Phantom of the Opera (1943)

This is the story of a disfigured violinist who haunts the Paris Opera House

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Gaston Leroux (novel), Samuel Hoffenstein,

Stars:

Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, Claude Rains

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nelson Eddy	...	Anatole Garron
Susanna Foster	...	Christine Dubois
Claude Rains	...	Erique Claudin
Edgar Barrier	...	Raoul D'Aubert
Leo Carrillo	...	Signor Ferretti
Jane Farrar	...	Biancarolli
J. Edward Bromberg	...	Amiot
Fritz Feld	...	Lecours
Frank Puglia	...	Villeneuve
Steven Geray	...	Vereheres
Barbara Everest	...	The Aunt
Hume Cronyn	...	Gerard
Fritz Leiber	...	Franz Liszt
Nicki Andre	...	Madame Lorenzi
Gladys Blake	...	Jeanne

Storyline

Pit violinist Claudin hopelessly loves rising operatic soprano Christine Dubois (as do baritone Anatole and police inspector Raoul) and secretly aids her career. But Claudin loses both his touch and his job, murders a rascally music publisher in a fit of madness, and has his face etched with acid. Soon, mysterious crimes plague the Paris Opera House, blamed on a legendary "phantom" whom none can find in the mazes and catacombs. But both of Christine's lovers have plans to ferret him out.

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Plot Keywords:

opera | inspector | music publisher | phantom | acid | 

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Taglines:

A cast of thousands!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Music | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Het spook van de opera

Filming Locations:

Stage 28, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite his fearsome reputation Susanna Foster remembered 'Jack Pierce' as being a sweet caring man that took the time to teach her how to apply her makeup to best suit her features, despite the fact that he was not assigned to work with her. Any time that he saw her where she was not made up as he had suggested he would pretend to be mad and tell her off, saying "You are not doing what I said".

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Goofs

When Christine takes the mask off from Phantom's face, we see that his scar reaches the low area of his right cheek, even the right eyelid is slightly fallen. But before that during the entire film, we never see a single mark of the scar on the uncover area of the Phantom's face, not even the fallen eyelid through the mask.

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Quotes

Enrique Claudin: Mademoiselle, may I speak to you for a minute?
Christine DuBois: Why, of course.
Enrique Claudin: You weren't on the stage tonight for the third act curtain call.
Christine DuBois: Everyone seems to notice. It's really quite flattering.
Enrique Claudin: [Becoming concerned] Why weren't you there?
[Christine is puzzled]
Enrique Claudin: Forgive me, but I have been a part of the Opera for so long. Everybody, everything connected with it, I feel it is so much a part of my life.
[Christine pauses, then smiles]
Christine DuBois: Yes, well, Monsieur Villeneuve is waiting for you.
Enrique Claudin: You weren't ill, were you?...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

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Soundtracks

"MARTHA (Act III, opera excerpt)"
(uncredited)
Written by Friedrich von Flotow
Lyrics translated by William von Wymetal
Sung by Nelson Eddy, Jane Farrar (dubbed by Sally Sweetland), Susanna Foster & company

User Reviews

Not really a horror movie, more a romantic melodrama. Lavishly produced and Claude Rains is excellent.

Anybody approaching 'Phantom Of The Opera' as a horror movie will probably be disappointed, but if you look upon it as a romantic melodrama it's pretty entertaining. The sets (mostly recycled from the twenties version) are lavish, the music is strong and the performances are good, especially the wonderful Claude Rains ('The Invisible Man', 'Casablanca', 'Notorious') who is excellent (as always). The rest of the cast includes songbirds Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster, the late Hume Cronyn in a bit part, and a nice cameo from Fritz Leiber (the father of the famous science fiction and fantasy writer Fritz Leiber, Jr) as Franz Liszt. 'Phantom Of The Opera' is far from my favourite Universal horror movie but I still enjoyed it and it's worth watching, though I think in many ways the Hammer remake in the 1960s starring Herbert Lom is a better movie.