The Phantom of the Opera [1989]

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This is a horror movie. I just wanted to warn you about that.
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The Phantom of the Opera [1989]:
01). Erik Destler… Robert Englund
02). Christine Day… Jill Schoelen.
03). Richard Dutton… Alex Hyde-White.

A lot of people may think me crazy for this one being my favorite. Especially considering not long ago I despised it. I had seen it well over ten years ago, and was not a fan of it. It was also my first ever horror movie so that was a problem as well. I re-watched it recently and found that I loved it. It is amazing how time can change things.
The story begins during modern day New York, and a singer named Christine Day is looking for an original audition piece (which will actually help her, especially if she sings something original instead of the common songs, which shows they know what they are talking about). Her friend Meg finds something old and incomplete called Don Juan Triumphant by Erik Destler. Meg attempts to find the rest of it, and Christine sings a piece of it but blood comes out of the music. When Meg returns the blood is gone.
Christine goes on the audition walking by a poster for Les Misérables. She would actually make a good Eponine, I think. As she sings she seems to be seeing vision of the past, and then a weight for the sets swings down hitting her and breaking a mirror.
We are then transformed back to 19th Century England, and we hear the Phantom for the first time saying “Christine… come back to me!” I love hearing Robert Englund as Erik his voice really is perfect for this. When she wakes (still back in the 19th Century) we are at a rehearsal for Faust and she is playing the role of Siebel. I love this touch because that is the role she was playing in the original novel before getting the role of Marguerite. They send her to her dressing room to rest after getting hit. While their Erik starts to speak to her and give her the lessons and has her practice the role of Marguerite. This really is how I imagined their lessons to go.
Then we have the stagehands talking about the fact that Joseph Buquet was at fault for the accident because he was paying too much attention on eyeing Christine instead of his job. Joseph Buquet then blames the Phantom for it and takes a drink from his flask. When Joseph Buquet is alone he is confronted by Erik. Who says a few wonderful one liners (very Freddy like) then proceeds to kill Buquet and skin him.
A few things to keep in mind for those who don’t know and have been living under a rock! Robert Englund’s best known role is Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, the original ones that is, not the re-loaded. That’s Jackie Earl Haley who I think will do a phenomenal job. That should also tell you the style of movie this is so be prepared. The gory aspects of this movie are not from the original novel, but I will get to that later.
After killing Joseph Buquet, he goes back to his lair and we have a scene in which I have issue watching. He begins sewing flesh on his face to cover his own deformity… Ewww! But, hey he has no nose! So that is a positive. He also does use an artificial one, another positive. He uses a previously lit match to create darker eyebrows. This really doesn’t work… I tried it. I was hoping to find a more natural looking eyebrow because I really don’t have any!
Soon Joseph Buquet’s body is found in Carlotta’s closet. This Carlotta is really a prima donna. But Stephanie Lawrence is also known playing the role of Evita as well. So I am guessing she does her own singing in this. This is actually really good, what little we hear of it that is. Because of being so disturbed by the body of Joseph Buquet, Christine has to sing the role of Marguerite. She does well, I think. Erik watches her with excitement. I like this because just sitting or standing still when watching his prodigy go on stage never made much sense to me. He almost stands up to applaud and then sits back mouthing the word “oops”. This is a touch that I love.
During the performance of Faust we also learn a little bit about Erik himself. Apparently long ago (but how long it is unclear) he made a pact with the devil for his music to live on forever. Recommendation always read the fine print before making a pact with the devil. His music is unknown and he is the one living forever. This is a very Faustian version which actually does work well in Phantom stories. Before leaving the box Erik leaves a rose and a tip for the box keeper which is a nice touch and taken from the original novel, again!
When exiting the theatre Erik is approached by some prostitutes, he ignores the first one, but the second one who resembles Christine he offers his arm too. At first I thought this was ridiculous, but then the novel does mention (before he begins training Christine that is) that there were roses from a woman’s bodice and fan left behind in his box, so maybe he did seek company. The first time you see this movie you would also expect her to be dead by morning. That is not the case before she sees the money he left behind she has a big grin on her face.
After her performance Christine goes out to dinner with Richard Dutton. He admits that he had the intention of proposing to her. But, she says the she wishes to concentrate on her career and talks to him about her “voice teacher”. This is closer to the conversation in the novel.
