The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

A young soprano becomes the obsession of a disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opéra House. He kidnaps the soprano and forces the owners of the play to keep her as the lead role of the play.

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers:

Gaston Leroux (novel), Andrew Lloyd Webber (book)

Stars:

Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 39 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gerard Butler	...	The Phantom
Emmy Rossum	...	Christine
Patrick Wilson	...	Raoul
Miranda Richardson	...	Madame Giry
Minnie Driver	...	Carlotta
Ciarán Hinds	...	Firmin
Simon Callow	...	Andre
Victor McGuire	...	Piangi
Jennifer Ellison	...	Meg Giry
Murray Melvin	...	Reyer
Kevin McNally	...	Buquet (as Kevin R. McNally)
James Fleet	...	Lefevre
Imogen Bain	...	Carlotta's Maid
Miles Western	...	Carlotta's Wigmaker
Judith Paris	...	Carlotta's Seamstress

Storyline

Begins when an opera ghost terrorizes the cast and crew of the French Opera House while tutoring a chorus girl. He finally drives the lead soprano crazy so she and her friend leave. The girl is able to sing lead one night but the soprano doesn't want her show stolen so she comes back. The ghost demands they keep giving his protégé lead roles. Meanwhile, His pupil falls in love with the Vicomte de Chagny, but the Phantom is in love with Christine, his student. The Phantom is outraged by their love and kidnaps Christine to be his eternal bride. Will Raoul, the Vicomte, be able to stop this dastardly plan?

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Plot Keywords:

opera | singer | mask | singing | disfigurement | 

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Taglines:

The classic musical comes to the big screen for the first time.

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Central Partnership [Russia]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

22 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,219,310 (United Kingdom), 12 December 2004, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,001,890, 26 December 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$51,268,815

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$103,380,072

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.,Odyssey Entertainment,Really Useful Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming of the final lair scene took a week to complete.

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Goofs

While Meg is congratulating Christine after her "Think of Me" performance, she puts her hand on Christine's shoulder and then takes if off. When the camera cuts to face Meg, she is taking her hand off Christine's shoulder again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Auctioneer: Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you. Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier-mâché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ.

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Connections

Featured in CBS News Up to the Minute: Episode dated 9 October 2009 (2009)

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Soundtracks

Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer
Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe
Performed by Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Mark Carroll, Terry Kelly, David Arneil, John Griffiths, Graham McDuff, Tricia Deighton, Mandy Holliday, Jackie Marks, Sophie-Louise Dann, Valerie Cutko, Julia Worsley, Margaret Preece, and Annalene Beechey
Produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Nigel Wright, Joel Schumacher, Simon Lee, and Guy de Villiers

User Reviews

Beautiful film

I was able to view this at a special screening and was very impressed. It is a visually stunning movie - the costuming and sets are as extravagant and lavish as the music. Gerard Butler gives a particularly anguishing and sympathetic performance as The Phantom. Emmy Rossum is beautiful portraying Christine and her transformation from a young innocent to a woman who is aware of herself, her sexuality, and the world of love. Patrick Wilson is a particularly dashing, heroic and protective Raoul and Minnie Driver provides hilarious comic relief as Carlotta. I particularly enjoyed the film's ability to delve deeper into the lives of characters. It provided depth and context and layers to all of the characters that the stage production cannot do. The entire cast was magnificent and I will be hearing the "music of the night" in my head for the next several days. I would definitely recommend it and can't wait to see it again.