Phantom Movies
Spoilers warning
There have been multiple movie adaptations of Leroux's novel.
Click in titles to see photos of each movie.
The Phantom of the Violin, 1915.
This is a strange movie. Made in black and white colors, it has only 40
minutes. Made by one of the Universal Studios it remains hidden still
now. Maybe this is the very first Phantom movie ever made, but it
disappeared forever.
The 1925 film version of The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon
Chaney, and directed by Rupert Julian, is the first Phantom movie
which was made and one of the more influential adaptations of
Gaston Leroux's novel . It is most famous for Lon Chaney's
intentionally horrific, self-applied makeup which was kept a studio
secret until the film's premier.
In addition to Chaney, the film also stars Mary Philbin, Norman
Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis and
Snitz Edwards. The only surviving cast member is Carla Laemmle
(born in 1909), niece of producer Carl Laemmle, who played a small
role as "prima ballerina" in the film when she was about 15.
The movie was adapted by Elliott J. Clawson, Frank M. McCormack
(uncredited), Tom Reed (titles) and Raymond L. Schrock. It was
directed by Edward Sedgwick (uncredited), Lon Chaney (uncredited),
and Rupert Julian.
An important point is the problems between Chaney and Julian.
Friction between the perfectionist star and the arrogant auteur had
bright the production to standstill. When Carl Laemmle learned of all
these difficulties, he screened a rough cut of the movie and was
disappointed by what he saw so he fired Julian and hired Edward
Sedgewick.
Some scenes where cut: the graveyard, the final where Erik is dying of
love, etc.
Song at Midnight, a version of the Phantom from China, 1941.
A Chinese film which shows the Phantom legend in a very simple
way.
Next celebrated movie is the one released in 1943. The plot is really
different from Leroux's original story:
Erik Claudin is an aging violinist of the Paris Opera and is madly in
love with Christine Dubois--a soprano showing much promise. After
being dismissed--a violinist with arthritic hands seems rather
pointless--he tries to have his life's work by publishing a brilliant
concerto written around the melody of Lullaby of the Bells. While at
the publisher, he hears his music being played in another room.
Driven mad believing that his work was stolen he strangles the
publisher. Little did he know that the music was merely being
endorsed and praised by Franz Liszt. After murdering the cynical
publisher, his face is scarred with etching acid by the publisher's
lovely assistant, Georgette. He flees the office and hides in the sewers
that run underneath the mammoth Paris Opera House.
This film, for its time, held many stars such as Nelson Eddy, Susanna
Foster, Claude Rains, and Edgar Barrier. Edgar Barrier not only starred
in this film, but he also wrote the lyrics to its theme: Lullaby of the
Bells.
This version is more a musical spectacular than a bizarre thriller:
during Second World War, horror movies were almost prohibited in
order to not descend people's morale. Studio executives became very
cautious and may have insisted in record a remake of the Phantom
focus more in the opera than horror.
El Fantasma de la Opereta (1960).
Mexican movie.The enthusiasm of the waiter Aldo (German Valdes
Tin Tan) for the young vedette Lucy (Ana Luisa Pluffo) unties a
pitched battle among the public of the cabaret The Flamboyán and
provokes that the owner of the place dismiss them. Decided by all
means to achieve Lucy's triumph, Aldo convinces her of that he
attempt doing a season at the operetta's abandoned theater. What he
does not know the fact is that a ghost that will end up falling in love
hopelessly with the young singer, takes refuge in the theater.
El Fantasma de la Opera, 1960.
A version from Argentina, in mini-series format made by the famous
Narciso Ibañez Menta.
The rumors say that he had important troubles to finish it and once he
did, the whole film was on fire.
