Phantom of the Opera - Switchblade Symphony

I grew up as a teenager in the 1980’s tortured by my mother’s love for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Soundtrack. More recently I was the reluctant viewer of Joel Schumacher’s 2004 version. Not being a musicals kind of guy I was surprisingly impressed with that version, and whether it be some form of false nostalgia or something else, I was hugely drawn into the big song numbers. I am however a big fan of vintage movies and this 1925 original movie version had been on my “must see” list for some time.

The movie is a “silent”, starring Lon Chaney as The Phantom (an appropriate choice as the "man of a thousand faces" and having played Quasimodo two years earlier). It’s quite a contrast to the more modern adaptations that I’d come to know which depict female lead, Christine Daae as torn between her love for The Phantom and the more noble Raoul. This 1925 version is not a love story, but a horror movie, with The Phantom as nothing more than a horrific, over-possessive fiend (or “monster” as Christine calls him).

Now, don’t get me wrong: There is still a relationship as the inspiration to Christine and the manipulator that manages to put her in the spotlight. But there’s no love interest, she’s not torn between two men, and once she knows that he’s the same menace that has terrorized the theater she does everything she can to stay away from him.

Also missing from this movie are the excellent (I can say that now in my 30’s) song productions by Andrew Lloyd Webber: No grand rooftop duet of “All I Ask of You” or the heart thumping title song. But this does not leave this version of the story lacking in any way. The movie’s main appeal is its darkness, while the antiquated production just seems to add to the mystery and tension. Lon Chaney’s portrayal of the title role is also exceptional. He applied his own make up and did not reveal his face to anyone prior to filming: And his face is pretty horrific, better than any of the other Phantom’s I’ve seen. This undoubtedly created an added anxiety among the cast.

This is definitely a collector’s item and a masterpiece. Who would doubt that after inspiring so many reinterpretations? If you’re into the classics check it out. If you don’t have much patience for silent movies, this is still worth watching and might change your outlook.