The Phantom of the Opera (1962)

Terror strikes the London Opera House as a new opera is disrupted by the actions of a deformed specter of the show's past who has an obsession with one of the production's chorus girl.

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay) (as John Elder), Gaston Leroux (composition)

Stars:

Herbert Lom, Heather Sears, Edward de Souza

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Herbert Lom	...	The Phantom (Prof. L. Petrie)
Heather Sears	...	Christine Charles
Edward de Souza	...	Harry Hunter
Thorley Walters	...	Lattimer
Michael Gough	...	Lord Ambrose d'Arcy
Harold Goodwin	...	Bill
Martin Miller	...	Rossi
Liane Aukin	...	Maria
Sonya Cordeau	...	Yvonne
Marne Maitland	...	Xavier
Miriam Karlin	...	Charwoman (as Miriam Carlin)
Patrick Troughton	...	The Rat Catcher
Renee Houston	...	Mrs. Tucker
Keith Pyott	...	Weaver
John Harvey	...	Sgt. Vickers

Storyline

The corrupt Lord Ambrose D'Arcy (Michael Gough) steals the life's work of the poor composer Professor L. Petrie. (Herbert Lom). In an attempt to stop the printing of music with D'Arcy's name on it, Petrie breaks into the printing office and accidentally starts a fire, leaving him severely disfigured. Years later, Petrie returns to terrorize a London opera house that is about to perform one of his stolen operas.

---

Plot Keywords:

casting couch | psychotronic film | composer | murder | london england | 

---

Taglines:

The most unusual tale of terror - and love - ever told!

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Music | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Phantom der Oper

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£180,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min (Extended Version)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "London Opera House" used here is actually the Wimbledon Theatre.

---

Goofs

Although there is great attention to the music of the opera - it almost sounds like a real Bernard Herrmann 20th century opera - when the conductor turns the page and it is torn, it is only page two of the score. Act I has been going on for a few minutes, probably roughly 20 pages of a standard score, but the conductor is still on page one which is about six bars, or 10 seconds of music.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Lattimer: The house is sold out, my lord.
Lord Ambrose d'Arcy: No further incidents, I trust?
Lattimer: No, nothing. Everything seems quite normal.

---

Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC for an 'A' (PG) certificate and edited the eye-stabbing of the rat-catcher and shots of a hanging body, as well as extensive edits to scenes showing the creation and final unmasking of the Phantom. Later video and DVD releases were uncut.

---

Connections

Version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

---

Soundtracks

Auf Flügeln des Gesanges opus 34 nº2 (On Wings of Song)
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss
Sung in english

User Reviews

One of the better Phantom films

I really enjoyed this film here. It was a great horror film and not that bad as a Phantom movie. Although The Phantoms real name in this one is not Erick as it should be, The Pasrt was played very well by Herbert Lom and i really liked it that they had the Phantom play the fuleral march in this one. The mask on the Phantom was really cool it was the full face mask and i like that. In some of the more recenlt Phantom films he has not ever had the mask (as in the 1999 version with Julian Sands and the 1989 big budget film with Robert Englund)All in all this movie is really good and if you are a fan of Gothic horror films then you will like this one this has a gothic setting to it that i liked. I give this movie a 8 out of 10. Done very well for it's time