The Phantom of the Opera (1989 film)
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The Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture is 1989 film based on Gaston Leroux's novel and was directed by Dwight H. Little.
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[edit] Synopsis
A newer, gorier version of the classic 1910 Gaston Leroux tale has A Nightmare on Elm Street's Robert Englund playing the Phantom. Christine Daae is a young broadway singer in New York City. She is auditioning for a show, and comes across an old piece of music written nearly 100 years before by an unknown musician name Erik Destler. Destler it seems had made a pact with the devil (maybe by accident) so the world would love his music, the catch was Erik's face would be left horribly disfigured forever. Once Christine sings his music for an audition, she is hit with a sandbag, thus follows a presumed flashback into the past roughly around 1881, where she was the star in the London Opera House. There she is coached by a mysterious "Phantom" who will do anything to make his protege a star, even if it means murder. Christine soon finds out that her teacher is in fact Destler, whom she comes to loathe.
[edit] Cast
- Erik Destler aka The Phantom of the Opera: Robert Englund
- Christine Daae: Jill Schoelen
- Richard Dutton: Alex Hyde-White
- Barton: Bill Nighy
- Carlotta: Stephanie Lawrence
- Inspector Hawkins: Terence Harvey
- Davies: Nathan Lewis
- Harrison: Peter Clapham
- Meg (New York): Molly Shannon
- Meg (London): Emma Rawson
- Mott: Mark Ryan
- The Rat Catcher: Yehuda Efroni
- Joseph Buquet: Terence Beesley
- Elise: Ray Jewers
- Roland: Robin Hunter
- Sarah: Virginia Fiol
- Esther: Cathy Murphy
- Bartender: Andre Thornton Grimes
- Maddie: Jaclyn Mendoza
- The Devil: John Ghavan
- House Mother: Ottilia Borbáth
- Maitre D': Lajos Dobák
- Cardplayers:
- Mickey Epps
- László Szili
- Workmen:
- Patrick Burke
- Jonathan Linsley
- Tommy Wright
- László Baranyi
[edit] Comparison with the original and other versions
In this version of 'The Phantom of the Opera' the main action is transferred from Leroux's Paris Opera House to a London Opera House of the same period (but unlike the original, and most of the other adaptations, there is no falling chandelier scene). However in many respects this film is more faithful to the spirit and letter of the original than many other better known adaptations. In particular the Faustian element present in the book is emphasised - with a staging of Gounod's Faust as in the original, here a reminder of Erik's Satanic pact. The sadism of Leroux's original Erik, who, as in the novel, festoons the Opera with rope traps, is retained here, unlike in more sentimental versions. In a gory touch, the Phantom's original black mask is now a mask stitched together out of the flesh of his victims. The mysterious violinist at the cemetery is also retained in this version. Of the other characters Carlotta is here decapitated by the Phantom (unlike the novel where she survives) and the Rat Catcher of the sewers meets a grisly fate.
[edit] Critical Reception
The film was a box office failure when released, grossing under $4 million in the U.S. This can probably be attributed to an over-saturation of horror films in theaters in 1989, a trend which also hurt the box office of the Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The 13th sequels, as well as the poor timing of releasing a horror-themed Phantom film at the height of popularity for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Reviews were not enthusiastic, and many Phantom fans have never watched the movie based on its reputation as a 'slasher film'.
Today it enjoys a small but devoted group of admirers, who appreciate how the film does not downplay Erik's violent side as many other adaptations do, as well as the stylish direction and theatrical performances.
[edit] Music
Fans of the film regard the soundtrack to be especially underrated. The original music written for the film by Misha Segal (also known for the soundtrack to The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking) won a 1989 Brit for best soundtrack. Of particular interest to fans of the original novel is Segal's rendition of the Phantom's opera composition 'Don Juan Triumphant' with the Phantom on the organ and Christine singing.
Like in the novel and silent film version, Christine is seen performing as Marguerite in a production of Gounod's Faust, though this time we actually hear her voice. Appearing in the background of the performance are the figures of Faust and Mephisto (symbolic of the Phantom's own pact with the Devil in this film). Christine's singing of recitatives from Gounod's Faust score is more faithful to the original novel than the Lloyd-Webber musical and film: in which an imaginary opera is invented for the occasion.
[edit] Planned Sequel
Robert Englund was under contract to appear in a sequel, but it was canceled after the film's poor reception, and has been the subject of numerous rumors. Fangoria Magazine claimed in 1991 that the script was re-written into what became Dance Macabre (1991), also starring Englund. At one point the Internet Movie Database claimed that an entire Phantom sequel had actually been shot and then shelved.
Englund confirmed in a 2004 interview that a script had been written, and while he personally felt it was superior to the first film, it had never been filmed in any capacity.
