The Phantom of the Opera [1943]

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943):
Erique Claudin… Claude Rains.
Christine Dubois… Susanna Foster.
Raoul D'Aubert… Edgar Barrier.
Anatole Garron… Nelson Eddy.

This was the first major Phantom of the Opera movie. It actually won (or was nominated) for some Academy Awards. It was also filmed on the same set as the Lon Chaney version. It is nice to see it in color. Susanna Foster’s voice to myself and many others is the voice of Christine. She highly resembles what I would image Christine to look like as well. If you watch NCIS then Tony DiNozzo talks about being a Nelson Eddy fan. Claude Rains you would probably know as either The Invisible Man or Captain Louie Renault in Casablanca.
The music in this movie is some of the best Phantom music around if you aren’t fond of the story watch it for the music alone.
We begin with the performance of the opera. Erique Claudin is a violinist in the orchestra. Raoul is at the opera to talk to Christine, and tells her he loves her. She misses the curtain call and everyone seems to notice. Erique is worried about her missing curtain call as well. He then goes in to talk to the stage manager where he is fired, because his fingers are now unable to play the music. He is poor, and is depending on his concerto “Lullaby of the Bells” to get the money he needs. Lullaby of the Bells is a song that will stick in your hear, but it is beautiful so I am not complaining. It was paying for Christine’s lessons that took his money, but Christine does not know about it.
Erique goes to a music publisher for his music. He overhears someone playing his song (apparently Liszt). He says what it is and is told to leave. He attacks the man for stealing his music and a woman throws acid onto his face. This is the movie that kicked off the burning of the face or acid in the face theme in these movies. Erique leaves into the sewers of the opera.
Claude Rains is only 5ft. 5inches, apparently they added a few inches to his character cause they say that Erique Claudin is 5ft. 8inches. Just found that interested.
Later the new managers are talking about missing costumes, masks and food at the restaurant. They start talking about a ghost at the opera.
Christine is visited by Anatole and sings a lullaby she knows to him. Raoul interrupts her and Anatole singing. Anatole and Raoul do not get along to a comical level. Raoul shows Christine a bust of her, that was found in Erique’s home. Anatole admits that he was making it for her. Some people find it ridiculous, but I don’t mind. Reminding me of a bit that they did in Angel when Spike and Angel try to walk through the same door at the same time. I wonder if this is were they got it from.
In Christine’s dressing room Erique talks to her through the mirror. The second opera begins. Erique pours something in Carlotta’s drink. She falls ill, and Christine has to take over, much to Anatole’s surprise. Susanna Foster really resembles what I think Christine would sound like singing. Carlotta is blaming Anatole for drugging her. On stage Christine hit’s the high G perfectly, beautifully! Susanna Foster is supposedly the only one who can hit that note in history. Erique Claudin listens below stage.
Carlotta is willing to forget that she was drugged if everyone else forgets that Christine sang or she will charge Anatole and Christine for murderer. Erique Claudin threatens her she doesn’t listen so he kills her.
Anatole sees Erique running out of her dressing room so her follows him, with Raoul following Anatole.
They close the opera temporarily. Soon mysterious letters begin to show up. They decide to reopen the opera with someone else singing to lure Erique out of hiding. Anatole and Raoul show up to let Christine know, with more comedy from the two.
Anatole plans to have Liszt play Erique’s music to lure him out. Yes, it is Franz Liszt that is portrayed in this movie.
The opera begins, there people in masks for this opera which tells me they should of chosen a different opera. Because Erique takes out one of the performers and takes his place. Raoul finds the body, then goes around removing the performers mask to try and find him. Erique begins to saw the chain of the chandelier to bring it down…. Still working on the chandelier…The soprano screams the note as the chandelier comes down. Erique goes to Christine and says he will protect her, but takes her down to the lake. Anatole has Liszt play Erique’s concerto, as Raoul goes down to the cellars after Christine. Anatole and some of the actors follow. Erique overhears it, and begins to play. He has Christine sing with. Raoul admits that Anatole had a good idea. They overhear Erique playing the piano and go towards the music. As Christine sings she moves closer to him, and removes his mask. Raoul and Anatole show up and Erique grabs a sword Raoul shoots up into the air and the ceiling begins crumbling and lands on Erique killing him. Raoul, Christine and Anatole get away. There is a beautiful shot of his mask laying on his violin a picture that always is sad.
Later after Christine’s latest performance Raoul and Anatole have her make a decision on who she is going to love, and she chooses her career instead. Anatole and Raoul leave together, and in my head I hear “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”