Also Erik is in a dark corner of a bar working on his music and gets bugged by some of the other patrons. When Erik leaves they follow him with the intention of robbing him. Erik defends himself by using a whip to wrap around the neck of one of the robbers then beheading him and using the head to “bowl” with. He then goes after the last man (Mark Ryan) and they exchange some great one liners. Mark Ryan is actually quite a nice man I meant him when I was in L.A. He then gets out a surgical knife to begin skinning them as well.
The next day Christine is slightly hung over and Meg shows up with her review. Christine reads it and it is a horrible one. The person who wrote the review was actually paid off to do so. Because of this Erik visits the reviewer in the bath house and offers to give him his box to see Christine perform again the reviewer says that he would rather die. Erik of course obliges by killing him with a towel.
Christine leaves to go and visit her father’s grave. Richard follows her as well. While she is there a violin is overheard and Erik is playing it. He tells her to follow him. She does so. Richard tries to stop her but she chooses to go with Erik. This scene is one of the most beautiful and rare scenes in Phantom. We have the graveyard scene in the 2004 movie, but they illuminate the violin from it, which I think is a bad decision. The imagery of him doing this is rare, but to me iconic.
Erik takes Christine to his lair, and shows her around. She finds his Don Juan and asks him to play it and he refuses. The exchange is quotes from the novel. This makes this the only movie to have these. Finally he plays the music for her and she begins to sing it, even though the words are not written yet. If you look closely you can see tears coming out of his eyes. Erik then gives Christine a ring that she is to never remove from her finger saying she is now married to music.
During this Richard Dutton speaks with one of the policeman (an Ahab if anyone gets that) who has been investigating Erik for some time and says the only way to destroy him is to destroy his music. He also shows Richard photos of the skinned bodies.
Richard goes to visit Christine but she refuses to see him, she does slip him a note saying to meet her at the masked ball. She is also having troubles getting the ring off of her finger.
At the masked ball Richard and Christine meet and discuss getting out of there secretly. Richard then leaves to get his carriage. Erik has over heard this and is dressing like Red Death, the first Red Death showing up in Phantom movies since Lon Chaney. He dances with Carlotta, which is actually a cool image. Carlotta wishes to see his face so he takes her to a secret room and shows her as she begins to scream the scene shifts back to the masked ball. Soon food is being served and in the soup dish is Carlotta’s head creating panic.
We are now at the final chase of the movie, Richard, the policeman, and shown the way to the Phantom’s lair by the Rat catcher. They take a few more policemen with them and they of course are killed by Erik on the way. Erik also quotes one of the greatest quotes from the novel “The Requiem Mass or the Wedding March… the choice is yours!” Eventually Richard and the Policeman make to Erik’s lair and Erik kills them both! Wait! He dies in this version! The Raoul character does! I actually like Raoul, so I am not going to cheer for this, though some may. Christine finally fights back and shoots Erik and breaks a mirror. I don’t know what actually happens because we then go back to modern day New York.
Christine wakes up from being knocked out and is informed by the producer that she got the role. The producer is none other than Erik. He takes back to his home for him to change and take her out to dinner to celebrate. He goes to his room where he fixes his face, and she discovers his Don Juan. She recognizes it and when he shows back up talking to her the way he did in… The previous life? The alternate life? I don’t know. He says “Now it is just a matter of what you choose… love or music.” This is actually my ringtone. She reaches up and kisses him and his face is so content. The she reaches back and rips off his mask. His deformity has gotten much worse reminding me of Dorian Gray! Oddly enough is another theme that works well with Phantom, weird. She then stabs him and steals his music burning it and destroying it as he cries out. She still has some of it though and tosses that into the sewers. As she walks away a violinist begins playing the Don Juan. The End.
This movie departs from the novel greatly, but at the same time has the feel of it better than any other version. Robert Englund gets Erik down pat! He gets that he isn’t stoic and has a lot of passion. His voice also matches quite well even though he doesn’t ever sing, but he dos play the violin. The music in this movie is very good as well.
I also like some of the things Robert Englund himself has said about this movie. “A person is free to be themselves when they are hiding behind a mask.” Also “Women are attracted to Erik because he is passionate about music and that is sexy.” He also has said that cashing the paycheck for this movie was the most fulfilling of all the movies he has filmed. He also is proud to be among the ranks of Lon Chaney, Claude Rains and Herbert Lom. Listing them in chronological order, and has also mentioned reading the original novel in High School, which I have a lot of respect for. I also have an autographed photo of him in this movie which he signed (on his own) Erik, the Phantom… Robert Englund. So I might be added these to my love for the movie. But, I don’t care. I highly recommend this version especially if you like horror movies or are a fan of Robert Englund or the Freddy Krueger movies. Well that’s all for now. I have no other ones to review at the moment.