The Phantom of the Opera (1962) with the famous Herbert Lom as the
Phantom. In this version of the story, set in Victorian London,
Professor L. Petrie (played by Lom) is the Phantom, a penniless
unpublished composer whose work is stolen from him by Lord
Ambrose D'Arcy (Michael Gough) who claims Petrie's opera as his
own work. Petrie is then disfigured by nitric acid in an attempt to
destroy printing plates and disappears. Christine Charles (Heather
Sears) is a young opera singer being secretly trained by Petrie and her
charming and brave but ineffectual beau, Harry Hunter (Edward de
Souza), is the producer of the opera. There is also an dwarf assistant
to the Phantom who does most of the "dirty work" and hides Petrie in
the sewer beneath the opera house. After avenging himself on D'Arcy,
the Phantom makes Christine a star in his lavish opera based on Joan
of Arc. At the film's conclusion, the is Phantom impaled by the falling
chandelier as he attempts to save Christine.
"It was wonderful to play such a part, but I was disappointed with the
picture," Lom says. "This version of the famous Gaston Leroux story
dragged. The Phantom wasn't given enough to do, but at least I wasn't
the villain, for a change. Michael Gough was the villain."
The Phantom of the Paradise (1974) was another famous Phantom
movie.
The story follows a music composer and singer named Winslow Leach
(played by William Finley) and his journey through in which his
cantata "Faust" is stolen by satanic record producer, Swan (played by
Paul Williams). Winslow falls for Phoenix, an aspiring singer (played
by Jessica Harper), but is framed for drug dealing by Swan's minions.
After his teeth are removed and replaced with metal in prison,
Winslow goes berserk, escapes and tries to destroy Swan's record
factory. His face mutilated and voice ruined in a record press accident,
Winslow sneaks into Swan's concert hall and residence, the Paradise,
and wears a mask and dark costume so he can terrorize Swan's
musicians. Winslow confronts Swan, who offers the composer the
chance to have his music produced and the return of his voice, in
exchange for signing a contract in blood. Winslow agrees, on the
condition that Phoenix is the lead singer.
Swan becomes infatuated with Phoenix, but breaks the deal and puts
a male prima donna named Beef in the lead of Winslow's "Faust".
Winslow kills Beef, then learns that Swan made a Pact with the Devil
years ago. The contract means that Swan can't die unless Winslow
dies too. The story ends with Winslow crashing Swan's wedding to
Phoenix and exposing him as a monster on live television.
The movie was directed by Brian de Palma and the soundtrack was
composed and written by Paul Williams.
This is a very interesting movie because it shows (through an ironic
way)how beauty can be evil and ugliness can be weak and kind.
The Phantom of the Opera (1983), a movie for TV where Maximilien
Schell was the Phantom.Elena (Jane Seymour, in the first of two
roles), the wife of a noted conductor makes her debut at the Budapest
Opera House. His husband and tutor (Schell) has been training her for
years and he wishes to see her success. Unfortunately, the Opera
director together with a jealous theatre critic want to see her fail and
arrange for her debut to be a disastrous one. Together, they conspire to
have her declared an incompetent talent. A series of bad reviews,
drive the young singer to suicide. Trying to revenge his wife, Shandor
Korvin he accidentally pours an acid bottle over his face. Disfigured,
he only will be help by a rat catcher, who will guide him into the
Opera cellars where he will live for next 4 years. Then, a young singer
named Maria Gianelli (Jane Seymour again) seeking a job arrives to
Budpest Opera trying to be part of Faust. Michael Hartnell (Michael
York), a noted British conductor hires her over the objections of the
resident diva Madame Bianchi (Diana Quick).
Korvin emerges from the shadows when he listens Maria and almost
in darkness he tells her in her dressing room he wants to teach her in
his own home. Maria accepts and the music lessons begin.
But after the Masquerade, he takes her to his mysterious subterranean
world. She demands her freedom but he confesses his undying
affection. His madness clouds the reality of her identity: for him, she
is still his wife Elena. Maria takes his mask off revealing his horrible
face, but pitied she goes on signing. Meanwhile, the Phantom murders
are being discovered and police is trying to catch him.
At the gala night the Phantom sees his nemesis in the stalls (the
Opera director) and tries to kill him bringing down the chandelier,
but when the director cedes his seat to Maria, he realized his error.
