Rating of
3.5/4
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 12/07/11
An Opera Ghost (erik), a phantom who asks for opera box #5. Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) is asked by Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry) to resign and get married and stop singing, but chooses career over love. The Phantom abducts Christine only to realize who she really loves. Wonderful costumes and sincere acting coupled with a beautiful score and lush location settings. Its cellar scenes were just terrific considering its era. Gorgeous Technicolor were used for the Bal Masqué scene. Only concerns I had was how the film was dated so you can barely see the writing on the letters displayed and lack of emotion on the face of the Phantom. Mary Philbin’s performance was superb, if only the opera Ghost facial expression could have been more empathetic to truly see his pain upon his discovery.
One of the best messages on the picture: “I am human like other men-I will not be cheated of my happiness!” Topics revolving around acceptance, love, jealousy, search for happiness and stalker tendencies have been presented. The twist on the end was likewise fascinating considering what the Phantom has been thru. Phantom of the Opera is a work of art with fluid story telling and is one of the few pioneers of the horror genre. This classic proves that one cannot mess with the original with lousy sequels.
