Lon Chaney

Norman Kerry

Mary Philbin

Arthur Edmund Carewe

Gibson Gowland

Snitz Edwards

John St. Polis

Virginia Pearson

Olive Ann Alcorn

Betty Van Allen

Betty Arthur

Joseph Belmont

Alexander Bevani

Earl Gordon Bostwick

Ethel Broadhurst

Edward Cecil

Ruth Clifford

Chester Conklin

Roy Coulson

Bruce Covington

Ward Crane

George Davis

Madame Fiorenza

Alan George

Cesare Gravina

William Humphrey

Carla Laemmle

Grace Marvin

John Miljan

Edith Murgatroyd

Templar Saxe

Bernard Siegel

William Tyroler

Vola Vale

Ellinor Vanderveer

Anton Vaverka

Josephine Haynes Webster

George B. Williams

Ed Wolff

Rupert Julian

Carl Laemmle

Milton Bridenbecker

Virgil Miller

Charles Van Enger

Ben Carré

Edward Curtiss

Maurice Pivar

Gilmore Walker

Charles D. Hall

Elmer Sheeley

Russell A. Gausman

Jerome Ash

Jack Foley

Walter Anthony

Elliott J. Clawson

Bernard McConville

Tom Reed

Raymond L. Schrock

Sam Perry

Joe Pasternak

Charles Gemora

Cliff Shirpser

C. Roy Hunter

Gaston Leroux

Winifred Reeve

Roman Freulich

Drama

Horror

Music

The Phantom of the Opera

Universal Pictures

United States of America

CinemaSerf

When then famed Paris Opera finds new owners, they are full of enthusiasm for their star "Carlotta" (Mary Fabian) whom they know will wow the audiences. Both she and they, though, get a letter informing them that should she take the stage instead of her understudy "Christine" (Mary Philbin) then they'll all rue the day. Nobody pays a blind bit of notice and, well, the audience really do bring the house down! Using the enchantment of his voice, and promises of success, the "Phantom" (Lon Chaney) manages to lure the young "Christine" to his lair some five floors beneath the stage where he declares his undying love. She's more interested in the mask that he's wearing, and upon it's removal is abhorred. She begs to go free and he agrees - provided she spurns her lover "Raoul" (Norman Kerry). She does quite the opposite however and that antagonises her admirer to the point where life and limb are threatened and even the opera house itself could end up in smithereens. It all builds to a marvellous climax - a race against time, against flood waters and gunpowder - if "Raoul" is to save his love from their clearly insane nemesis. A lot will spend on the accompanying music here, but if you get a good score then this film really does come alive. The sparing use of colour - especially as Chaney straddles the gargoyle atop the roof of the building, but also during some of the theatrical scenes contrasts well with the rather more drab monochrome scenes. The creative use of light and shadow to create a genuine sense of peril and, at times, even desperation as the story develops is also enthralling to watch. A great story of love and obsession on a big screen with a live pianist - this takes some beating.

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The Phantom of the Opera (1925) - Original trailer

Bernard Rose on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Phantom of the Opera 1925 Trailer