The Phantom of the Paradise [1974]

The Phantom of the Paradise [1974]:
01). Winslow Leach, The Phantom… William Finley.
02). Swan… Paul Williams.
03). Phoenix… Jessica Harper.
04). Beef… Gerrit Graham.

The story is of a composer who has his music stolen by the devil. Who goes by Swan in this. He tries to go after Swan but get caught and thrown into jail where his teeth are all pulled out. He then hears the announcement of his music to be recorded and escapes jail. He tries to destroy all the music but gets his head crushed by a record… thing of the bobber. As he walks around there is this strange Darth Vader like breathing… only the thing is… this is before Star Wars! So it’s not a rip-off.
He then begins to haunt the Paradise. He then meets Swan again and makes a deal with him. He will finish Faust as long as he has control over it. They hold auditions for it again. He hears a woman he had meant earlier… Phoenix. He says that only she is able to sing his music.
Swan helps the Phantom figure out a way to speak because he lost his voice in the accident. They rig up a voice box for him to use.
Soon, Swan has Phoenix moved from the lead to the chorus, and hires a new lead a man named Beef. That is one thing about this movie, really strange names… mostly named from birds apparently.
Beef is sort of the comic relief. The Phantom is not pleased with this and so he threatens Beef to not sing his music. At first Beef listens and starts to leave, but they convince him to stay anyways. While performing Beef gets electrocuted by his guitar. Hey, I just saw an episode of CSI with that. Maybe they were watching this movie.
Phoenix then takes over and the crowd loves her. Soon she is wrapped up in the life of a rock star. The Phantom continues finishing Faust and Swan plans to have Phoenix assassinated onstage because that creates more publicity.
The Phantom learns of this plan by watching some videos some of which involve Swan’s deal with the Devil so he could be young forever, and his true face only show up on pictures…. Apparently he is Dorian Gray! Phoenix also has a deal with Swan aka Dorian Gray as well.
Once the Phantom learns of Swan’s plan he hurries in to save her as well as burning the tapes which will destroy Swan. He stops the assassin, saving Phoenix and then the Phantom rips off Swan’s mask revealing his face that is burning away…. Wait! The Phantom rips off someone else’s mask? That a switch! Anyways, his own mask then gets ripped off and the crowd begins climbing onto the stage. Do they have no security there? How does the crowd not see that people are dying? Oh, well. Soon Phoenix recognized the Phantom as Winslow. She goes over to him as he dies.
So far, this movie is only okay…. Not really to my taste especially in music. Faust isn’t too bad though. I do like Winslow’s costume in it. Most of the other characters in it are driving me nuts! Though Beef is rather comically in his own way. Phoenix’s voice is really nice.
I know I left out a lot but this is only my first viewing. I hear that this movie gets better the second time you watch it, because you know what type of movie it is that you are getting. I do plan on doing this, and do actually hope to like it better. I know that there is a following for this movie. There is also suppose to be a remake of it coming out this year. So I guess we will see what happens.

The Phantom of the Opera [1990]

The Phantom of the Opera [1990]:
01). Erik Carriere, The Phantom… Charles Dance.
02). Christine Daee… Teri Polo.
03). Gerard Carriere… Burt Lancaster.
04). Philippe de Chagny… Adam Storke.

