.C. to the streets of Paris, 18-year-old Fanny Cours knows her reputation and budding career are on the line. But what she doesn’t realize is that her life might be as well...

Brian De Palma is making the leap from screen to page.

EW can exclusively announce that the iconic Hollywood director will publish his debut novel, co-written by Susan Lehman, next spring with Hard Case Crime. Titled Are Snakes Necessary?, the book is described as “a blistering political satire” that doubles as a female revenge thriller. It follows a philandering senator who’s cheating on his Parkinson’s-afflicted wife with his campaign’s beautiful young videographer. When things go wrong, the senator calls in his fixer to set them right, with deadly consequences stretching from Washington to Paris.

The novel’s title references Preston Sturges’ classic The Lady Eve (in which Henry Fonda is seen reading a book called Are Snakes Necessary?), and the book will feature nods to some of De Palma’s best-known work in cinema, including encounters with a film crew in France that is engaged in remaking Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

De Palma is best known as the director of Scarface, Carrie, and the original Mission: Impossible. Lehman is a former New York Times editor whose writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and more. Their collaboration already has one big fan in Martin Scorsese, who says the novel contains “the same individual voice, the same dark humor and bitter satire, the same overwhelming emotional force” as De Palma’s film work. He adds: “It’s like having a new Brian De Palma picture.”

“It is a great privilege to work with Brian and Susan on this book,” Hard Case Crime founder and editor Charles Ardai said in a statement, “and to welcome a filmmaker of Brian De Palma’s caliber into the Hard Case Crime fold. This is not just a great crime story, it’s a sharp, ruthless look at the state of affairs — both political and extramarital — in our turbulent modern era.”

The Barnes & Noble page for the vinyl soundtrack features a quote from Doyle:

“I am extremely fortunate and proud to have composed the score for Carlito’s Way for the extraordinary auteur, Brian de Palma. I recognised the moment I first saw the film that it was a masterpiece and time has indeed confirmed this. Every new generation discovers Carlito’s Way and the enthusiasm and appreciation over the years for the film, for the score and for the work of all the other departments has been extremely flattering. This film has become a classic and to have my score be part of it is a tremendous honour. Thank you Brian once again.” Patrick Doyle, composer.

On Saturday, July 13th, Pressman will be given a Lifetime Achievement Award at a 45th Anniversary screening of Phantom Of The Paradise, and Williams will join him onstage for this, as well. Then, on Sunday July 14th, Pressman will present a masterclass at Fantasia, where he will be interviewed onstage by critic and professor Donato Totaro.

Phantom Of Winnipeg will have its U.S. premiere this October at Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival in Tarrytown, NY, and Pressman will again be in attendance. De Palma's Phantom Of The Paradise will also screen at Sleepy Hollow this year, and more guests are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Next Sunday's brunch (July 14) will be a double-feature, Abel Ferrara's Driller Killer and Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The series concludes on Sunday, July 21, with Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt.