The Phantom of the Opera
(1998)
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The Phantom of the Opera
(1998)
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| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Julian Sands | ... | ||
| Asia Argento | ... | ||
| Andrea Di Stefano | ... | ||
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Nadia Rinaldi | ... |
Carlotta Altieri
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| Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni | ... |
Honorine
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István Bubik | ... |
Ignace, the rat-catcher
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Lucia Guzzardi | ... | |
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Aldo Massasso | ... |
Pourdieu
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| Zoltan Barabas | ... |
Poligny
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Gianni Franco | ... |
Montluc
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David D'Ingeo | ... |
Alfred
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Kitty Kéri | ... |
Paulette
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John Pedeferri | ... |
Dr. Princard
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Leonardo Treviglio | ... |
Jerome De Chagny
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Massimo Sarchielli | ... | |
Standard story of the Phantom does have one major variation - The phantom is not a disfigured individual, but rather is an unwashed orphan abandoned in the sewers under the Paris Opera & raised by rats. The Phantom invokes death upon anyone who dares harm his beloved rats. In fact, The Phantom's nemesis is the chief exterminator who develops a rat-catching machine. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
Dario Argento's adaptation of Gaston Leroux's classic tale is a below-par offering from the Italian master of horror - but even Argento's worst films still manage to be thoroughly entertaining, thanks to his energetic direction, unconventional storytelling, lavish production values and graphic gore.
Dario's daughter, Asia, is Christine, an understudy at the Paris Opera. Christine is lusted after by suitor Raoul but Raoul has competition in the form of crazy killer, Erik, The Phantom of the Opera. Erik, abandoned at birth and raised by rats in the underground caverns beneath the opera house, uses telepathy to woo Christine and lure her to his lair. Then he bonks her.
Crazy Erik then sabotages the opera house, killing members of the audience and injuring prima-donna Carlotta, which results in Christine becoming star of the show. On Christine's first night, the opera house's ratcatcher (who secretly spied on Erik and Christine getting it on) reveals that Christine is 'the Phantom's whore'. The Phantom rescues Christina from an angry mob, who pursue them underground
Although Dario's film is far from a masterpiece, it is hugely enjoyable thanks to the inventive gore (courtesy of Sergio Stivaletti), wonderfully preposterous characters (the ratcatcher is a scream, as he and his dwarf sidekick take delight in slaughtering rodents) and a good deal of gratuitous nudity.
So, in a nutshell, this isn't classic Argento... but it is fun!