This is probably one of my favorite Phantom movies of all time! This movie introduced me to Charles Dance and Teri Polo. Most people know of Teri Polo from Meet the Parents, but I knew her long before because of her role as Christine. Another great thing about this movie is that it is the only Phantom movie to actually be filmed at the Palais Garnier! This is also one of the few movies that have been approved by the Leroux estate. It also has a stage production as well done by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit, which I highly recommend seeing at some point.
We start out with Christine showing up at the opera hoping to get singing lessons. She is obviously poor, and has no money. She was sent there by the Comte de Chagny, Philippe. She is told that the old manager, Gerard Carriere has just been let go.
Gerard Carriere the old manager of the opera tries to convince the new managers of a Phantom of the Opera residing in the opera. The new manager doesn’t believe him, but is still frightened by a falling statue. Gerard then goes down to the cellars and tells Erik of the fact that he has been let go.
One of the things I love about this movie is that Erik is so sarcastic in it. This Erik is also a much nicer Erik. But, the story seems to make up for it, by giving us Carlotta, who is completely tone deaf. She does not know this nor does her husband who is the manager. Erik notices immediately and threatens (in a joke) to have her killed.
Later Erik overhears Christine singing. She is living in the opera and has been made a costume girl to Carlotta. Erik watches her singing on stage from box 5. It is one of the beautiful scenes in this movie.
Erik watches Christine as she does her job as a costume girl. When the day ends he speaks to her from the orchestra pit while she is on stage. He offers to give her singing lessons but he will wear a mask to hide his face because he doesn’t want her to know who he is. Too bad the Leroux Erik didn’t do this. It may have made things easier.
He gives her the lessons and she improves during it. Carlotta has her Paris debut, which goes horribly wrong due to itching powder in her wig, thanks to Erik. The scene is rather comical actually. During her second performance he “glues” the glass she needs to the tray and that ends up being comically and she is laughed off of the stage. I also noticed the shoes she wears is the same pair Christine wears in the stage production during the Music of the Night scene.
Next Philippe shows up at the opera returning home from business early to find out if Christine showed up. He finds out she is a costume girl. He is also greeted by many other women of the Opera as well. He announces hosting a the company at the bistro that night and invites Christine to show up.
Christine tells Erik about it, and he insists that she goes to sing since they are not holding auditions it is the best way for them to hear her. He provides her with a beautiful dress to wear. When she shows up and sings Carlotta joins her, much to Erik’s annoyance. Erik is listening in from outside. This is actually one of my favorite scenes. The dueling diva’s is something that is really fun to watch, especially Carlotta giving up and leaving Christine to sing.
Philippe introduces Christine to Gerard Carriere and he tells her she reminds him of someone he once knew. Christine then leaves the Bistro with Philippe and Erik watches from the shadows; instead of looking menacing he looks heartbroken.
He then waits for Christine in the ballet hall. Carlotta waits for Christine in the room she was staying in. Christine goes to the Bois with Philippe and he asks were he knows her from. She reminds him that she and her father were servants at his old home.
When Philippe returns her to the Opera she goes to the ballet hall and sees that Erik is no longer there waiting for her. She rests her head on the piano sad for having left him there alone. She returns to her room were Carlotta questions her about her teacher. Christine gives just enough information for Carlotta to realize who it is.
Cholet (the manager) visits Christine and tells her that he is giving her the role as Marguerite in Faust. Later Christine tells Erik about it. He is proud, but still hurt. Christine apologizes about not having meant him and say that she was with Carlotta celebrating. She then immediately admits to lying and says that she is sorry and hugs him for helping her. Erik doesn’t seem to know how to react.
When Christine is getting ready for her performance Carlotta visits her acting as a friend, she gives Christine something to drink to calm her nerves, and instead is poisons her making her loose her voice on stage. When she gets boo-ed. Erik cuts a rope and drops a chandelier onto the auditorium. This ends part one of the mini-series.
One of the things I find interesting in this one is the relationship between Erik and Christine. Since they are face to face so to speak, they are able to develop the relationship better. So you can see why he falls for her quickly and why she cares for him. It is also interesting that Carlotta seems to serve as the bad guy in this as well as the comic relief. I also find it interesting that this movie they seem to get the ages of the characters right as well. Charles Dance was about 50 when he made this and Teri Polo about 20. So the ages seems appropriate to the characters. I liked that little touch. Not much else can be said so onto part two.
Erik has taken Christine off-stage and is taking her with him to his lair. Gerard and Philippe are looking for her. The scene of Erik taking Christine across the lake is rather nice. I also notice how he moves his cloak. They got the details so perfect it really does seems like he is an experienced cloak wearer. The detail on how he moves the cloak at certain times is the way you move a cloak that you use often and do not wish for it to get dirty or damaged. Or they way he is un-shocked by it getting hung up on the punting pole as well.
Christine falls asleep and he carries her to a bed so she can sleep, he sings a lullaby to her (Laissez-moi if anyone knows it). There are policeman now searching for Christine as well. They overhear Erik singing to her and continue searches. Soon they must give up and start returning to the opera, a policeman goes missing. They find his body hanging and one of them grabs a rope to brace himself and something (sorry not sure what) swing down and kills him as well.
Erik goes back up to the opera and learns that Carlotta poisoned her and then goes to Carlotta and dumps a suitcase full of rats on her saying: “Rats for a rat”. This is actually rather nice of him considering many other incarnations of Erik would have done much worse.
Christine wakes up and looks around the lair. She finds a dress there and changes out of her costume into the dress. Erik provides such nice clothing. He has phenomenal taste. She also finds a portrait of a woman there, which highly resembles her. She also finds a doll without a head. This makes no sense to me whatsoever!
Gerard then goes down to the lake and tries to convince Erik to let Christine go back up to the opera. Erik refuses. The feel of this confrontation really reminds me of the feel of the confrontation between Erik and Daroga in the original. Erik states that if they come down after him his defenses will be up. He is preparing barrels of explosive to protect himself from this happening.
Erik continues his work and Gerard goes and visits Christine. He tells her Erik’s name, and why he wears a mask, and that he is Erik’s father. He also explains that her looks and voice remind both him and Erik of Belladova, Erik’s mother. Now, opposite to many other versions of this story Erik’s mother loved him greatly and thought his face beautiful, instead of the normal story. This is why he reacts this way to Christine, now there beautiful relationship is actually kind of creepy. I wish they didn’t add this fact into it. In the original he loves Christine because of her voice, her beauty, and her soul. End of story. Gerard also explains that he has known nothing outside living in the cellars of the opera his whole life. Nor does he know that Gerard is his father. He tries to get Christine to leave with him, but she refuses. She believes that she too can look on him with love.
Gerard leaves and Christine goes to find Erik. He is in a room playing the flute. Now they chose the flute in this version because Charles Dance himself plays the flute. When Christine enters the room he stops and puts on his mask. He then takes her on a picnic in a room he created to look like a forest he calls it his “dreamery”. Can someone please explain this conversation, if they can understand it because I can’t?

