Sep 29 2008
Features from the Outskirts: The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
This is the first installment of a series of videos and performances available in the public domain free for public use. Part of Art from the Outskirts’ mission is to provide a voice not only for the unique artists and creators of today and but also to give a spotlight of reverence to great works of the past. Enjoy the show!
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Starring Lon Chaney Sr. as The Phantom (Adapted from the 1909 French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux)
Facts from the Outskirts: Chaney was dubbed “The Man of a Thousand Faces” for his self-styled make-up techniques which he utilized in nearly 200 roles from 1912-1930 including the lead role as Quasimodo the 1923’s film version of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
“I wanted to remind people that the lowest types of humanity may have within them the capacity for supreme self-sacrifice,” Chaney wrote in Movie magazine. “The dwarfed, misshapen beggar of the streets may have the noblest ideals. Most of my roles since The Hunchback, such as The Phantom of the Opera, He Who Gets Slapped, The Unholy Three, etc., have carried the theme of self-sacrifice or renunciation. These are the stories which I wish to do.”- Chaney speaking to Movie Magazine in 1925
Summary and background of film incarnations provided by Google Video:
At the Opera of Paris, a mysterious phantom threatens a famous lyric singer, Carlotta and thus forces her to give up her role (Marguerite in Faust) for unknown Christine Daae. Christine meets this phantom (a masked man) in the catacombs, where he lives. Most prints of this movie are from the 1929 reissue version. This version is from 1925. Phantom of the Opera was remade several times. In 1943, director Arthur Lubin produced a 92 minute color version. Oscar winner for Cinematography and Art Direction. In 1962, Phantom of the Opera was directed by Terence Disher, starring Herbert Lom, Heather Sears. 84 minute British production. In 1989, director Dwight H. Little produced the fourth version of Phantom of the Opera with Robert England and Jill Schoelen. Shot in Budapest, but set in London. The 1999 Italian version of The Phantom of the Opera was directed by Dario Argento. (Additional Note: The 2004 version was directed by Joel Shumacher and recieved 30 award nominations including three Oscar nods as well as five wins).
*Most famously the novel was adapted in musical form in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 Broadway smash of the same name.
Check back here here for more classic features from the Outskirts!
Thank you for bringing us art from the past. It is such a rarity to enjoy these things today. I’m a huge fan of TCM and their Sunday night silent movies. It is too bad we couldn’t have more of that. Chaney was genius.