The Phantom of the Opera (1962)

An acid-scarred composer has his dwarf helper bring an opera singer to his London sewer hide-out.

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 / Professor 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 | cleavage | rat catcher | composer | 

---

Taglines:

Out of the hell-fire of horror unimaginable rises the figure of terror incarnate!

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Music | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to producer Anthony Hinds (in Wayne Kinsey's book "Hammer: The Bray Studio Years"), Cary Grant was originally slated not for the role of the Phantom, as is commonly assumed, but for the romantic lead, eventually played by Edward de Souza.

---

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

A subplot involving a pair of Scotland Yard police inspectors on the trail of the Phantom was shot especially for the American TV version (by the TV companies, not by Hammer). This was a regular occurrence in this era, most notably with Hammer's films The Kiss of the Vampire and The Evil of Frankenstein.

---

Connections

Featured in Svengoolie: The Phantom of the Opera - 1962 (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 for organ
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

Dramatic Hammer Version

"The Phantom of the Opera" by Hammer is a dramatic version directed by Terence Fisher. The screenplay shows the phantom as a poor composer that is stolen by the arrogant and corrupt Lord Ambrose D'Arcy, who is the real villain of the story. The sets and costumes are magnificent associated to great performances in one of the best films of the famous story by Gaston Leroux. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Fantasma da Ópera" ("The Phantom of the Opera")

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Phantom of the Opera

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

GBP180,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 97 min (Extended Version)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1