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Each actor has to exaggerate their expressions and movements but not do so to the point of being comical, they all do well. The cast are to be praised for the job they do telling the story without words it is a very different style of acting from today, but they do it well. The story is simply told but doesn't lose the tragic elements even if they are silently told. The main thing that struck me about the film was the sheer grandeur and scale of the film. I'm not sure it if makes any great difference, but the version I watched was a restored version of this film with a new score and some colour treatment on the film stock. He demands her love, but Christine plans to flee with her real lover a plan that the phantom cannot allow. However when she meets the man, he is the phantom horribly scarred and insane. Meanwhile stories of a phantom go around the opera house and threatening notes are received that force Carlotta to call off sick, giving Christine her chance to shine, and shine she does. She receives coaching from a mysterious man that she can only hear but not see in her dressing room. And last but not least an unbearable tension Throughout the entire film, you're looking at it with your eyes wide open.Ĭhristine Daae is the understudy for Carlotta in the opera Faust at the grand opera house in Paris. Rupert Julian's classic silent has got everything! An actor capable of carrying the toughest role ever written, beautiful scenery, real-life drama, sentiment and romance. IMDB THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SERIESThe climax of Phantom of the Opera is an extended series of chasings and battues, resulting in the dramatic (and gruesome) death of our protagonist. ![]() A breathtaking piece of early cinema that stands the test of time like no other. Immediately after this scene, the crew moves to the roof of the Opera building and Chaney takes place on top of the Apollo statue. The grimaces of Chaney seem to look right through the other partygoers and his search for Christine is relentless. The masked bal, which the Phantoms attends as the `Red Death' is an outstanding horror sequence and truly atmospheric. At least 3 sequences in the 1925 Phantom of the Opera are legendary and still astonishing after almost 80 years. His deformed appearance isn't explained and neither is shown how he falls for the beautiful, shy Christine. Here, Erik is said to be an escaped madman whereas he merely only was a hurt romanticist in later versions. The biggest difference between this first version and the later remakes lies in the roots of the Phantom. Her appreciation soon turns into fear when she finds out her benefactor is the horribly scarred Phantom of the Opera. The until then unknown singer is thankful and meets her `master' in the catacombs. He helps her career a little and threatens to kill the prominent singer Carlotta if she doesn't hand over the her role in Faust to Christine. After all these years of dwelling in the opera, he has fallen in love with the unsuccessful singer, Christine. Deep down the catacombs of the Parisian Opera building, the phantom reigns in forgotten dungeons and underground lakes. The film itself is depressing and dark, with terrific photography and settings. And justified! Even though this role was played by many respectable actors afterwards (like Claude Rains, Herbert Lom and Robert Englund) Lon Chaney is and remains the one and only Phantom of the Opera. Lon Chaney starred in over 150 films (most of them silent ones) but he'll always be remembered best for his personification of Erik, the Phantom. ![]() IMDB THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA MOVIEOne of the most eminent horror films ever made and perhaps even the most famous silent horror movie from that time. As has been widely reported, Chaney did his own makeup and succeeded in making his character look almost skull-like. Eric is the disfigured but insane genius who tries to force Christine to love him. For all practical purposes the story is the same. And when Raol is in the dark, wet, complex tunnels looking for her, these are much more dangerous looking scenes than in the modern movie. But during the climax when Christine is down in the catacombs and comes face to face with Eric the first time, and sees his disfigured face. IMDB THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA PLUSSure, it is silent, so we have to interpret facial expressions and body language, plus read occasional subtitles. But this 1925 silent version with Lon Chaney as Eric, the Phantom, is actually a much better film to tell the story. I like it, I own it, I watch it again from time to time. My first exposure to the story, "Phantom of the Opera", was the current 2005 film version, featuring beautiful costumes, perfect filming, and on DVD a superb surround sound track. ![]()
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