The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer.

Directors:

Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney (uncredited)

Writer:

Gaston Leroux (from the 1910 celebrated novel by)

Stars:

Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lon Chaney	...	The Phantom
Mary Philbin	...	Christine Daae
Norman Kerry	...	Vicomte Raoul de Chagny
Arthur Edmund Carewe	...	Ledoux
Gibson Gowland	...	Simon Buquet
John St. Polis	...	Comte Philip de Chagny (as John Sainpolis)
Snitz Edwards	...	Florine Papillon
Mary Fabian	...	Carlotta
Virginia Pearson	...	Carlotta / Carlotta's Mother

Storyline

At the Opera of Paris, a mysterious phantom threatens a famous lyric singer, Carlotta and thus forces her to give up her role (Marguerite in Faust) for unknown Christine Daae. Christine meets this phantom (a masked man) in the catacombs, where he lives. What's his goal ? What's his secret ?

---

Plot Keywords:

opera | singer | underground | opera house | mask | 

---

Taglines:

The greatest horror film of modern cinema!

---

Genres:

Horror

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Release Date:

15 November 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

Phantom of the Opera

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross USA:

$720,861, 31 December 1926

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 101 min (original) 92 min (1995) 107 min (DVD) 106 min (Ontario) 95 min (1929 re-release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (talking sequences, musical score and sound effects) (1929 re-release) Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (2-strip Technicolor) (some sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank Eames was cast as the Persian but, ironically enough, his character was changed to an inspector of the Surete when the title cards were being edited in postproduction. lronic, because Frank Eames was the stage name of a Hungarian born actor.

---

Goofs

During the coach chase, Chaney did not apply the Phantom's skull-face makeup to his nose.

---

Quotes

The Phantom: [to Christine] I have brought you here - five cellars underground - because I love you! For long weary months I have awaited this hour! So that which is good within me, aroused by your purity, might plead for your love.

---

Crazy Credits

In 1925 (and for many years afterwards), credits used to appear at the beginning of movies. In "The Phantom of the Opera", the credits do appear at the beginning and are also repeated at the end, preceded by the following caption: "This is repeated at the request of picture patrons who desire to check the names of performers whose work has pleased them."

---

Alternate Versions

The original cut featured extra scenes between Christine and Raoul (one just after the Phantom starts visiting her and an epilogue, both in a garden), and much of the business between the owners of the opera house changing hands and the first few murders are sequences that appear to have been switched for the 1929 recut.

---

Connections

Version of Phantom of the Opera (1943)

User Reviews

Amazing

Turner Classic Movies owns a restored copy of this film, which I saw from beginning to end for the first time last night. Thanks Ted!

For an 80 year old film, I was honestly swept away by the strengths of this production. OK, once you get past some of the hammy acting, remembering that it was completely de reguer for the time, you get caught up in it.

It has a very steady editing pace, which carries you along in the story, and so there are few, if any, slow points. The plotting and narrative are clear, there are no ' what did he say/mean' moments. The characters are pretty well filled out (there are a few exceptions, most notable the character of the boyfriend/hero) and so the plot wraps around you easily and enjoyably. The production values are amazingly high in this film, the recreation of the Opera (the grand staircase, the auditorium and the stage) the underground (the Phantom's lair, the underground river, the chambers and sub-chambers) and the exteriors were all created in Hollywood full scale. Unlike now, when we would have gotten some truly terrible CGI trash, when that chandelier drops from ceiling…it's a real chandelier, it's a real ceiling and its really COOL!

Cant leave out the amazing secret that few if any talk about, but did you know that not only are certain scenes single color tinted, but there is an amazing 2 strip Technicolor sequence, the Masked Ball, that takes place on the grand staircase. Further, there is an stunning sequence that takes place on the roof of the Opera, the Phantom lurking on the parapet, his 'Red Death' costume from the ball billowing behind him in the wind while he stalks the heroine.

If you are expecting buckets of blood and Spiderman-like effects, this isn't the film for you. If you are looking for a fun film with romance, adventure and thrills in it, if you have an appreciation for classic film making, or just want a film you can watch with the kids, this one has a lot to offer.