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Rating:  - The Original Musical Score of Phanton of the Opera
Everyone should see this one before seeing the latest version.
Rating:  - More comedy than horror
The baritone and the inspector steal this movie, The Phantom is only a side note to their attempts to get the soprano.
Rating: - Claude Rains, a man with talent. But as the Phantom, well...
I had to buy this movie, because I am a Phantom completionist. I am a sap and sucker for saying that, but hey, I have a few Phantom Phan-friends who have more than I do. This is part of the Universal Monsters collection, hailed as something of true splendor, and also... who can go wrong with Claude Rains? Honestly, that man is a true god to Classic Hollywood.
Anyway, to the review. I really like this movie, I do. But it could have been better, but the movie's plot, set-design, and actors save it from being a bad buy.
Erik Claudin is a old violin genius. He knows good music like the back of his hand, and has a pretty decent life. You think... for he is using all the money that he could be using for rent to pay for Christine Daaé's tutilage. He is striken with the poor girl, take it granted he is old enough to be her father. (In a deleted scene, she was.) But he refuses to let himself be known to her.
He has written a concerto, a musical masterpice. And when bringing it to the publishers, in hopes of getting money and having true success, he falsely blames them of stealing it and goes into a mad rapage. The man who makes copies at the printing building, gets killed by his hand and his assistant throws "photo acid" on him, burning his skin. Back then, photo acid would perhaps damage your skin, but nowadays it's more non-toxic, but could really damage your eyes. He becomes scarred and falls down a sewer, leaving behind his old "wanted" life...
Meanwhile, Christine Daaé is being seduced by two people. Her on-stage star Antole, and her "captain" of the police, Raoul. I guess you can say--from the book and the musical--the part of Raoul is divided up between both of the characters evenly. Both wish for her hand... but she plays off them as if she has no desire for them.
The opera managers are being menaced by a Phantom, who leaves them threatening notes warning them to "get rid" of Carlotta. They also take note that their Erik Claudin is missing, but have no idea to put two and two together and find out it's really him.
The first half of the movie is rather boring, only when he becomes the Phantom and starts giving threats, making himself visible, does it show real "Phantom" quality. The key elements of the movie is: The Fly-Space/Catwalk Chase, The Final Opera--The Phantom's Outsmarting and Kidnapping of Christine Daaé, and the ending--where she chooses her carrer over the two Raoul's.
Without the deleted "scene" or sub-plot of Erik Claudin being her father, you would be utterly confused on why the "Melody of the Bells" song means so much to her. Nevertheless, the Phantom was always a "Father Figure" to her, so it's not that important. The sets are a real treat, for the Opera House was reused from the 1925 version of Phantom starring Lon Chaney, and when watching it in it's remastered form (the 1925' version) you can tell! And that set still exists on the Universal Backlot.
All in all, it's a pretty delightful movie to watch. Claude Rains is a superb Phantom and the supporting cast are amazing. Though Christine is a little too stupid. I still don't understand why it would be ranked among the Universal Monsters Classics. Clearly the Lon Chaney is more of a monster film that this one.
Rating: - The phantom of the opera shines
The classical horror film genre is a genre that can only be praised.
The impact of this genre upon the cultural universe is undoubtedly familiar.
Flickering candle lights, gothic structured set, legendary characters, and an anti hero villain. The phantom of the opera preserves these elements quite faithfully, though many would mistake it for a musical thriller rather than a masterpiece worthy to be recognized as one of the greatest and memorable of the horror genre.
This adaptation of French novelist Gaston Leroux's immortal horror tale of the disfigured masked musician haunting the catacombs of the Paris opera house is the second made in a chronological order. The 1925 silent film starring the great Lon Changey snr. is the first adaptation of the tale. I believe that the 1925 adaptation is one of the most blood chilling performances of a villain (along with Nosferatu) ,and a beautiful ,if not immortal macabre masterpiece of the silent cinema, as well as a faithful installment to the story. But the 1943 adaptation is a colorful remake of the tale, and the new storyline is thrilling enough, though it has little resemblance to the original novel.
The film tells the story of Erique Claudin,a violinist working at the Paris opera house in mid 19th century France. He has a modest look and a shy attitude, therefore no one can mistake him at the beginning for a madman .He is desperately in love with a beautiful operatic soprano Christine Dubois(The talented and unforgettable Susanna Foster),who is currently an understudy to the arrogant diva Madame Biancaroli.
Anatole Garron(The famous Nelson Eddy) is a baritone trying to win the affections of Foster, and police inspector of the surete Raoul D'aubert(Edgar Barrier) also wishes to
win her affections. Christine has to decide, however, between operatic life and what is usually called "normal life". She is told she cannot do justice to both. An unfortunate case of arthritis in his left hand forces him to be dismissed from the orchestra, and so Claudin is left penniless and desperate. Hoping to solve an important matter and receive money ,he is trying to have a piano concerto he had written for two years be published,but a great misunderstanding make him believe that the publishers he turned to have tried to rob him and steal his life's work. He commits murder and before he can escape his face is terribly burned by acid and he becomes disfigured.
He then escapes to the catacombs of the Paris opera and schemes to make Christine the new star of the Paris opera house and wreck revenge on those who will resist his mad demands. A chain of horrifying crimes starts to take place at the opera house.
The film is very colorful (Shot in an early Technicolor) and the set is absolutely breathtaking and marvelous, while the cast is consisted of thousands of singers, dancers, players and audience members, all of them looking so glorious and marvelous as well. The operatic scenes are an unforgettable part of the film, full of gifted singers (such as Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster), qualified dancers and colorful expensive customs. Some would claim that these scenes take too much of the film's overall length, but I believe they add a lot of beauty and marvel to the horror storyline,(Instead of making the film totally horrifying and dark-something I would not wish to view).Audience who is not an opera lover would probably not be so excited, but I believe that these scenes can haunt most of the people with their glory and beauty .The music soundtrack composed by Edward Ward is absolutely enjoyable, adapting musical themes of composers such as Chopin(Polonaise in A major) and Tchaikovsky(Symphony No.4) into memorable original operatic sequences.
The several moments where the phantom lurks into a scene is frightening enough I believe, and Claude Rains' performance is charismatic and elegant along with its horrifying elements(And I believe Rains does know how to frighten at the right moments-you should observe his masked glance-it makes it chilling enough).
Others may also claim that it is a shame Rains is given too little screen time, but I do believe it is quite enough for the masked phantom-for when he does appear-his appearance is definitely unforgettable. The story line is interesting and wondrous, even if it has little resemblance to the original novel, though the main message of the suffering of the" outcast" character within human society has remained quite the same. The operatic phantom is presented not only as homicidal monster, but as a miserable human being whom suffers and tortured by the power of love and misunderstanding as well, and therefore we can easily feel pity and understanding toward his madness. The ending of the film is thrilling and exciting, building to a terrifying climax where eventually the phantom reveals his disfigured face.
The scenes of Nelson Eddy and Edgar Barrier struggling over christine's affections add a comic sense to the overall film, which is important since a too dull and horrifying film can sometimes make a negative impression.
Te last scene gives a comic relief to the tragic tale, something I admire much than the too dark and gloomy ending of the 1925 adaptation, for example.
Indeed, this film is a true classical legend in the spirit of 19th century gothic tales that can be viewed and read for many years to come.
In conclusion, this lavish production will definitely remain for years to come a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for the Hollywood golden age cinema as well.
Rating: - Phantom of the Opera VHS tape
Even though this video was a used product, it was in excellent condition, and arrived in its original box. The cost for this classic was entirely reasonable at $3.49 plus $2.49 shipping and handling.
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