The Phantom of the Opera [1962]

Staring:
The Phantom (Professor L. Petrie)… Herbert Lom.
Christine Charles… Heather Sears.
Harry Hunter… Edward de Souza.
Lord Ambrose d’Arcy… Michael Gough.


The movie begins almost immediately with the people of the opera talking about what is happening around the theatre. Music has been destroyed, the leading diva scared by the Phantom.
The opera performed in this piece is Joan of Arc. Which is an ok musical, so far. It is supposedly composed by Lord Ambrose D’Arcy. Who apparently until now had no musical taste. There is also a “mysterious” midget (I dislike calling him the Midget, and calling him Igor is too cliché so I will from here on out call him… Koukol). wondering the opera as well. The Opera gets interrupted by the hanging of “Joseph Buquet”. Postponing the opera indefinitely.
They hold auditions for a new diva. Christine Charles auditions and the Phantom watches. I am not too fond of this Christine, I always thought that either Susanna Foster or Teri Polo matched her better. Herbert Lom voice as the phantom when he speaks to her through the mirror, really does have Erik quality to it.
Then Lord Ambrose D’Arcy takes Christine to a “nice” dinner. During this scene I notice in the background a Persian serving people dinner. Is that a joking allusion to our Daroga?! D’Arcy then tries to take Christine home but she refuses. She gets rescued by the much nobler Mr. Hunter.
Hunter then explains that he believes there is something evil in the theatre. Christine tells him about the voice in the dressing room. She uses the term the voice. I never caught that before, I like that. Another allusion to the original novel. Hunter then has them return to the Opera House to investigate.
They run into the annoying workers of the Opera House. Who annoy them too (thank god), and Hunter sends them on a treasure hunt for a diamond broche, that most likely isn’t there. Cruel, but I’d do it as well.
When in the dressing room they overhear the Phantom’s voice threatening Mr. Hunter. Hey, it’s the rat catcher! “They make a lovely pie, ya know!” “We are vegetarians.” I love that part! Awe, now the rat catcher got killed, damn! Why do they kill him? He doesn’t die in the book! Hunter goes to investigate and Christine encounters the phantom.
She then tells him about it and explains the Phantom and the black mask (it’s actually a shadow, the mask is actually more ivory then black).
D’Arcy then is holding auditions for a new lead after having fired Christine. Hunter gets himself fired, and then goes to visit Christine. He talks to the maid who previously worked with a Professor Petrie. He spots a piece of music and recognizes it as the Opera being performed by Lord Ambrose D’Arcy. Hunter then takes Christine with him to investigate the fire at the printers and the Professor.
Hunter then spends the day with Christine, when he takes her home, she sees Koukol looking in her window, and faints. Koukol then takes her to the Phantom. The is also the only Phantom movie to contain Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor in it. I think it’s appropriate. The phantom’s words here a very close to the book.
Meanwhile, D’Arcy is trying to train the new diva, and is doing so very badly. He also is having disagreements and is dismissing the “Lefevre” of the movie. He then dismisses everyone and then has his temper tantrum. Hunter begins looking for Christine. Who is still having lessons with the phantom.
I hate it when he hits her! Erik was a harsh teacher, but never physically violent because of not hitting a note! I do expect him to be violent when unmasked or betrayed, but not during a vocal lesson! The Phantom then has Koukol get a glass of sewer water to throw at Christine! Eww! Really nice! I hope that only took one take!
Harry Hunter has now overheard Christine and the Phantom singing/playing the pipe organ and has found a boat and is on the way to her.
After the phantom has worked her to the point of passing out for the 2nd time he finally lets her sleep as he plays the pipe organ. In this version I can see her sleeping through that. Which makes me realize that just about all Christine’s would have to be heavy sleepers to sleep through that.
Hey, Koukol is using the reed from the Tonkin Pirates! Those who have read the novel know what I mean. Harry Hunter to the rescue finally. Sort of, first he tells that Phantom that he knows who he is and that the opera is actually his.
Couldn’t they come up with a different name? Professor Petrie just doesn’t sound right. It also reminds me of the Pterodactyl from Land Before Time. Or my roommate of a dish.
We then flashback to what happened to Professor Petrie, and how Lord Ambrose D’Arcy stole his music. But, at least he didn’t recycle it twice! Sorry, couldn’t help that one. He also explains that Koukol saved his life, and that he has always taken care of him. He also wishes to finish teaching Christine, and that that is all that he wishes to do.
The Phantom then confronts Lord Ambrose D’Arcy. Who runs away the moment he sees his face, which is absolutely classic! It’s always great to see the annoying jerk run away in fear!
The look the Phantom and Christine exchange as she begins to sing is really sweet. Heather Sears does make a very good Joan of Arc. That single tear from the Phantom is heartbreaking as he watching his opera finally get performed.
Then we have Koukol getting into trouble backstage. He jumps to the chandelier and starts bringing it down. The Phantom jumps onto stage knocking Christine over so she is unharmed, but instead it kills him.
The movie ends on a close up of the Phantom’s mask. This isn’t one of my favorite phantom movies, but it is definitely worth the see.
In all honesty this is one of the nicer phantoms. But, they completely took out the love story between the Phantom and Christine in this one. It is a good story on it’s own, but doesn’t resemble the book very much. I hadn’t seen it in a while, which is why there are not many comments. The next movie hopefully will have more. The next one is the 1982 Maximillian Schell and Jane Seymour version.