Erik: I call this place my dreamery, do find that apt?
Christine: Yes.
Erik: Well apt to what?
Christine: Well apt to what you wish.
Erik: Rightly so.

What the hell was that about! It makes no sense that I can figure out! Are they trying to say that Erik’s sheltered life made him incapable of speaking properly! Someone please explain this to me! I will try to move on now.
Christine talks Erik into showing her his face. He finally agrees and removes his mask, but she is unable to look at him and she faints, he begins crying then screaming and begins to destroy his home. This is probably more heartbreaking than any other version because he willingly shows her his face, she gains that trust in him, and then destroys it.
When she wakes she tries to run away but he grabs her instead. She eventually escapes and he chases her through the labyrinth. But she gets away and finds Philippe and Gerard talking to each other in the rotunda room. Philippe and Gerard take her away from the opera.
They take her to Philippe’s home, where she confesses what happened to them and her regret at leaving Erik alone, and her wishes to return. Gerard leaves to visit Erik and Philippe watches over Christine.
She convinces him to let her return to sing for Erik once more. She uses this to let Erik know that she is sorry. Cholet uses this opportunity to try and catch the Phantom.
Gerard finally tells Erik that he is his father. Erik seems to have already known this. Erik is now dying and wishes to be buried deep so no one can find him. He tells Gerard to come back in a day and that he wishes to die alone. Now, one thing that I liked is that the mannerisms of Charles Dance and Burt Lancaster are very similar in this movie. They way a father and son should be. When you watch this movie knowing that they are father and son it is easy to pick up on.
Gerard returns to the opera and listens to Christine singing. Her voice echoes in the cellars where Erik is able to hear her. He slowly makes his way up towards the auditorium. It takes him the length of the third act to the final trio in Faust to do so.
When he gets there it is the Prison Scene and Christine finally sees him in the box and sings to him “Yes, it is I that love you.” He returns singing to her Faust’s part. Everyone is shocked but they continue until the end of the song. This scene is probably the most beautiful scene in all the phantom movies combined! I can watch just this scene alone over and over again. I must give credit to both Charles Dance and Teri Polo for being able to pull this off so well, also to the people actually singing these parts Michelle LaGrange singing the role of Christine/ Marguerite and Gerard Garino singing the role of Erik/ Faust.
When the scene ends the policeman shoot at Erik, who jumps out of box 5 and onto the stage he grabs Christine and takes her up to the roof. Everyone follows. Erik and Philippe fight up on the roof and Philippe is almost knocked off. Christine begs Erik for Philippe’s life and Erik pulls him back up. He is now surrounded and they wish to take him alive. Erik turns to Gerard and nods at him, Gerard points a gun at him and shoots. Erik falls to the second level of the roof and Christine runs to him crying. She removes his mask and kisses him on the forehead. Erik then dies in Gerard’s arms. Philippe and Christine walk away with Christine’s head resting on Philippe’s shoulders. The end.
It is very difficult to explain this version of the story because it is a mini-series there is so much to it. One of the things I did not mention yet. It how each character is affected throughout the movie. Philippe being one of the major ones, at the beginning of the story he is obviously a bachelor and likes to drink and party (I also get this from the stage production in which he is called the “champagne king”) but once Christine is in his life, he settles down and his love for her is all that matters to him. He also is perfectly willing to risk his life and change it for her.
The person I feel sorry for the most in all this is Gerard Carriere who has to kill his own son to save him. Otherwise Erik would have been put on display. In a situation like that death is the only choice to save someone. There are so many other details in this movie it would take forever to explain. So I recommend that you find and watch this movie! If you don’t know anything else of the story of Phantom other than Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version and wish to find another I recommend starting with this one. This Erik is far more likable then the Andrew Lloyd Webber version as well. Another thing about the Charles Dance Erik is that he is the only one that I know of that can successfully pull off a puffy white shirt. I don’t know what it is, but he can.
Next I will be going out of order again and watching the Phantom of the Paradise. I just got my hands on a copy and have not seen it before. I hear the music is good. After that I have only one other left and it is my favorite version of the movies. Surprisingly.

