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.Written by
Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
The Picture That has Everything! ROMANCE!...in the shadow of sinister suspense! MUSIC! that mounts to thrilling rapture! SUSPENSE!...opera with death at every performance! See more »
Nelson Eddy's voice was recorded this time by Universal sound technicians, who claimed to have developed a better system that the one used by MGM. There is an anecdote of Nelson being at first annoyed as he didn't recognize his own voice and thought they had used someone else, until the sound team convinced him that it was really him with an improved sonority (from "Nelson Eddy, America's favorite baritone" by Gail Lulay). See more »
Goofs
The use of a stunt-double for Claude Rains at the climactic cave-in is very obvious! The double has a bigger physique than Rains, and curly hair. See more »
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? You're...
[...] See more »
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.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
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.