The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

Robert Englund: Erik Destler, The Phantom

Photos 

Quotes 

• Christine Day : [back in the present]  You're him, aren't you?

  Erik Destler : [gives a sarcastic gasp]  Had you expected someone else? Christine, you have always been my inspiration. You. And now, it's only a question of what you want: Love or music.

  Erik Destler : [after she rips his fake skin off while he screams] 

  [seething in discomfort] 

  Erik Destler : I have waited a very long time for you to come back to me my dear

  [coughing] 

  Erik Destler : We had a bargain you and I

  [barks] 

  Erik Destler : FOREVER!

  [now quietly] 

  Erik Destler : Forever!

  Christine Day : [snatches up one of his surgical tools]  NOT...

  [and stabs him with it] 

  Christine Day : ... FOREVER!

• Erik Destler : Christine, you... you are the angel. You are my voice. Together we'll have London at our feet. Christine, come to me, and I will give you everything.

• Erik Destler : [to Christine]  There is nothing that you could ask for that I would refuse.

• Erik Destler : Up there, those are the actors and the costumes and the scenery. They don't know the soul of the opera. In your dressing room, I could only teach you the words, the notes. But here... here I can teach you the meaning.

• Christine Day : Are you going to kill me now, too?

  Erik Destler : Everyone dies... I only choose the time and place for a few.

  Christine Day : When do you choose for me?

  Erik Destler : [sitting at an organ]  This is either a wedding march or a funeral mass. You decide which.

• [Escorting Christine deep into the sewers] 

  Christine Day : Where are we going?

  Erik Destler : Home. No one can hurt you here.

• Erik Destler : Only love and music are forever.

• Erik Destler : I like it better in the dark. The night is far too short as it is.

• Waitress : How was the opera tonight, sir?

  Erik Destler : An inspiration.

• Erik Destler : You love the music. I am the music. Now you are married to the music. You cannot serve two masters. Do not see another.

  Christine Day : I promise.

  Erik Destler : Tonight, you shall be my bride.

• Prostitute : Good evening, guv'nor. What is your desire tonight?

  Erik Destler : Desire! What do you know of desire?

• [about to take off Erik's mask] 

  La Carlotta : What will I think when I see?

  Erik Destler : You'll just... die!

• Mott : You're a thing from hell.

  Erik Destler : And you, sir, are hellbound!

• Erik Destler : [to Christine]  Your father has sent me. I am your angel. All of your lessons have led to this moment. We will make music that the world will love forever. Take the last step to me. To your destiny. To immortality.

• [the Phantom meets Harrison, the opera critic in a steam room] 

  Erik Destler : Could it be that I saw you at the opera last night?

  Harrison : It's possible, I am the opera critic of the Gazette.

  Erik Destler : Indeed, I found your account of Christine Day's performance, some what troubling. Could it be that we saw different shows?

  Harrison : Ah Ms. Day, I was sorry for her, embarrassed really, the role was beyond her!

  Erik Destler : Then perhaps you weren't afforded a seat befitting your status and your knowledge of the arts. The acoustics are somewhat inconsistent. Should you reconsider your evaluation, I could provide you with a private box.

  Harrison : Sir, you flatter me. But in all truthfulness, I think I would rather die than to listen to that shrieking child for another evening!

  Erik Destler : As you wish!

  [wraps a wet towel round Harrison's head, and squeezes till he cries blood, before smashing his head against a tile wall, then leers as Harrison slides down the wall] 

• The Phantom : Christine...

  Maddie : [chuckles]  My name is Maddie.

  The Phantom : [throwing Maddie onto the bed]  Tonight, your name is Christine.

• The Rat Catcher : I lead the rats away, round them, without me, you will have them crawling all over you!

  Erik Destler : Then lead them to eternity!

• Erik Destler : Still hungry for an introduction!

• Erik Destler : So your bubbling was the work of the opera ghost?

  Joseph Buquet : No it was an accident.

  Erik Destler : But you blamed me!

  Joseph Buquet : It won't happen again.

  Erik Destler : No it won't. Your suspended!