Angel of Music [2009]

Angel of Music [2009]:
01). Eric/ Erik… Doug Kisgen
02). Kristen/ Christine… Lisa J. Mader.
03). Raymond/ Raoul… Jordan Baranowski.
04). Persing/ The Persian… John Redmond.

I have having to interrupt my normal order of reviewing do to the fact that I managed to lay hands on a copy of the movie “Angel of Music”. This isn’t a normal movie, but a student film actually. It was actually very well filmed. I was amazed at the quality of the sounds/costumes and CGI in it.
The story of it, is a sort of Phantom of the Opera meets The Da Vinci Code. It takes place modern day, but flashes back to when the novel originally took place. There is a cult surrounding the story of Phantom and trying to either protect or destroy the bloodline, it isn’t clear until the end that they are destroying it. Why I am not to sure of, they never give a reason.
The modern day story is extremely shaky, doesn’t make much sense at all. Which is unfortunate because it is the story that dominates the movie. The flashbacks to the original novel, are actually quite good. I really enjoyed seeing those. Especially the scenes that never have made the film before.
It is unfortunate that he didn’t keep to the original story to begin with because otherwise it would have been truly phenomenal. It would have been a must see and have for most phans. I do need to say that they get bonus points for including the Persian in this movie. We also never see Erik’s face in this movie, which is fine. The Charles Dance movie does the same thing, and doing the deformity the way it is suppose to be is not an easy task.
This is not one of my favorite Phantom movies. There are a lot better when it comes to story line. But, this one still beats Love Never Dies, by a mile! It does remain true to the characters in the story. Actually all that they would need to do to have it make more sense is to add a supernatural element to it… “Have Erik of actually been born of a Fossegrim (and old legend that possibly inspired the Angel of Music legend) and they are trying to protect his bloodline because of that. Just that little bit would of improved it a lot.
Also, I am extending these reviews this month because of the opening of LND I am watching as many of the movies as possible. Just my own personal thing. I will also be added to the list another one in which I have not seen but has been around for a while… The Phantom of the Paradise. It is actually suppose to be good and have a decent cult following, if you know what it is you are watching.

The Phantom of the Opera [1986]

Since I already posted my most recent review of seeing the stage musical here I am just going to re-link to it. Also, I do know the picture is of Paul Stanley and not Tim Martin Gleason. I had to use what was easily available at the moment. It is also one of my favorite pictures as well. Next one will be of the 1990 Charles Dance mini-series.

http://illyriasirrationalizations.blogspot.com/2009/11/phantom-of-opera-review-part-1.html

http://illyriasirrationalizations.blogspot.com/2009/11/phantom-of-opera-review-part-2.html

The Phantom of the Opera [1925]

The Phantom of the Opera [1925]:
Erik, the Phantom… Lon Chaney, Sr.
Christine Daaé… Mary Philbin
Raoul, Le Vicomte de Chagny… Norman Kerry.
The Persian (credited as Ledoux)… Arthur Edmund Carewe.

