Michael Crawford - POTO- Behind the Mask- Part1

[@sphericalempirical9359]

Love how Crawford pushes Creepy into every nuance of his voice and being,... over 1300 performances and everyone seamless and exactly as the first.

[@paulhill2236]

there will ever only be one phantom: michael crawford

[@haleysimpson6518]

Disagree. Ramin karimloo is my favorite Broadway phantom and Gerard butler is my number one favorite

[@classycactus9737]

@@haleysimpson6518 I love all three! :-)

[@gwennuttall5872]

There is something sexy about Michael Crawford as the Phantom but Gerald Butler is my favourite Phantom in a film version.

[@MySensualWorld]

And only one Christine, Brightman. Her a ting looks incredible on here.

[@josephclift3662]

@@haleysimpson6518 I agree with the first, but the film POTO was dreadful. Michael holds my deepest affection, though, because I met him when I was a child, and he was kindness personified

[@saberraimu]

I wish so badly that there was a recording available of this old performance version...

[@saxongirl2054]

It's not "old" it is the original, The Brillhant Original.

[@japankasasagi]

I'd read elsewhere that there IS, indeed, a recording of the original, but that Andrew LW would not allow it to be released until the Phantom finished on Broadway. So maybe at some point we will be able to see it!

[@STLawNerd]

There is a bootleg recording on KZbin of the first Broadway POTO with Michael and Sarah…visual is awful due to 80’s video capabilities lol but you can hear it fairly well…now I feel I can say that I saw them in the Broadway show 😅

[@margaritaschuyiervanrensse7450]

​@@STLawNerd you can't just say this and NOT fork it over..

[@STLawNerd]

@@saxongirl2054 true not old at all …I was in college in 1986 🤭

[@philgriffin8285]

Crawford was wonderful as Phantom. Incredibly gifted.

[@joecates3371]

There is only one person that can play the phantom and it’s Micheal Crawford

[@hopefletcher7420]

I saw Crawford in POTO twice in 1988 in LA. Soooo incredible. I've seen it a few times since but nothing compared to the first time or him.

[@msharvie]

Took my family twice also, in LA around the same time. Couldn't listen to any other music for weeks.

[@domenicgattellaro3708]

When the music of the night starts there's a chill that runs through your veins I love the phantom of the opera lMichael Crawford and sara Brighton are perfect together two beautiful voices

[@CanadianGuy2004]

No matter how many times I hear the first notes of the song I always get goosebumps

[@cherylmills9700]

All tho I have your mind...rip the place of no return...happy Saint Patrick day socopero h.r.m. Dianna

[@cherylmills9700]

The 12 regard....lou h.r.m

[@mintybadgerproductions]

Thank Pink Floyd.

[@CanadianGuy2004]

@@mintybadgerproductions why?

[@mintybadgerproductions]

@@CanadianGuy2004 Because Lloyd Weber nicked the riff from Echoes by Pink Floyd. Look it up, he's plagiarised a lot of material.

[@audramuth4147]

Man there is NOTHING more striking then that opening for Phantom !! NOTHING LIKE IT !! Makes me shrill every time ! Gives me goosebumps each and every time !! ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥

[@goldilox369]

Seriously, I first heard it in very early 1989 on a radio station. I was 8. I managed to record it on cassette tape that night. It was instrumental, I loved it from first listen, but I didn't know what it was! When I was 12 I managed to check out the original Broadway cast on CD from the library. I finally knew what my song was & a lifelong obsession with this musical was born.

[@carolecarr5210]

Hair standing on the back of my neck Michel, mine too. 1st time I heard you my verticle hairs got matched by cold chills.Thanks Andrew & Michael, you made my heart happy, many times.

[@veecee3669]

When Michael Crawford starts singing, I stop breathing.

[@trodairebeag]

Me too!!!!

