Saturday, July 29, 2017

The Phantom of the Opera (1925): Lon Chaney


     Directed by Rupert Julian, The Phantom of the Opera (1925) ranks as one of the greatest Silent Films, and one of the most interesting film adaptations of Gaston Leroux's novel. The film also marks "The Man of a Thousand Faces" Lon Chaney's most ambitious, Iconic role and one of his scariest make-up jobs. As in his previous roles, expert-artist Chaney was given freedom to design his own look, and the resulting visage is still shocking audiences nearly 90 years later. Co-starring Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry and masses of extras, the film is a marvel to watch. A notoriously expensive production, The Phantom of the Opera had a prolonged hand-colored sequence and meticulously detailed sets. The Paris Opera House set from the film still stands inside soundstage 28 at Universal Studios , and is still in use today. It is the oldest surviving structure built specifically for use in a film in the World.
     The production of Faust is in full-swing, and the Paris Opera House has new owners, the old ones having been scared off by a mysterious phantom... 


     The Phantom (Lon Chaney) wishes to see understudy Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) in the lead role, and threatens the lead singer, telling her to be "ill" or else. This leads to a scary series of events that involve the famous unmasking of the Phantom... 

Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera

     his abduction of Christine... 

Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera

     a journey into his home in the catacombs beneath the Opera House...

Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera

      and the valiant rescue effort undertaken by Christine's lover...

Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera

Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera

Lon Chaney in "The Phantom of the Opera"


a scene from "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925)