Phantom of the Opera

John Chard

Well it's one of the most beautiful Universal Horror movies out there. Phantom of the Opera is directed by Arthur Lubin and features a collective of writers adapting from Gaston Leroux's novel. It stars Nelson Eddy, Claude Rains, Edgar Barrier, Susanna Foster, Leo Carrillo and Jane Farrar. Music is by Edward Ward and cinematography by W. Howard Greene. The Leroux source material has been adapted a number of times. This version sees Universal update their own 1925 silent version that starred Lon Chaney, and give it a Technicolor make over whilst practically making it a musical picture. Even making it a light comedy in parts! It is undeniably a gorgeous picture, both visually and aurally, for the sets and operatic tunes alone this could never be called a dull movie. But we want horror, it's an horrific tale of murder, disfigurement, disloyalty and unbridled passions, we don't want to be watching a Phantom of the Opera movie where at any moment you expect the cast to start singing "ding dong the witch is dead". Cast are mostly fine as regards the tone of the piece, though Rains barely gets his teeth into the role of the Phantom and comes off more like Zorro or the Lone Ranger. While Lubin and his crew give the whole production a professional polish. But is this horror? No, never, and that's a shame given it's from the torch bearers for classic horror of the 30s and 40s. 5/10