Phantom of the Opera (1943 film)
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It was filmed on the same Universal soundstage as the studio's 1925 version of the story, in which a replica of the Paris Opera House interior had been built (and exists to this day). Other than the sets, this "remake" had little in common with the earlier film. There was no attempt to film the masked ball sequence, although the famous falling of the chandelier was re-enacted on an epic scale, using elaborate camera set-ups. The cinematographers were Hal Mohr and W. Howard Greene.
Plot
After the crashing of the chandelier, Erique takes Christine down to his lair, pursued by the police. He hears Franz Liszt playing his concerto, and he plays along with it on his piano. He urges Christine to sing, and as she does, the police get nearer to finding Claudin. Christine pulls off his mask and sees what has happened to Erique. At that moment, Raoul and Anatole break in, and fire at their 'Phantom'. The shot misses, and causes the entire lair to cave in, as the two men and Christine escape. It explains that Erique and Christine had come from the same town district. However, back at the Phantom's lair, one of the final scenes shows Erique's mask propped against his violin, accompanied by rocks shifting in the background, perhaps meaning that Erique survived, and left the opera behind him.
Cast
The film featured some of the most popular stars of its time, such as Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, Claude Rains, and Edgar Barrier.
Newcomer Susanna Foster plays Christine Dubois, a soprano at the Paris Opera House.
Nelson Eddy plays Anatole Garron, a baritone and instructor of the Paris Opera. He is one of Christine's two suitors, tossing wit and sarcasm at the rather starched Raoul D'Aubert, Christine's other suitor.
Broderick Crawford was considered for role of Claudin, the Phantom, before it was given to Rains. A subplot which made Rains's character Christine's father was jettisoned because it gave the romantic elements of their relationship incestuous overtones.Scott McQueen, audio-commentary on Phantom of the Opera DVD (Universal)
Edgar Barrier played Raoul, taking little more than the name from Leroux's original story.
Also of note in the cast were J. Edward Bromberg, Hume Cronyn and Fritz Leiber as composer Franz Liszt.
During the same year that the film was released, Phantom of the Opera was adapted into an audio presentation for the Lux Radio Theater. Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster and Edgar Barrier reprised their roles, but instead of Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone played Erique Claudin.
Score
Cancelled Sequel
Following the success of Phantom of the Opera, Universal announced that a sequel would be made, titled The Climax. Scott McQueen, audio-commentary on Phantom of the Opera DVD (Universal) Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster were to return, along with Claude Rains as the Phantom, most likely meaning that his character did indeed survive the cave in at the finale of the first film. The sequel, however, was later cancelled due to story troubles and problems concerning the availability of Claude Rains. The Climax was indeed released the year after Phantom of the Opera, but it was not a continuation of the previous film and featured completely new characters.Notes and references
Other significant film versions
- The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
- The Phantom of the Opera (1962)
- Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
External links
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