[@jozefina9997]

Same here

[@Li-hwaChen]

I also love his nice voice.😊

[@bethhaines6340]

He is the immortal phantom forever

[@YDdraigGoch1]

I absolutely marvel at the fact that someone who was firstly renowned as being so funny and naive as Frank Spencer could then put on such as serious, romantic, and melancholy persona for the Phantom. Michael was, and I can bet still is, so gifted in those areas, in addition to his amazing agility, and his capability of performing his own stunts. He was also said to be very introverted, and I see myself very much the same way. I am a new Michael Crawford fan, and I like to put on his songs during my down time, to relax, and I love his voice, and he makes me feel so much less alone. :) One of my favourite parts of this video is at part 0:43-0:54, when he is singing the English folk song 'Early One Morning'...I burst out laughing when I had seen this part of the video for the first time, and I rewound this video again and again to this part, like a little kid, and laughed so hard...again, and again, and again! God bless MIchael Crawford.

[@sailingsam3815]

Michael Crawford is amazing in this role...

[@patriciafenwick5846]

I have the CD of the Michael Crawford version and I am so used to hearing his voice, that when I went to see a performance years later with someone else singing, it just didn't feel the same. He IS the phantom.

[@ichi1957]

I saw the Phantom at the newly remodeled Pantages. I fell in love with this magnificent musical and the phantom himself. We had to go back a couple of times more as I did not have enough of it. I haven't seen it again live but the movie with Gerard Butler was quite good. The music, the lyrics the actors and entire cast, I love them.

[@nedraleggett6837]

I liked the movie. Butler was good.

[@polnan1]

I have been through a personal difficult time and having loved all kinds of music all my life Couldnt listen to any music Then came across this on KZbin Always loved michaels singing and wow! Thankyou so much for this Wonderful

[@alyzu4755]

I saw POTO when it opened on Broadway in 1988. I was in the nosebleed seats and Michael Crawford's performance reached out to all of us. He was absolutely amazing!

[@angelaprince3482]

Hes so versatile. Its incredable

[@lesleymicuda4041]

I got completely utterly totally and blissfully lost within this once in a lifetime performance which I saw 5 times.... all with Crawford.... sigh....

[@lesleymicuda4041]

....and just watching this is drawing me back into it all over again

[@syra1541]

you're so lucky omg

[@rach5516]

How wonderful!

[@viiviwagner3240]

Michael Crawford did so well with the singing and acting. Sarah brightman has a very beautiful voice and that's all she's got

[@angelyndomingo1724]

I chuckled at "and that's all she's got"

[@bawoman]

I have to agree. She was never up to par with Crawford, acting wise, which is a shame. Voice wise, she remains one of my favorite though.

[@syra1541]

ahahahahaahhaa I meannn

[@tomtalker2000]

So sad too see this WONDERFUL musical come to an end. I was lucky enough too see Crawford and Brightman back in the 80's when they finally made it over to NY. I also saw Sierra Boggess and Ramin in their respective roles. WOW JUST WOW too both of them...!!! They had great chemistry together for sure. I was also shocked but not surprised too hear Andrew Lloyd Webber discussing how much it costs to put this production on each week. Something like close to a million dollars...!!! That's just insane but worth every penny. Especially, after he commented on the younger generation really taking an interest in this musical now. And i understand it's a cost cutting measure after all as a singer myself music doesn't make a lot of money folks. But their is something VERY special about this musical because it's more than just a love story at it's roots. It's about acceptance of one's differences. And individual being The Phantom who feels like an outcast of society. If that doesn't speak volumes and hold A TON of relevancy in today's political landscape. Especially, in the LGBTQ+ community which i'm a part of. Then i don't know what does. It's a damn shame it's being pulled. They younger generation deserves too see this live and in living color not on a computer or TV screen.

[@instinctivelychelsea2905]

I think that comedians are a perfect choice for darker roles based on what most comedians muses are which typically come from dark places. It seems counter intuitive but it works alot of the time ie; whoopi goldberg, Jim Carey , Robin Williams and so many more.

[@glamdolly30]

True - but in fact Michael Crawford was not merely a sitcom actor before 'Phantom', as this programme pretends - he had a very distinguished record in musicals. In the 'sixties he starred opposite Barbara Streisand in the movie 'Hello Dolly' and just before 'Phantom' got rave reviews onstage in the title role of 'Barnum', in which he sang throughout. It's laughable the way this documentary suggests it was shocking Lloyd Webber even considered him to play 'Phantom' - Crawford was an old hand at musicals, and eminently qualified for the role!

