The Phantom of the Opera (1998)

Gory remake of the Gaston Leroux classic story, only this time, the phantom is not disfigured, but a man who was raised by rats deep under the Paris Opera House.

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Gaston Leroux (novel), Gérard Brach

Stars:

Julian Sands, Asia Argento, Andrea Di Stefano

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julian Sands	...	The Phantom
Asia Argento	...	Christine Daaé
Andrea Di Stefano	...	Baron Raoul De Chagny
Nadia Rinaldi	...	Carlotta Altieri
Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni	...	Honorine
István Bubik	...	Ignace, the rat-catcher
Lucia Guzzardi	...	Madame Giry
Aldo Massasso	...	Pourdieu
Zoltan Barabas	...	Poligny
Gianni Franco	...	Montluc
David D'Ingeo	...	Alfred
Kitty Kéri	...	Paulette
John Pedeferri	...	Dr. Princard
Leonardo Treviglio	...	Jerome De Chagny
Massimo Sarchielli	...	Joseph Buquet

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

long hair | male rear nudity | lust | sex scene | opera | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/gore and sexuality

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian French

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Phantom of the Opera

Filming Locations:

Pertosa Caves - Pertosa, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Medusa Film, Cine 2000

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 106 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cinematographer Ronnie Taylor has worked on three other adaptations of Gaston Leroux's novel "The Phantom of the Opera". He was cinematographer in Dario Argento's previous Opera (1987), as well as camera operator in Brian DePalma's Phantom of the Paradise (1974). He also did the cinematography for Popcorn (1991), which is considered to have been inspired by the novel.

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Quotes

Christine Daae: I beg you pardon?
The Phantom: For what?
Christine Daae: I thought you said something
The Phantom: I said nothing. But I caught myself thinking about you. Thoughts that surprise me. And I'm not easily surprised.
Christine Daae: Thinking about me? Why?
The Phantom: I wanted to tell you, your voice fills my heart with divine light. Shhhhs. Listening too you is sublime, wonderful. This must be our secret. Tell nobody, then no one will know we'll meet again.
Christine Daae: How?
The Phantom: When you hear my thoughts, you'll know where to go

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Alternate Versions

The Region 4 Australian DVD released by Umbrella contains all violence and gore intact, but doesn't include the Turkish Bath scene.

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Connections

Version of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

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Soundtracks

Faust: Overture
Music by Charles Gounod

User Reviews

Guilty Pleasure

It is not the best movie ever made but it is watchable, mainly due to Morricone's Music and the opera selections. Asia Argento plays the main heroine, young talented opera singer Christine. I don't think she was bad and her face is unbelievably beautiful - she reminds Olivia Hussey of "Romeo and Juliet" (1968) and Uma Thurman if Uma ever decides to dye her hair dark. Production values, costumes, special effects, decorations, and the singing voices are very good. I noticed that I laughed a lot during the film - perhaps Argento made a dark comedy of the familiar story?

I did not like Julien Sands as a non-masked Phantom. He looks a lot like the creatures that raised him.

The film has an orgy scene that is so funny it could've came directly from "Caligula"

Overall - I had a lot of fun, and and can call it one of my guilty pleasures.