USA, 1924
92m [1995 version], 93m [1929 version], 107m [1925 version]
2579.83 metres, 10 reels
35mm film, black and white, 2-strip Technicolor, computer colourized version also available, 1.33:1
silent, English [intertitles]
An American horror film directed by Rupert Julian with additional, uncredited, direction by Lon Chaney and Edward Sedgwick.
Plot Summary
Parisienne opera singer Carlotta is forced to give up her role as Marguerite in Faust by a mysterious masked phantom and is replaced by her understudy Christine Daae. The phantom is obsessed with Christine and lures her into his lair in the catacombs beneath the opera house…
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Rupert Julian
Copyright MCMXXV [1925] by Universal Pictures Corp Carl Laemmle, president
Carl Laemmle presents a Universal production
Producer: Carl Laemmle *
Scenario: Frank M. McCormack *
Adaptation: Elliott J. Clawson *, Raymond L. Schrock *
From the celebrated novel [Le fantôme de l'opera] by Gaston Leroux
Supplementary Directors: Lon Chaney *, Edward Sedgwick *
Directors of Photography: Milton Bridenbecker *, Virgil Miller *, Charles Van Enger *
Editors: Maurice Pivar *, Gilmore Walker *
Music For 1925 Release: Gustav Hinrichs *
Music For 1929 Release: Sam Perry *
Additional Music For 1929 Release: David Broekman *, William Schiller *
Stock Music For 1929 Release: Arthur Jentsch *, Domenico Savino *
Music For 1990 Release: Rick Wakeman *
Music For 1993 Release: Roy Budd *
Music For 1995 Release: Gabriel Thibaudoux *
Music For 1996 Release: Carl Davis *
Operatic Solo For 1995 Release: Claudine Cote *
Make Up: Lon Chaney *
Titles: Tom Reed *
Art Directors: Charles D. Hall *, E.E. Sheeley *
Consulting Artist: Ben Carré *
Technical Director: A.H. Hall *
Special Thanks: Kevin Phelan (FilmTel supervisor) [credited on 1999 restoration]
Cast
Lon Chaney (the phantom [Erik])
Mary Philbin (Christine Daae)
Norman Kerry (Vicomte Raoul de Chagny)
Arthur Edmund Carewe (Ledoux)
Gibson Gowland (Simon Buquet)
John Sainpolis (Comte Philip de Chagny)
Snitz Edwards (Florine Papillon)
Mary Fabian (Carlotta in re-edited 1929 version)
Virginia Pearson (Carlotta/Carlotta's Mother in re-edited 1929 version)
Olive Ann Alcorn [la Sorelli] *
Alexander Bevani [Mephistopheles] *
Edward Cecil [Faust] *
Chester Conklin [orderly] *
Bruce Covington [M. Moncharmin] *
Ward Crane [Count Ruboff] *
George Davis [guard at Christine's door] *
Cesare Gravina [manager] *
Carla Laemmle [prima ballerina] *
D'Arcy Corrigan [man with lantern] *
Edward Martindel [Comte Philip de Chagny – in re-edited 1929 version] *
Grace Marvin [Martha] *
John Miljan [Valentin] *
Bernard Siegel [Joseph Buquet] *
William Tyroler [director of opera orchestra] *
Anton Vaverka [prompter] *
George B. Williams [M. Ricard] *
Edith Yorke [Mama Valerius] *
Alternative Titles
O Fantasma da Ópera – Portugal
El fantasma de la ópera – Spain
Il fantasma dell'opera – Italy
Fantomen på stora operan – Sweden
Phantom der Oper – Germany
Das Phantom der Oper – Austria
Links
Extracts included in
100 Years of Horror (1996)
L'Affaire Marcorelle (2000)
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001)
Coming Soon (1982)
Don't Scream It's Only a Movie (1989)
Fright Night Part II (1989)
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Heartstoppers: Horror at the Movies (1992)
Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)
Kingdom of Shadows (1998)
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000)
Macabre Moments from The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Phantom of the Megaplex (2000)
Precious Images (1986)
Scream Greats, Vol. 1: Tom Savini, Master of Horror Make-up (1986)
The Universal Story (1995)
References
Periodicals
- American Cinematographer vol.70 no.9 (September 1989) pp.35-40 – illustrated article
- American Cinematographer vol.70 no.10 (October 1989) pp.34-40 – illustrated article
- American Cinematographer vol.85 no.1 (January 2004) p.16 – illustrated DVD review
- The Bioscope vol.84 no.1242 (23 July 1930) p.23 – review
- Classic Images no.144 (June 1987) pp.C64-C66 – illustrated article, review
- Classic Images no.279 (September 1998) pp.44-45 – review
- Classic Images no.282 (December 1998) pp.6, 8 – illustrated article
- Empire no.106 (April 1998) p.124 – illustrated review
- Film History vol.3 no.3 (1989) pp.275-290 – illustrated interview
- Film User vol.20 no.240 (October 1966) p.568 – review
- Filmfax no.52 (September/October 1995) pp.61-67, 73 – illustrated article
- Films in Review vol.13 no.8 (October 1962) p.505 – review
- Halls of Horror no.27 p.25 – note
- Kine Weekly 24 July 1930 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.42 no.496 (May 1975) p.120 – credits, synopsis, review
- The Movie p.2420 (UK) – credits
- New Zealand Film Music Bulletin no.101 (February 1998) p.4 – article
- Photoplay vol.27 no.6 (June 1976) p.45 – review
- Picturegoer vol.9 no.50 (February 1925) p.52 – review
- Shivers no.18 pp.5-6 – illustrated article
- Sight and Sound vol.12 no.10 (October 2002) p.65 – illustrated DVD review
Newspapers
- The New York Times 7 September 1925 – review (by Mordaunt Hall)
Books
- The Aurum Encyclopedia of Film: Horror (2nd edition) by Phil Hardy (ed) pp.34-35 – illustrated credits, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee pp.366; 367 – credits; still