[@handoffate7262]

Just saw phantom on Broadway and can attest that the black lake sequence is indeed one of the most spectacular theatrical effects of all time.

[@lukegreen5341]

R.I.P Harold Prince. 1928 - 2019. X

[@analicious94]

Luke Green 😨

[@Apollostowel]

Practicing 6 hours a day, and Andrew was expecting that Lingling 40 hours. MC is the poster child for what that can do for your voice.

[@OccyDaBoss]

LINGLING

[@tree9322]

of all the places to find the 2set cult, a phantom of the opera video is NOT it omg tho, it's really comforting to see another lingling wannabe here

[@johndillard8588]

Excellent play, excellent opera excellent movie. Love her voice. A total understatement!

[@syra1541]

omg he's incredible

[@syra1541]

that's an understatement

[@jamesdaniels8007]

I went through the comments for any confirmation that I heard Colm Wilkenson's voice at 11:50 and was not disappointed.

[@darlenelogoluso1552]

MICHAEL WAS THE BEST PHANTOM EVER!!!

[@andrewloring6879]

Oh my goodness i grew up with Phantom, Michael Crawford Will always the phantom

[@ThornOfSociety]

It's sad as far as I know that they never got a recording(video) of one of the performances that could have made a dvd later on. Besides the odd music videos as shown here.

[@captaincrunch784]

Ohhhhhh I have one! A grainy, illegally shot fan bootleg from Ebay. Bought many years ago in 1998 I think.

[@kennyotoole1492]

Someone posted an original recording of past the point of no return with Sarah brightman and Michael Crawford so there must be a full version

[@user-pd2zq7gz9t]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWXQf2esgdWZi6s this one’s from the original cast but only ponr

[@KarenHackman-x9z]

Sir Michael Crawford is a wonderful singer and I love ❤️ him 2:15

[@bettetindel8416]

Please, please Michael Crawford record the beautiful song “Bring Him Home”

[@glamdolly30]

It's laughable how this programme pretends Michael Crawford was merely a little-known sitcom actor with no experience in musicals, before Lloyd Webber considered him for the Phantom. In fact Crawford was well known and highly accomplished in musicals - he starred in the 1960s movie 'Hello Dolly' opposite Barbra Streisand (he sang throughout), and took the lead to great reviews onstage in 'Barnum', again singing throughout. Michael Crawford was not a crazy, left-field choice for 'Phantom' at all!

[@user-ho7mg9ol7w]

The problem is that musical theatre then was different than it is now. If you didn't live in London you only got to see them during award shows or televised events, so to the majority of the UK he would've been Frank Spencer.

[@glamdolly30]

@@user-ho7mg9ol7w I agree, people back then were not so media or celebrity savvy. But this documentary was not made back then - my criticism is really of the TV producers who put this together with a silly, inaccurate agenda, and so misrepresented the facts. There's a clip somewhere on KZbin of Larry Grayson interviewing Michael Crawford in 1974 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where he starred in the musical 'Billy', with Elaine Paige. Though this musical is rarely mentioned today, Crawford got smash reviews for it, with national newspapers stating; 'A star is born', 'The most successful British musical since 'Oliver!' and 'It will hoist Michael Crawford into the ranks of superstars'. And that was after he starred in the huge, Hollywood movie musical 'Hello Dolly' opposite Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau! To pretend Crawford was merely a TV sitcom actor with no track record in big stage musicals when he landed 'Phantom', as this programme does, is untrue and ridiculously disingenuous.

[@jonathanlynch8372]

"What Telly viewers didn't realise was that Crawford already had a big stage career..." It makes that point in the clip, it doesn't pretend he was merely that sitcom star seguing into a musical role. He already had the pedigree for stage performance.

[@glamdolly30]

@@jonathanlynch8372 My original post stands. The programme narrative is that Crawford was an unlikely, left field choice for Phantom, which he most certainly was not.