There is so much that can be said about this version of the movie. Unfortunately an entire book could be written. This is not only the first Phantom movie, but one of the movies that Lon Chaney is best known for, along with Hunchback of Notre Dame, London After Midnight. Not only was there drama going on onscreen, but off screen as well. There stories of the making of this movie are almost as fascinating as the movie itself. This also the only one in which Gaston Leroux himself helped make as well. Another thing to keep in mind is that Lon Chaney did his own make-up for all his movies, and this is one of the few movies in which his deformity is very close to the original novel.
The movie starts with the Gala night and in attendance is Raoul, and his brother Philippe. Christine is now Carlotta’s understudy, and is under tutelage of a mysterious teacher.
Elsewhere the retiring managers of the Opera are handing over the keys to the opera to the new managers. They tell them about the Opera Ghost, and how he is to have Box 5. The new managers laugh it off as a joke, and the old managers leave very uncomfortable. So the new managers decide to check out box 5, they talk to the box keeper who has no idea who sits in it. When they enter the box they see someone sitting there. They quickly leave to compose themselves, and then re-enter the box. When they do the mysterious figure has disappeared.
After the performance the ballet girls see a mysterious shadow, so the go to Joseph Buquet who tells them about the Opera Ghost, he describes him as a skeletal figure.
The next day the Prima Donna, Carlotta bursts into the managers office upset at a letter she got from the Phantom saying that Christine should be the one to perform in the Opera as Marguerite.
Christine triumphs at her performance. Raoul goes to visit her in her dressing room, and she claims not to recognize him. When Raoul leaves he listens behind her door and hears a voice speaking to her in there. When Christine leaves, alone, he goes into her dressing room and finds that no one is there.
The next day the managers and Carlotta get a letter stating that if Christine does not sing, they will perform Faust in a house with a curse on it.
Despite the warning they have the performance with Carlotta as the lead. The Phantom’s warning prove to be true. The chandelier comes down part way into the performance.
Christine hurries to her dressing room. Where she is entranced by the mysterious voice. Who then takes her through the mirror and through the corridors of the Opera in a dreamlike sequence. He takes her across the underground lake to his home. Where he tells her who he really is and that he loves her. Christine faints, and he carries her into a beautiful bedroom, where he lays her down comfortably.
When she wakes, she finds a note from Erik, the Phantom. He tells her that she is safe, and never to touch the mask. She then goes out into the other room where Erik is playing his Don Juan Triumphant. Curiosity gets the better of her and she removes his mask. He is enraged at her, and tells her that she will never goes above again. She pleads to him for her freedom. He then agrees that she may go back, as long as she never sees Raoul again.
At the masked ball, Christine defies Erik and meets Raoul, Erik shows up to the masked ball as Red Death. Raoul and Christine go up to the roof where Christine tells Raoul all about Erik. When they leave we see that sitting up on the Apollo’s Lyre listening in was, Erik.
On there way back down from the roof they are told by a mysterious man, the Persian or Ledoux if you read the cue cards, to go a different way.
The next night Christine performs as Marguerite, during the performance she disappears off stage. Raoul, goes looking for her and meets the mysterious man. Who helps him down to Erik’s home. Philippe also goes down there looking for Raoul. Unfortunately he is drowned by Erik.
Then Erik tells Christine she must make a choice and tell him her decision by turning either the Grasshopper or the Scorpion. Christine picks the Scorpion and it begins to drown Raoul, and Ledoux who were in Erik’s heated chamber. Christine begs for their life, and Erik releases them.
Erik then hears a mob coming and grabs Christine and begins running with her. The mob follows them with the help of Raoul. There is a carriage chase sequence, and Christine manages to get away and back into the arms of Raoul. Erik is chased down by the mob who beat him and throw his body into the Seine River. That is where the movie ends.
The ending of the movie differs very much from the story in the original novel. But, that is because of the time it was filmed. They had the original ending where Erik lets Raoul, and Christine go, and Erik cries out in pain and dies of a broken heart. But, the public wanted him to have to pay for what he did. So they had to change the ending. Unfortunately, the original footage was lost. Along with the footage of the graveyard violin scene, but photos do exist of them.
This one is by far one of my favorite Phantom movies. It is also a classic. Both in the Phantom movie genre and horror movie genre’s. If you are not someone who is unsure about silent films this is a great one to start out with. There are very little changes in this movie compared to the original novel. I understand the changes of the ending, because of the time it was filmed in. I don’t understand why they changed Erik back story from the original book, of having him in Persia. They changed it to him being someone who escaped from an insane asylum. They also changed the character of the Persian to a inspector who is chasing Erik to bring him back to the asylum. But, that is only changed in cue cards, if you ignore them, the story remains the same. Which is pretty cool actually.
This movie is also one of the movie to feature the rat catcher as well. Depending on which version you watch the Masquerade scene is in color as well. There are actually many version of this movie and the 1929 re-mastered version is the one I highly recommend. Some of the footage has been cleaned up as well.
I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about this version. How can you criticize such a classic. If there are going to be re-making some of the classics (like Wolfman, which stared Lon Chaney, Jr. by the way). Then they really should try to remain as close to this story as possible. Most of the interesting things about this movie happened behind the scenes. Lon Chaney and the director hated each other so much that they would only talk through notes passed through a third person. Norman Kerry who also hated the director charged him on a horse while filming this movie. Many other interesting facts like this can be heard about on the special editions of this on DVD. I highly recommend checking them out.
One of my favorite lines from the movie is when Erik says “If I am the Phantom it is because man’s hatred has made me so.”
I also noticed that César, the horse is black in this movie, instead of grey like in the book. I am guessing it’s an imagery thing.
Another thing that I like about this movie, is that when Erik is first interacting with Christine he always is either standing a few steps below her. Or has her sitting on the chaise lounge with him kneeling before her. Giving her the higher ground. I always like that little tidbit about this movie.
I also like the line “Barrels, barrels, any barrels to sell” showing up in this…. Some people will get it.
Next time I will be posting a review of The Phantom of the Opera [1986] the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage version.

