Johnnie Torch Classic Horror Reviews: 1943's Phantom Of The Opera (spoilers)

We kick off our Classic Horror review series with a classic! Claude Rains dons the immortal mask as he tries to win the heart of the beautiful Christine, when Johnnie Torch Reviews 1943's Phantom of the Opera!
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[@MelancoliaI]

The world was at war, was self-destructing at the time this picture was made. So they went more for light entertainment, steering away from the novel with the darkness at its core, Erik and his hard redemption. 1943 was a year that needed more Opera than Phantom.

[@elzibiel]

I like this version because the Phantom is portrayed as a meek individual who suffers a mental breakdown. Claude Rains' version is not a raving psycho, or villainous mastermind, or inherently evil at the outset. I'd argue he wasn't even lovesick, either. His interactions with Christine weren't really suggestive of a burning romantic love, at least not to me. I appreciate the original script's implication of a paternal love, and wish they had officially gone with that as I felt it would have made a decent alternate version to the story and worked better with Rains' portrayal (not to mention their age difference). I like all of the mannerisms, twitches, movements, tics, & postures etc Rains brings to the role as it's what I'd imagine it would look like if a meek individual went crazy.

[@yes-fq6jd]

It's always a charm watching Claude Rains

[@derekllewellyn6663]

I just love it so much it's looks like new DVD releases review history books documentary about biography stuff in life story ture life movie made all about it was better than the same thing as being back in time using universal studios hollywood movies on Netflix about how it was put in

[@josephcook6442]

I always loved the image of the mask and Violin with Lullaby of the Bells playing...

[@michaelhughes432]

And Johnnie, I'm glad they took out the fact that the Phantom was originally Christine's father. Also, I read in a book about movie remakes, that it was Rains' idea to remove the father/daughter relationship. Good for him!

[@SB992REBORN]

THIS DESERVES THE SEQUEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelhughes432]

Also, it didn't show him getting back at the woman whom disfigured him, unless it happened off screen. And the unmasking scene was placed at the end of the movie. And there was too much Opera and not enough Phantom. I also liked the 1962 version w/ Herbert Lom, and the ALW version. In addition, I know they only used colored water, & Rains didn't really get hurt, it was only acting, but I felt that this was one of the most disgusting scenes I ever saw in a movie! That is until Hammer Films came along, w/ their use of blood & gore in their movies. Also, now there's these "Slasher Films" which they try to pass off as Horror Movies. They make the gory movies that Hammer made seem tame. In addition, whenever I think of Christine, I think of Mary Phillip, Suzanna Foster, Heather Sears and Sarah Brightman. And, although Rains was great as The Phantom, I wonder what would've happened if Boris Karloff or Lon Chaney, Jr. had portrayed him. Universal had originally planned to remake it in the 1930's, but they planned on having Karloff or a famous opera star, whose name is unknown to me, to play the Phantom. altho I always felt the latter would've been a bad choice. Also, as I previous stated, I like this version, but I wish this version & the 1962 version followed the book more closely!

[@michaelhughes432]

Also, Johnnie, that's not how it was in the book or the Classic 1925 version, which I feel was better than the remakes!

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

Personally I love this film. But I have no idea why this is considered part of the Universal Classic Monsters. the 1925 film is a much more fitting for the Universal Classic Monsters, and it is strange how this is the only one in the series in color.

[@christinedubois5954]

I love the 1943 version of The Phantom of The Opera! Erique Claudin is my favorite Universal Classic Monsters! And, you think that Erique Claudin is not a Universal Classic Monster?! You are a disgrace!

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

@@christinedubois5954 I love the film as well. However, the film doesn’t fit at all with the tone or feel of any other the other universal classic monsters. It’s also the version that Universal themselves doesn’t push really at all. The one the film studio(and the theme parks for that matter) show as the Classic Monsters Phantom of the Opera is the 1925 version.

[@williamsnyder5616]

Actually, it is not surprising that it took so long to remake "Phantom." Universal owned the rights to the remake rights, except that Universal flirted with bankruptcy in the 1930s when the studio should've remade it. The founder of the studio, Carl Laemmlewas fired and new management was brought in. It took the success of Abbot and Costello to give Universal the money to make an expensive re-make.

[@sikujacob4556]

I like this version. Although I prefer the Andrew Lloyd Webber version

[@SB992REBORN]

SEQUEL, AND SO DOES THE 1989 ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelhughes432]

I like this version, but I like the Chaney & Andrew Lloyd Webber versions better. And I didn't like the way his origin was changed. He was originally born disfigured, and Chaney's make-up was better.

[@randyacuna3248]

Only saw this once , very little phantom and too much opera, the technicolor is the only reason I would watch it again. This version is disappointing. Opera is a taste not for all.

[@joselitopaz2579]

This is lit!!!

[@daverichards9141]

I liked this version but it was all over the place. The humor was good but out of place, like telling a great joke at a funeral. I didnt find the phantom menacing. I liked the costumes and set pieces. The ending was rushed. 6/10.

[@fbbiam748]

Actually the 1925 version was a big hit, that they remade it in sound in 1930.

[@Jared_Wignall]

They didn’t remake the 1925 film inn1930. They had the same film, but had actors dub their lines onto a soundtrack that would be used as the film goes on. Lon Chaney, though didn’t record his lines for the film.

[@elijahbegay7608]

Wonder which version will be used in the: Dark universe?

[@sikujacob4556]

I really don't think Dark universe is going to do Phantom of the Opera. Trust me. This story has been done soooooo many times. It's not scary

[@elijahbegay7608]

SIKU Jacob of course they will. Look it up

[@sikujacob4556]

+Elijah Ok I just saw it and you're right. Sorry for doubting. I'd say they'd do the 1920s version. That one's more like the original story and the phantom looks more scary than any of the others.

[@elijahbegay7608]

SIKU Jacob My thoughts exact

[@obscureentertainment8303]

A modern update of this story would be silly. They'd just find the phantom with the cctv in the Opera house.

[@user-mn7iq6en3w]

Благодарю что рассеазали хотя❤бы

[@danielahuerta5876]

Where can I see it?

[@johnnietorch1598]

You can find the film on DVD. I got it in a box set collection of all the Universal Monster classics. But if you want the film alone, you can generally find it reasonable priced on Amazon. Here's a link www.amazon.com/Phantom-Opera-Nelson-Eddy/dp/B00L8QOZZG

[@vladimirbathory1125]

It is free and legal to watch on archive.org

[@josephst.george7841]

5:20 its not supposed to be.. its a mystery / horror story. in the book, its about Christine's character growth, and the phantom is just an obstacle for her to overcome. in fact, he is barely in it until the end. it's told from Raoul's point of view, and everything we know about the phantom up until about the last 1/3 of the novel is told from rumors and Christine talking to Raoul. do i think it can work as a love story? yes and i do like the Lloyd Webber version, but don't be mistaken, its not meant to be a love story. and don't forget about the father ending that was supposed to be in the script, that might have effected it as well. rant over. good review