The first talking version of the Phantom of the Opera (played by Claude Rains here) in love with beautiful opera singer Christine (Susanna Foster).
The film looks just stunning--it deservedly won an Oscar for its incredible color cinematography. Everything looks perfect and Foster is just so incredibly beautiful in closeup. So it looks good but this film has big problems.
For one thing there's too much opera--WAY too much! All the operas look good and the singing is good--but I personally hate operas and I was bored silly. "Phantom" is supposed to be a horror film--NOT an opera film. The Phantom himself doesn't show up until 30 minutes in! And they give the Phantom an origin--it's not bad but not needed...it was scarier knowing nothing about him. There's LOTS of lame comedy of suitors Anatole (Nelson Eddy) and Raoul (Edgar Barrier) vying for Christine's affections. And Rains scarred face at the end isn't remotely scary--can't hold a candle to Chaney's 1925 version. And Eddy's acting was abominable--he was hired just for his singing.
It does have some good things: The Phantom's first appearance DID make me jump; the chandelier dropping was very well done; Rains gives an excellent (and very sympathetic) performance in the lead and Foster is pretty good too---and what a voice! Nice score too.
But it's not a horror film--it plays like an opera drama with horrific touches. Still it should be seen just for the stunning color cinematography alone. For that I give it a 7.
The film looks just stunning--it deservedly won an Oscar for its incredible color cinematography. Everything looks perfect and Foster is just so incredibly beautiful in closeup. So it looks good but this film has big problems.
For one thing there's too much opera--WAY too much! All the operas look good and the singing is good--but I personally hate operas and I was bored silly. "Phantom" is supposed to be a horror film--NOT an opera film. The Phantom himself doesn't show up until 30 minutes in! And they give the Phantom an origin--it's not bad but not needed...it was scarier knowing nothing about him. There's LOTS of lame comedy of suitors Anatole (Nelson Eddy) and Raoul (Edgar Barrier) vying for Christine's affections. And Rains scarred face at the end isn't remotely scary--can't hold a candle to Chaney's 1925 version. And Eddy's acting was abominable--he was hired just for his singing.
It does have some good things: The Phantom's first appearance DID make me jump; the chandelier dropping was very well done; Rains gives an excellent (and very sympathetic) performance in the lead and Foster is pretty good too---and what a voice! Nice score too.
But it's not a horror film--it plays like an opera drama with horrific touches. Still it should be seen just for the stunning color cinematography alone. For that I give it a 7.