[@thetenorfluteloser]

No experience?? What about A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum???

[@bethhaines6340]

At least he knows how it feels to be rejected,hes so sensitive and so wonderful

[@googleuser2874]

The part about him getting an erection is just hilarious. I died laughing at that part.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Not till I got the internet did I put Michael Crawford...with MICHAEL CRAWFORD.....shock, admiration, wonderment.....

[@fredsavitz3602]

Let's not forget his turn as Barnaby in the movie version of Hello Dolly & Funny thing happened on the way to the forum

[@jacobkeppler1984]

What a great musical

[@KarenHackman-x9z]

Michael Crawford is fantastic doing the phantom 3:30

[@randylove]

Michelle is and always will be the best at the phantom

[@LanceKillerRyan]

Genius. Gorgeous!

[@dohaperson1]

Yes, it is Colm Wilkinson...and Rebecca Caine, one of the very best Christines...

[@virginiafry9854]

He was so funny in this sitcom

[@robertpamler5372]

One off the true grates👌

[@imisstoronto3121]

That opening sequence is pure Buster Keaton.

[@mariashelly6392]

Absolutely wonderful!

[@dwilliams2068]

I always wonder what would have happened if Christine hadn't ripped up his manuscripts.

[@terpjh4634]

He was a great performer in Hello Dolly movie.

[@Kalentros]

Does anyone have a link to the full uncut documentary?

[@princessJayNay22]

Why are they showing Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Caine from the 1990 Canadian Cast of Phantom.

[@MrDavey2010]

The oft repeated tale is that Crawford was lucky to get Phantom all due to Sarah Brightman suggesting him to her then- husband, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, as they had the same music teacher. This is a lovely tale giving a mythology to the original production but is wholly inaccurate. Crawford had heard about the forthcoming Phantom musical and actively lobbied for the role. He’s undoubtedly very talented but he’s ruthless too.

[@Karyn3112]

MrDavey2010 When it opened it was an amazing show, although I didn’t think Sarah Brightman was the best fit for Christine, hard to explain just not right somehow. Over the years with the changes in cast and crew it just seems to have got better & better the 25 Anniversary show with Sierra and Ramin was absolutely mind blowing ........ just my opinion 😊

[@sgillman16]

Steve Harley got it first, then they only went with Crawford after he was fired

[@MrDavey2010]

sgillman16 Harley thought the role was his as he appeared in the original video but he wasn’t actually contracted for the stage show. Consequently he wasn’t sacked in favour of Crawford. He was deeply hurt and disappointed for good reason.

[@contagiousintelligence5007]

@@Karyn3112 Webber wrote this role for Sarah so …

[@wengfong6742]

Don’t they know he was in the movie Hello Dolly! With Barbra Streisand?

[@troygaspard6732]

He played Hero in the film of A Funny Thing Happen to Me on the Way to the Form. How the hell did Hal Prince not know who he was?

[@daniellemusella1594]

@TroyGaspard The first role I ever heard him in was slightly-post-"Phantom". I was in either first or second grade, and a family friend, who worked at a video store, suggested a movie called "Once Upon A Forest" to me. The voice of Cornelius, the badger-teacher, never completely left my brain, though I wouldn't know who he was until I was in my freshman year of high-school. I was so happy to finally be able to put a face to an incredible voice, and I loved how much of a kindred spirit-ship I felt towards a lot of his backstory. (12/5/2021)

[@imisstoronto3121]

That was the film version and I think it was filmed at Pinewood Studios in London UK. This wasn't the Broadway play that he would know.

[@hell0hkitty]

instead of a little boat on the lake they should have taken a greyhound bus.

[@billyray5232]

Not even being mean...but that wasn't Funny...at all, I mean seriously...at all.

[@jenflorzinha]

Eu nunca entendia o motivo da Christine sair assustada quando o fantasma está ali na grade em music of the night e ela chega perto dele e depois sai assustada. Gente, só agora eu entendi e ri muito. Eu nunca ia imaginar que era esse o motivo kk

[@LanceKillerRyan]

Didn't know this about him. cool.