It's too late; the chandelier falls and though Maris is safe, the
Phantom doesn't survive.
Robert Englund starred in The Phantom of the Opera movie of 1989.
The plot is really interesting:
Christine Day is a young broadway singer in New York City. She is
auditioning for a show and finds a piece of music written by an
unknown music composer named Erik Destler nearly 100 years before.
Erik had made a pact with the devil so the world would love his
music, but the devil had one condition that Erik's face would be
mutilated forever, so the world would love his music, but not his
creator. Once Christine sings his music, she is taken from present day
New York to 1898 London , were she will become the star of the
London Opera House. There she is taught by a mysterious caped
figure who will do anything to make her the star of the opera even if
it means murdering people, and the figure is none other than Erik
Destler himself.
Englud said: "Coming up with a complete Erik Destler really tested
me as an actor. At first I was very nervous because I knew I wasn't
just doing Freddy again. I needed time to work into the role, to create
a character that could be menacing one moment and romantic the
next".
Robert Englund is Erik Destler/The Phantom , Jill Schoelen is the
young Christine Day, and Alex Hyde-White is Richard Dutton
(Raoul). If you want to read my interview to Robert Englund, click
here.
In 1990, the Phantom story was made into a mini-serie with Charles
Dance as the Phantom, Teri Polo as Christine and Burt Lancaster as
Erik's father.
This movie is based in Yeston and Kopit Phantom musical and the
story is the same. It was filmed at the real Opera House in Paris and it
was very acclaimed.
The Phantom Lover, 1995.
Hong Kong film starring Leslie Cheung and Jacqueline Wu. It was
directed by Ronnie Yu and is a remake of the 1937 film Song at
Midnight.
The Phantom of the Megaplex, 2000.
The only Disney Phantom related movie.
A funny version which has never been on DVD.
There had been another versions such as Dario Argento's one in 1998
(which critics qualified as disastrous), The Phantom of the Mall, The
Phantom of the Studio, Il Vampiro dell Opera...or a curious animated
version made in 1987.
Spoilers warning
There have been multiple movie adaptations of Leroux's novel.
Click in titles to see photos of each movie.
The Phantom of the Violin, 1915.
This is a strange movie. Made in black and white colors, it has only 40
minutes. Made by one of the Universal Studios it remains hidden still
now. Maybe this is the very first Phantom movie ever made, but it
disappeared forever.
The 1925 film version of The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon
Chaney, and directed by Rupert Julian, is the first Phantom movie
which was made and one of the more influential adaptations of
Gaston Leroux's novel . It is most famous for Lon Chaney's
intentionally horrific, self-applied makeup which was kept a studio
secret until the film's premier.
In addition to Chaney, the film also stars Mary Philbin, Norman
Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis and
Snitz Edwards. The only surviving cast member is Carla Laemmle
(born in 1909), niece of producer Carl Laemmle, who played a small
role as "prima ballerina" in the film when she was about 15.
The movie was adapted by Elliott J. Clawson, Frank M. McCormack
(uncredited), Tom Reed (titles) and Raymond L. Schrock. It was
directed by Edward Sedgwick (uncredited), Lon Chaney (uncredited),
and Rupert Julian.
An important point is the problems between Chaney and Julian.
Friction between the perfectionist star and the arrogant auteur had
bright the production to standstill. When Carl Laemmle learned of all
these difficulties, he screened a rough cut of the movie and was
disappointed by what he saw so he fired Julian and hired Edward
Sedgewick.
Some scenes where cut: the graveyard, the final where Erik is dying of
love, etc.
Song at Midnight, a version of the Phantom from China, 1941.
A Chinese film which shows the Phantom legend in a very simple
way.
Next celebrated movie is the one released in 1943. The plot is really
different from Leroux's original story:
Erik Claudin is an aging violinist of the Paris Opera and is madly in
love with Christine Dubois--a soprano showing much promise. After
being dismissed--a violinist with arthritic hands seems rather
pointless--he tries to have his life's work by publishing a brilliant
concerto written around the melody of Lullaby of the Bells. While at
the publisher, he hears his music being played in another room.
