In 2002, Andrew Lloyd Webber decided make a film adaptation of
his successful musical.
He chose the famous director Joel Schumacher to direct it:
"I first met Andrew back in the late 1980s, just after I had made The
Lost Boys, and he talked me about the possibility of me directing
the film version of The Phantom of the Opera. But for some reasons,
the film didn't happen.
Then, in Christmas 2002, Andrew called me and we arranged to meet
up. He asked me again if I'd be interested in directing it...I said yes."
Schumacher decided o shoot the film at Pinewood Studios.
He wanted the feel of the film to have heightened reality to fit with
the soaring ghotic romance of the storyline, so they had to construct
their own Opera House which was a real challenge.
They went to Paris for inspiration and they were guided by the
Opera Paris director whoshowed them all the backstage as well as
all the public areas.
The cast includes Gerard Butler as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum
(who was only 16 at the time of filming) as Christine, Patrick
Wilson as Raoul, Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry, Jennifer
Ellison as Meg, and Minnie Driver (whose vocals have been dubbed
by Margaret Preece, a professional opera singer) as Carlotta.
Driver herself does lend her actual singing voice to the film's end
title song, "Learn To Be Lonely", written by Lloyd Webber and Hart
expressly for the film. The tune for "Learn to Be Lonely" was
originally intended for an additional song to be sung by the
Phantom during the film, "No One Would Listen" (originally to
have had lyrics by David Zippel). It is included as an extra on some
editions of the DVD. There was some controversy among fans in
regard to the performance of "Learn to Be Lonely" at the Academy
Awards, where it was performed by the singer Beyonce Knowles,
along with several other songs nominated for Best Original Song.
Prior to its official release, the film garnered three Golden Globe
nominations in the Musical or Comedy categories: Best Picture, Best
Actress (Rossum), and Best Song ("Learn to Be Lonely"). It won none.
It was nominated for three 2005 Academy Awards: achievement in
art direction, achievement in cinematography, and achievement in
music written for motion pictures (Original song). It won none.
However, the National Board of Review awarded Emmy Rossum the
Female Breakthrough Performance.
You can read the lyrics here, or maybe do you prefer see photos of
the making of ?
Phantom mannequins in New York, see them here!
Latests news from Andrew Lloyd Webber's
website : 16 Feb 2007 - Sequel to Phantom
"I am currently away writing for a couple of weeks. I can confirm
what I told the studio audience whilst on the set of ‘You’re The One
That I Want’ last week in the US, that I am considering writing a
sequel to Phantom of the Opera based on an idea presented to me
over a decade ago. I will be returning to the UK shortly and
hopefully have a blog for you, but let’s just say, I am full of ideas!"
To know more about the sequel, please enter here.
sent me!
