The Phantom of the Opera - The Ultimate Edition (1925 Original Version and 1929 Restored Version)
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Movie Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera - The Ultimate Edition (1925 Original Version and 1929 Restored Version)
Movie Review: The Ultimate Phantom DVD -- Milestone Edition
Summary: 5 Stars
When ever one looks in the bargain section of the local Borders or Best Buy, they can always find a copy of this film lurking around. But, the kicker is, the version that they are getting is most likely not the ultimate edition.
You miss out so much when you don't get the chance to see the original cut of a movie. Most of the time an editor or a director can achieve an entire change in plot by simply leaving certain snips of the finished cut out of the released cut. This is what makes the Mileston edition of the Phantom of the Opera so precious.
Not only does the DVD come with the 1929 edition of the film that most people can buy on the bargain shelves, but it also includes the very rare original cut of the film (I believe it was made in 1925). This original cut is several minutes longer than the later cut that has become so much more famous, and includes plot developements excluded from the later cut (such as more scenes concerning Roul and his brother, Phillipe, which make their relationship stronger; the original ending to the film; and several scenes that add both mystery and emotion to the character of the phantom himself).
Take the word of some one who grew up believing that the 1929 version was the best version ever produced of this film, there is so much more to offer with this Mileston edition! It is well worth it, and you'll thank yourself for buying this version.
Movie Review: the original screen 'Phantom' still packs a hell of a punch
Summary: 5 Stars
Carl Laemmle's screen version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (based on the penny-dreadful by Gaston Leroux), is still a fascinating and riveting screen entertainment, despite being re-made several times (including 2 updates from Universal), not to mention Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking stage musical.
Lon Chaney gives the performance of his career as Erik, the tortured Phantom who roams the sewers and labyrinths of the Paris Opera House. His attentions are piqued by the beautiful young singer Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) though she is already being courted by Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny (Norman Kerry). As passions rise, the young lovers are terrorised by the demonic Phantom as he vows to make Christine his bride...
Lon Chaney turns in a polished performance as Erik (riding high on the success of his legendary turn as Quasimodo in Universal's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME). Mary Philbin's ethereal beauty serves her well as Christine, and Norman Kerry does all he can to overcome the one-dimensional character of Raoul.
The set built for the Paris Opera House was the biggest and most elaborate free-standing set ever assembled for a picture at the time. The lavish 'Bal Masque' sequence was shot in the relatively new 2-strip Technicolor process.
The original silent version of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA premiered in 1925, but when the advent of sound occurred in 1929, Laemmle released a new print of PHANTOM with the voices dubbed in (sans Lon Chaney) and new ballet and opera sequences inserted. The film was re-edited by Walter Anthony.
The version that most people would have seen is actually a composite of the 1925 and 1929 versions. The print features the tinting (done according to the original 1925 specifications) and the new ballet/opera sequences, with a full orchestral score provided by Gabriel Thibaudoux. The original 1925 version is rarely-seen because of it's badly deteriorated picture.
Movie Review: "Totally Phantomic" From a Very Strict Critic Phan!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I LOVE this movie!!! And for me to LOVE a Phantom movie, It has to be EXCACTLY like the book or VERY, VERY GOOD!!! I am extremely strict about stuffs like that. And surprise, surprise, I like it!!! Just to let you know, I am an avid Phantom Movie Watcher, Book Reader, and Music Player and Listerner-to-er. (Transelation: I am overally obssesed!!!) I believe that there are 3 Lon Chaney Phantom Movies and the one I watched was the one I'm reviewing, obviously. In this one, Carlotta's mother was included, and no cheesy sound effects were dubbed in. I do agree that it was extremely unessecary to color a tiny smidgen of the film just to show that the dude was wearing red!!! It was, despite the dissapointing lack of the Phantom's and Christine's beautiful voice, (Everyone just opened their mouths and moved their heads around, which WAS entertaining but utterly dissatisfying) a good movie, with touching momemets with the immortal and Phantom-saving performance of the legendary Lon Chaney. LON CHANEY ROCKS!!!! Some things were just utterly stupid though, like the way the Phantom believed everything Christine said and the graphics were cheesy and blurry. However it was an overally good movie with a good organ background and good sets and good actors and a great, s l o w performance by Mary, Philbin!!! (By slow I mean that she never jumped. She just smiled, then turned around slowly, then screamed, then freaked, then fainted at random moments. And boy does she have big eyes!)Movie Review: Who can compete with Lon Chaney?!