Driven mad believing that his work was stolen he strangles the
publisher. Little did he know that the music was merely being
endorsed and praised by Franz Liszt. After murdering the cynical
publisher, his face is scarred with etching acid by the publisher's
lovely assistant, Georgette. He flees the office and hides in the sewers
that run underneath the mammoth Paris Opera House.
This film, for its time, held many stars such as Nelson Eddy, Susanna
Foster, Claude Rains, and Edgar Barrier. Edgar Barrier not only starred
in this film, but he also wrote the lyrics to its theme: Lullaby of the
Bells.
This version is more a musical spectacular than a bizarre thriller:
during Second World War, horror movies were almost prohibited in
order to not descend people's morale. Studio executives became very
cautious and may have insisted in record a remake of the Phantom
focus more in the opera than horror.
El Fantasma de la Opereta (1960).
Mexican movie.The enthusiasm of the waiter Aldo (German Valdes
Tin Tan) for the young vedette Lucy (Ana Luisa Pluffo) unties a
pitched battle among the public of the cabaret The Flamboyán and
provokes that the owner of the place dismiss them. Decided by all
means to achieve Lucy's triumph, Aldo convinces her of that he
attempt doing a season at the operetta's abandoned theater. What he
does not know the fact is that a ghost that will end up falling in love
hopelessly with the young singer, takes refuge in the theater.
El Fantasma de la Opera, 1960.
A version from Argentina, in mini-series format made by the famous
Narciso Ibañez Menta.
The rumors say that he had important troubles to finish it and once he
did, the whole film was on fire.
The Phantom of the Opera (1962) with the famous Herbert Lom as the
Phantom. In this version of the story, set in Victorian London,
Professor L. Petrie (played by Lom) is the Phantom, a penniless
unpublished composer whose work is stolen from him by Lord
Ambrose D'Arcy (Michael Gough) who claims Petrie's opera as his
own work. Petrie is then disfigured by nitric acid in an attempt to
destroy printing plates and disappears. Christine Charles (Heather
Sears) is a young opera singer being secretly trained by Petrie and her
charming and brave but ineffectual beau, Harry Hunter (Edward de
Souza), is the producer of the opera. There is also an dwarf assistant
to the Phantom who does most of the "dirty work" and hides Petrie in
the sewer beneath the opera house. After avenging himself on D'Arcy,
the Phantom makes Christine a star in his lavish opera based on Joan
of Arc. At the film's conclusion, the is Phantom impaled by the falling
chandelier as he attempts to save Christine.
"It was wonderful to play such a part, but I was disappointed with the
picture," Lom says. "This version of the famous Gaston Leroux story
dragged. The Phantom wasn't given enough to do, but at least I wasn't
the villain, for a change. Michael Gough was the villain."
The Phantom of the Paradise (1974) was another famous Phantom
movie.
The story follows a music composer and singer named Winslow Leach
(played by William Finley) and his journey through in which his
cantata "Faust" is stolen by satanic record producer, Swan (played by
Paul Williams). Winslow falls for Phoenix, an aspiring singer (played
by Jessica Harper), but is framed for drug dealing by Swan's minions.
After his teeth are removed and replaced with metal in prison,
Winslow goes berserk, escapes and tries to destroy Swan's record
factory. His face mutilated and voice ruined in a record press accident,
Winslow sneaks into Swan's concert hall and residence, the Paradise,
and wears a mask and dark costume so he can terrorize Swan's
musicians. Winslow confronts Swan, who offers the composer the
chance to have his music produced and the return of his voice, in
exchange for signing a contract in blood. Winslow agrees, on the
condition that Phoenix is the lead singer.
Swan becomes infatuated with Phoenix, but breaks the deal and puts
a male prima donna named Beef in the lead of Winslow's "Faust".
Winslow kills Beef, then learns that Swan made a Pact with the Devil
years ago. The contract means that Swan can't die unless Winslow
dies too. The story ends with Winslow crashing Swan's wedding to
Phoenix and exposing him as a monster on live television.
