| Veronique Great granddaughter of Gaston Leroux |
Ladyghost and Veronique
I want to thank my friend Veronique, great granddaughter of Leroux
for her friendship, her kindness, charming and this wonderful
interview.
Thank you Veronique, I will never forget what you said to me the very
first time we met: "Gaston Leroux would be proud of you".
Sandra - Do you believe that someone did exist in truth at the Opera
Garnier cellars?
Veronique - Yes, of course! My great grandfather was journalist and he
based his novel in a real fact.
There truly was a man in the Opera cellars, with a deformed face...
Yes, it's true, with no doubt.
Sandra - What percentage of reality has the novel of the Phantom of the
Opera by Gaston Leroux?
Veronique - Let me see...
Sandra - 50%?
Veronique - Quite more, indeed! More than only 50%, quite more.
Sandra - What Phantom of the Opera movie version do you like more?
Veronique - The first one, with Lon Chaney, it is almost completely
based in my great grandfather novel and it is really beautiful. I also
love the last one, very splendid...But I prefer the first movie, it's
more...classic.
Sandra - And the movie which you don't like?
Veronique - Dario Argento's one. It has nothing to do with Leroux's
novel: the Phantom is not deformed and the story itself is not the same.
It is a terrible movie.
Sandra - Can you describe us any anecdote of Leroux?
Veronique - Of course! When he was writing his novels no one made
noise at his home, and when he finished one book, he opened the
window of his room and shot several times his gun to the air.
Then, all his family knew his final work was complete and began to
make noise with all the pots at the kitchen.
He was a bon vivant: he liked good food, good drink and good cigars.
Sandra - What would Leroux think about all the Phantom movie
versions which has been made?
Veronique - He would be very proud to know that his novel is
continuing being adapted into films. His favourite would be the first
one: it is more traditional and classic. Maybe the last one too because
its splendour.
Sandra - Have you seen the musical in live?
Veronique - No and it's a pity! But my mother saw it several times at
London and New York. I know it has opened at Las Vegas with a
reconstruction of the Opera Garnier. For me, going to USA would be
like a pilgrimage and I would love can see all the musicals and the
Opera Garnier of Las Vegas.
Sandra - Did Leroux changed the names of the Phantom characters in
his novel or they are the real ones?
(To make sure her answer, she called by phone his mother, the
granddaughter of Leroux: Madeleine).
Veronique - According to my mother, the names of the Phantom
characters are true, as well as the story itself: a musician who lived at
the Opera cellars...Yes, no doubt, Erik, Christine...the names are real.
Sandra - What book, apart from the Phantom of the Opera has had
more repercussion worldwide?
Veronique - Yes...I think that The mystery of the yellow room and The
perfume of the lady in black are very famous and they have been
adapted into several movies worldwide.
Sandra - What book written by Leroux is your favourite?
Veronique - What a difficult question! I love them all! Le fauteuil
Hante, The mystery of the yellow room, the perfume of the lady in
black, Le Roi Mistere...
Sandra - Have you visited the subterranean cellars of the Opera?
Veronique - Yes, indeed, thanks to a friend of mine I was be able to
visit the cellars, the lake, the roof...it was amazing!
Sandra - What would Leroux think of the millions of readers and fans
he has today?
Veronique - He would be so proud to know his novels are followed by
millions of fans worldwide...! And I'm really proud too, of course.
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
Photos with Veronique at her restaurant in Paris:
for her friendship, her kindness, charming and this wonderful
interview.
Thank you Veronique, I will never forget what you said to me the very
first time we met: "Gaston Leroux would be proud of you".
Sandra - Do you believe that someone did exist in truth at the Opera
Garnier cellars?
Veronique - Yes, of course! My great grandfather was journalist and he
based his novel in a real fact.
There truly was a man in the Opera cellars, with a deformed face...
Yes, it's true, with no doubt.
Sandra - What percentage of reality has the novel of the Phantom of the
Opera by Gaston Leroux?
Veronique - Let me see...
Sandra - 50%?
Veronique - Quite more, indeed! More than only 50%, quite more.
Sandra - What Phantom of the Opera movie version do you like more?
Veronique - The first one, with Lon Chaney, it is almost completely
based in my great grandfather novel and it is really beautiful. I also
love the last one, very splendid...But I prefer the first movie, it's
more...classic.
Sandra - And the movie which you don't like?
Veronique - Dario Argento's one. It has nothing to do with Leroux's
novel: the Phantom is not deformed and the story itself is not the same.
It is a terrible movie.
Sandra - Can you describe us any anecdote of Leroux?
Veronique - Of course! When he was writing his novels no one made
noise at his home, and when he finished one book, he opened the
window of his room and shot several times his gun to the air.
Then, all his family knew his final work was complete and began to
make noise with all the pots at the kitchen.
He was a bon vivant: he liked good food, good drink and good cigars.
Sandra - What would Leroux think about all the Phantom movie
versions which has been made?
Veronique - He would be very proud to know that his novel is
continuing being adapted into films. His favourite would be the first
one: it is more traditional and classic. Maybe the last one too because
its splendour.
Sandra - Have you seen the musical in live?
Veronique - No and it's a pity! But my mother saw it several times at
London and New York. I know it has opened at Las Vegas with a
reconstruction of the Opera Garnier. For me, going to USA would be
like a pilgrimage and I would love can see all the musicals and the
Opera Garnier of Las Vegas.
Sandra - Did Leroux changed the names of the Phantom characters in
his novel or they are the real ones?
(To make sure her answer, she called by phone his mother, the
granddaughter of Leroux: Madeleine).
Veronique - According to my mother, the names of the Phantom
characters are true, as well as the story itself: a musician who lived at
the Opera cellars...Yes, no doubt, Erik, Christine...the names are real.
Sandra - What book, apart from the Phantom of the Opera has had
more repercussion worldwide?
Veronique - Yes...I think that The mystery of the yellow room and The
perfume of the lady in black are very famous and they have been
adapted into several movies worldwide.
Sandra - What book written by Leroux is your favourite?
Veronique - What a difficult question! I love them all! Le fauteuil
Hante, The mystery of the yellow room, the perfume of the lady in
black, Le Roi Mistere...
Sandra - Have you visited the subterranean cellars of the Opera?
Veronique - Yes, indeed, thanks to a friend of mine I was be able to
visit the cellars, the lake, the roof...it was amazing!
Sandra - What would Leroux think of the millions of readers and fans
he has today?
Veronique - He would be so proud to know his novels are followed by
millions of fans worldwide...! And I'm really proud too, of course.
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
Photos with Veronique at her restaurant in Paris:
| Did you know that the lad n black from The perfume of the Lady in black was based in Leroux's wife? |
| The little child in this photo is Veronique's mother. |
| The child is Leroux's daughter. You can see also Leroux in his lawyer clothes. |
| Ladyghost with part of Veronique's collection of the Phantom. |
| Ladyghost and Veronique together with all the original pots and pans where Leroux ate. |