Summary: 5 Stars
The film The Phantom Of the Opera was first silents I ever seen. What a great one to see. I saw what many still conider to be the Man of Thousand faces. He was the character actor. He was star, part time directer(because the real directer Rupert Julian was such a hack) and something that is foreign for stars today, a makeup artist. Thats right, when you see this film, the incredible skull head Lon wears is his creation. The phantom mask he wears over it is another creation of Chaney. It was made to look like painted on dolls eyes, which as scene changed the mask would change. When you see this film, don't see it look for a exact portayal of the book, because its not. The other actors, Mary Philbin as the lovely Christine Dae, and Norman Kerry as Raoul, the appriately stiff hero. Hopeful you know what the story is about, if you don't....It takes place in 1870 Paris at an famous opera house that is has been taken over by new management, but the twist is, the house is haunted by an opera ghost. At the same, a beautiful understudy for the opera prima donna had been singing lessons form the mysterious ghost. The ghost then proclaims that the star be replaced by Miss Dae or there will consequences. Of course no listens and the star goes on, but then in a well known moment when the phantom causes the chandlier to fall of from the ceiling of the opera house. In a side note, Raoul is the Dae's love interest. This set contains the 1929 restored version, with three soundtracks, one is the silent restored version, the next one is the silent version with a sound effects and diaglog dubbings. The third is with commentary which is very informative in which how this film had different versions, different writters and directors, and how it was a critical flop when it first came out. And how by after world war 2, Universal destroyed many silents because they had no commerical value. The second disk had the most orginal verison they could find, the 1925 unrestored. It actually looks alot scarier with that version and the erie organ soundtrack. This is a classic film that every fan of horror, silents, or just plain love films should see.Movie Review: The First Phantom: Lon Cheney..A Collector's Piece
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a collector's piece indeed. The original silent film version, released in 1925, starring Lon Cheney and Mary Philbin. On DVD, we are treated to a restored version that looks as fresh and powerful as when audiences first saw the Phantom. Undoubtedly, this is Lon Cheney's greatest performance. The character of the Phantom, drawn from the 1911 novel by French writer Gaston Leroux, is a tragic, haunting figure. Though monstrously deformed, he has a human heart and feels things passionately and sensitively. He was born with a demonic face and to escape a dire fate in the circus or a lynch mob, he was forced to go into hiding underneath the Paris Opera House. There below was a labyrinth of chambers and sewers and a large lake. He trains a young soprano and makes her a star, to the cost of the life and career of La Carlotta, the reigning diva at the same opera house. When Raol, a wealthy Vicomte, falls for Christine, a love triangle ensues. It is clear Christine loves Raol but is already "stuck" and "enslaved" by the mysterious Phantom, who is also obcessed and in love with her. The Phantom captures her but Raol boldly rescues her. This film took some licence with the original novel, altering it so it can be "Hollywood" material at the time in the 20's. The Phantom is "reduced" into becoming an escaped mental asylum patient and a man who practices black magic. These changes have always annoyed me but it can be overlooked when one considers how wonderfully and dramatically Lon Cheney portrays the Phantom. He is haunting, creepy, pathetic, tragic, powerful, emotive. Underneath all that make-up, he was after all a man. Lon Cheney will never be forgotten. He was the greatest dramatic actor of the silent film era.
He had, of course, many incredible roles under his belt. He was famous for his many "transformations" and "mutilations" in larger than life characters, especially provoking horror, dread and fear. He was known as the Man Of A Thousand Faces. Other than his Phantom, his Quasimodo of Hunchback Of Notre Dame is a powerful and moving performance. Lon Cheney could not only play these fantastic creatures of supernatural quality, but he was able to do so in the most human way. He emoted in a human way, crying, raging, FEELING, and audiences were even able to sympathize with him and feel pity as strongly as they felt fear or repulsion. I have always felt the most powerful scenes involved the Phantom and his surroundings. Note how in this version, it starts off as a mentor/student relationship with Chrstine. Christine Daee has essentially given her mind blindly to him, sold her soul to him in order to enjoy unparalleled success at the Opera. Mary Philbin comes off as the heroine of a romantic novel with very little complexity. She is almost reduced to the level of "damsel in distress" or Beauty to Phantom's Beast. She obeys the Phantom's wishes and keeps her career a priority, becoming a slave to her art but all this changes when Raol comes to the scene. She decides she'd rather escape and marry Raol. This breaks the Phantom's heart, not only as her tutor but as a man who loves her as well. The Phantom as the Red Death at the Masquerade is a great, lavish scene and must have been expensive to pull off at the time. It's still heartbreaking how he hears Christine and Raol decide to elope and feels betrayed. The ending, in which a crowd of angry Parisians beat him and throw him to the Seine River is also very sad.
There will never be a portrayal of the Phantom as uniquely powerful as Lon Cheney. He is magic, haunting, frightening, sad and he is and always will be the Phantom of the Opera. This is how it all started- a cinematic performance from a brilliant actor using the best technology and effects of Hollywood at the time. It would later be the role of Claude Rains and other actors including Charles Dance in a 1991 tv series. Of course, the most popular version is the Broadway musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 2004-2005 movie, still in theatres, starrying Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum is also of great importance. It has enhanced Lloyd Webber's musical and truly romanticized the story. While Lon Cheney emphasized the frightening aspects, Gerard Butler focuses on the romance.