The Phantom of the Opera [1995]

Ye Ban Ge Sheng (The Phantom Lover) [1995]
Song Danping… Leslie Cheung.
Wei Qing… Lei Huang
Yun Yan… Chien-lein Wu

I had to review this one after watching the movie because of needing to read the subtitles and this is one to catch everything in it you really need to pay attention and because of the cinematography, you don’t want to look away.
This one is the one that moves away from the original story. It combines a story of The Phantom of the Opera and Cyrano de Bergerac together. It is also based on a Chinese movie that was from the 1930’s called Song at Midnight.
There are two stories that told. It begins with the story of Wei Qing and Lan Die who arrives at a burned down theatre, trying to get there theatre troupe up and running. They are working on their own piece that seems to be a failure. A man soon tells Wei Qing the story of the burned down theatre and the man who helped build it… Sung Danping.
We flash back to Sung Danping singing on stage in the role of Romeo in his Romeo and Juliet. Yun Yan watches him on stage. We quickly learn that they are in love but she is to marry a Baron. Yun Yan tries to get a message to Sung Danping to meet her so they can elope but her plan fails, and the Governor burns down the theatre with Sung Danping in it, and Yun Yan marries the Governor but the marriage in annulled after he finds out she is not a virgin. She ends up in the streets and has gone mad. She still shows up at the theatre to hear Sung Danping sing to her on every full moon.
Back to the 1930’s, Wei Qing’s theatre troupe are about to leave. Wei Qing learns that Sung Danping did not die in the fire and is still there in the theatre. Sung Danping gives Wei Qing his Romeo and Juliet and teaches him to sing the role of Romeo, at first Sung Danping sings from a hidden spot for him.
The Baron was there and heard Wei Qing sound like Sung Danping. He meets with them and begins to try and destroy the relationship of Wei Qing and Lan Die. Sung Danping also has Wei Qing wait for him onstage, and he begins singing. Yun Yan shows up believing he is Sung Danping. Because of this Sung Danping has Wei Qing pose as Sung Danping for Yun Yan because she hasn’t smiled that much in ten years.
Later, Yun Yan finally realizes that Wei Qing is not Sung Danping and runs away. That night she sees the real Sung Danping staring at her through the window, and she runs after him. He only stops when the Baron shoots her. Sung Danping goes after the Baron.
Back at the theatre Wei Qing is about to perform in Romeo and Juliet, and the Governor shows up to arrest Wei Qing for killing his son, the Baron. Sung Danping shows up to them know what had actually happened. They arrest the Governor and his son, who is finally brought out tied up hanging from the ceiling (not choking or anything like that). Wei Qing and Lan Die’s troupe will be allowed to continue. Sung Danping and Yun Yan leave together, but she is blinded by the gunshot wound, and he is finally able to show himself to her.
They let us believe that this movie is actually going to have a happy ending until it blacks out and a cue card tells us that a year after the events Yun Yan dies, and Sung Danping lives single for the rest of his life until he dies in 1940.
This is actually one of my favorite version of this story. When Sung Danping sing for Wei Qing it truly goes back to the Svengali origins. I also love how it seems to have a Cyrano de Bergerac feel to it. The robe that Sung Danping wears throughout this version is highly reminiscent of the Don Juan robe in the ALW stage version (which I love). The cinematography in this movie I believe is the best in all the phantom movie there are some scenes that are so artistically done, they just blow me away! The music in this version is also some of the best, especially the pieces from Sung Danping’s Romeo and Juliet because they are composed by Leslie Cheung, the man who played Sung Danping. Unfortunately Leslie Cheung is no longer with us, which is terribly sad. He was phenomenal in this movie and hopefully soon I will finally be able to watch one of his other movies Farewell My Concubine.
On another note, the reason I am doing these this month is in honor of the 100th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera that is happening this month. So, I found it pretty cool when I was done watching the movie and went to go watch the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Men’s Figure Skating, because Patrick Chen of Canada skated to music from Phantom of the Opera. Which was really cool.
Next time I will be reviewing The Phantom of the Opera [1925] The Lon Chaney version and the one that started it all!