Il fantasma dell'opera (1998)

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Gaston Leroux (novel)
Gérard Brach (writer) ...

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror | Romance

Plot:

Gory remake of the Gaston Leroux classic story, only this time, the phantom is not disfigured, but a man who was raised by rats deep under the Paris Opera House.

Plot Keywords:

Phantom | Opera | Rat | Death | Exterminator

Cast

Julian Sands	...	The Phantom
Asia Argento	...	Christine Daaé
Andrea Di Stefano	...	Baron Raoul De Chagny
Nadia Rinaldi	...	Carlotta Altieri
Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni	...	Honorine
István Bubik	...	Ignace, the rat-catcher
Lucia Guzzardi	...	Madame Giry
Aldo Massasso	...	Pourdieu
Zoltan Barabas	...	Poligny
Gianni Franco	...	Montluc
David D'Ingeo	...	Alfred
Kitty Kéri	...	Paulette
John Pedeferri	...	Dr. Princard
Leonardo Treviglio	...	Jerome De Chagny
Massimo Sarchielli	...	Joseph Buquet

Also Known As:

Dario Argento's The Phantom of the Opera (UK) (video title)
Phantom of the Opera (USA) (video box title)
The Phantom of the Opera (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/gore and sexuality.

Runtime:

99 min | Italy:106 min (director's cut)

Country:

Italy | Hungary

Language:

Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Cine 2000

Trivia:

Rumour has it that Dario Argento's original cut of the film ran almost an hour longer and that the version which was finally released, has been heavily re-cut and changed by the producers to assure the film's appeal to wider audiences.

Quotes:

The Phantom: Medusa will always lead you to my kingdom

Movie Connections:

Version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Soundtrack:

Lakmé: Air des clochettes

A fun gross out

I believe that this version of Phantom of the Opera is one of the most unique ideas I've seen -- and believe me, I've seen a lot. I had to special order this movie just to satisfy my curiosity about it!

Phantom of the Opera - with Julian Sands - is a remarkable movie, despite it's outrageous amount of downfalls such as cheesy script. Yet there are several very good points which I will not get into at the moment. I adore the costumes for this movie - such as the overweight Carlotta's dresses. If a smaller woman were wearing the same style dress, it would look like it belonged on a Goddess...

Yes, Phantom of the Opera has it's major downfalls such as a lousy script, completely needless gore, and even over-dramatized scenes. Yet one of the only reasons I bought this film - other than the fact that it was titled Phantom of the Opera - was because of Julian Sands. It isn't his fault that he got a lousy script for a film that could've been done better.

I recommend that if you have not seen Julian Sands in any of his other films, then watch Warlock, Gothic, or any other number of his films. He is a spectacular actor when given the chance... and cute too!