The movie was directed by Brian de Palma and the soundtrack was
composed and written by Paul Williams.
This is a very interesting movie because it shows (through an ironic
way)how beauty can be evil and ugliness can be weak and kind.
The Phantom of the Opera (1983), a movie for TV where Maximilien
Schell was the Phantom.Elena (Jane Seymour, in the first of two
roles), the wife of a noted conductor makes her debut at the Budapest
Opera House. His husband and tutor (Schell) has been training her for
years and he wishes to see her success. Unfortunately, the Opera
director together with a jealous theatre critic want to see her fail and
arrange for her debut to be a disastrous one. Together, they conspire to
have her declared an incompetent talent. A series of bad reviews,
drive the young singer to suicide. Trying to revenge his wife, Shandor
Korvin he accidentally pours an acid bottle over his face. Disfigured,
he only will be help by a rat catcher, who will guide him into the
Opera cellars where he will live for next 4 years. Then, a young singer
named Maria Gianelli (Jane Seymour again) seeking a job arrives to
Budpest Opera trying to be part of Faust. Michael Hartnell (Michael
York), a noted British conductor hires her over the objections of the
resident diva Madame Bianchi (Diana Quick).
Korvin emerges from the shadows when he listens Maria and almost
in darkness he tells her in her dressing room he wants to teach her in
his own home. Maria accepts and the music lessons begin.
But after the Masquerade, he takes her to his mysterious subterranean
world. She demands her freedom but he confesses his undying
affection. His madness clouds the reality of her identity: for him, she
is still his wife Elena. Maria takes his mask off revealing his horrible
face, but pitied she goes on signing. Meanwhile, the Phantom murders
are being discovered and police is trying to catch him.
At the gala night the Phantom sees his nemesis in the stalls (the
Opera director) and tries to kill him bringing down the chandelier,
but when the director cedes his seat to Maria, he realized his error.
It's too late; the chandelier falls and though Maris is safe, the
Phantom doesn't survive.
Robert Englund starred in The Phantom of the Opera movie of 1989.
The plot is really interesting:
Christine Day is a young broadway singer in New York City. She is
auditioning for a show and finds a piece of music written by an
unknown music composer named Erik Destler nearly 100 years before.
Erik had made a pact with the devil so the world would love his
music, but the devil had one condition that Erik's face would be
mutilated forever, so the world would love his music, but not his
creator. Once Christine sings his music, she is taken from present day
New York to 1898 London , were she will become the star of the
London Opera House. There she is taught by a mysterious caped
figure who will do anything to make her the star of the opera even if
it means murdering people, and the figure is none other than Erik
Destler himself.
Englud said: "Coming up with a complete Erik Destler really tested
me as an actor. At first I was very nervous because I knew I wasn't
just doing Freddy again. I needed time to work into the role, to create
a character that could be menacing one moment and romantic the
next".
Robert Englund is Erik Destler/The Phantom , Jill Schoelen is the
young Christine Day, and Alex Hyde-White is Richard Dutton
(Raoul). If you want to read my interview to Robert Englund, click
here.
In 1990, the Phantom story was made into a mini-serie with Charles
Dance as the Phantom, Teri Polo as Christine and Burt Lancaster as
Erik's father.
This movie is based in Yeston and Kopit Phantom musical and the
story is the same. It was filmed at the real Opera House in Paris and it
was very acclaimed.
The Phantom Lover, 1995.
Hong Kong film starring Leslie Cheung and Jacqueline Wu. It was
directed by Ronnie Yu and is a remake of the 1937 film Song at
Midnight.
The Phantom of the Megaplex, 2000.
The only Disney Phantom related movie.
A funny version which has never been on DVD.
There had been another versions such as Dario Argento's one in 1998
(which critics qualified as disastrous), The Phantom of the Mall, The
Phantom of the Studio, Il Vampiro dell Opera...or a curious animated
version made in 1987.