[@meemurthelemur4811]

I have a hard time reconciling the sexuality, and especially the plot of Love Never Dies, where the Phantom is revealed to be the father of Christine's son with the line at the end of Point of No Return when the Phatom says "that fate which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me the joys of the flesh."

[@vittoriahawksworth8117]

A Meemur I assumed that meant that because of his disfigurement he was having little luck with the ladies…

[@sandee3073]

I don’t think the Phantom was saying he was impotent or unable to have sex. I think he meant that his looks, which resulted in him being punished and hidden away, also prevented him from being able to attract a woman to have sex with him. There were prostitutes that he could have sought out, but he didn’t want to reveal himself to anyone. He was trapped...until Christine.

[@daniellemusella1594]

@@sandee3073 Exactly. Also, Erik made that statement DURING the original story, and Gustav was conceived AFTER all those events had happened. (12/5/2021)

[@nedraleggett6837]

I have a vcr tape of him in Barnum. Can't play it. But keeping it.

[@chrischarles5233]

For the lair scene toward the end ot was Colm Wilkinson singing!

[@billyray5232]

Why had no one tried to Adapt Susan Kay's Book Phantom to Film? It's the Definitive Origin Story For Erik!

[@vShaede]

Oh, I love that book! Read it a few times, and it got better with each read. 😊

[@Sarah-zr1nj]

A theater company in Japan did. It’s on KZbin.

[@Xushish]

If Sarah didn’t curl her hair is smth would Christine have has straight hair?

[@songdreamer142]

It seems strange and wrong that they use Colm Wilkinson's singing at 11:50 instead of Michael Crawford. Other than that, I think this is interesting and well done...and of course, Michael is prominent, so what's not to like.

[@joekaput747]

Tardy, but whatever Colm technically is the ORIGINAL phantom, as he was the phantom when Andrew gave a preview at his home theater

[@Luka1180]

@@joekaput747 Yes, but a preview is not an "official premiere."

[@bethhaines6340]

Youre so phenomanal

[@neilpritchard768]

❤️🖤❤️🙏🏼🌍✌🏼

[@jws1948ja]

And I want to know more.

[@manongrootenhuis9411]

NO ONE IS TALKING ABT GILLIAN LYNN AND I AM DISAPPOINTED

[@britannia55]

Dry ice, lol who left the stag door open,

[@MrNoUsername]

Left together Left together POINT! And... Right together Right together Point

[@KarenHackman-x9z]

Fantastic is all l can say 13:17

[@nicklu8759]

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[@bethhaines6340]

I wonder if he ever got nervous

[@saxongirl2054]

Hal Prince was a King for accepting to direct the show after the scumbag mackintosh fired him.

[@KrystalHarwood-z1b]

andrew should talk to tommy johansson...ahem

[@michaelsmiley15]

Hopefully no instruments were damaged for dry ice

[@amyclarke41]

Ramin tried too and Scott Davis

[@polarbear1807]

The choreographer is kinda weird lol

[@saxongirl2054]

The 25th concert was a travesty, John Owen Jones & Katie Hall SHOULD have been the cast. Like Michael and Sarah, they actually matched The Phantom and Christine unlike others people gush about.Gillian Lynne adored John. He deserved so much better. I so regret have looked up this show and wasted my time.

[@sashach99]

Love how they never mentioned Steve Harvey was actually training for the phantom and was informed by press he was no longer the phantom....they also utilized Clair Moore as christine and Sarah was not on at all times. They never mentioned Colm Wilkinson premiered the show actually at the festival...basically this is a misleading piece...and I'm a huge fan of phantom and these artists but wish there was more truth.

[@blondewriter99]

That’s all in the documentary. This is a version edited down to focus on Michael that the poster chose to do.

[@SuperWolsey]

Not THAT Steve Harvey ..

[@noimandersen]

i think you meant steve harley!😅

[@ellioshiem7892]

I didn't think his voice was that great......

[@contagiousintelligence5007]

Yeah, I don’t see the fuss