I Review the Silent Phantom of the Opera (1925 Film)
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
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Phantom of the Opera (1929 BFI Eastman Print)
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The amount of skill Chaney had makes sense to me after finding out his parents were deaf.
Apparently in the reshot ending, Lon opens his hands and Christine's wedding veil flys away before the mob moves in, but they lost the shot and replaced it with some rehearsal take where he had nothing in his hand. *shakes head in disappointment* as if the ending wasn't dumb enough...
The original album ending was even closer to the book. Erik dies of a broken heart by Christine's kiss just as the mob breaks in. Chaney fought for this ending but after test screenings, the audience didn't Iike it.
I think it’s funny how Christine is just shocked out of her mind that there’s a frickin coffin in the lair and Erik is just like “That is where I sleep”
I have the same issue with this film. It’s so perfectly accurate and beautifully crafted.. except for that heinous ending. I saw a clip on CZcams one time where it showed stills of the original ending and dialogue to accompany it, which was so much more satisfying than the ending we see today.
Would you say this is your favorite Phantom adaptation?
Definitely. At the end of the day, there's just something magical about this film. But I've seen the stills and will always hope someone manages to find the lost ending.
@@LittleLotteWanders same, a lot of lost scenes were actually found recently, so maybe we'll find the ending
Supposedly the original ending got a poor reaction in theatres & that's why the studio changed it, therefore utility director Edward Sedgwick was hired to provide a climactic chase scene.
While it's my favorite film adaptation of all time, I never cared for Sedgwick's ending either. Even as a kid I shook my head watching that scene.
What kind of stupid critics would not like the original ending
@@broadwayking It was not critics it was test audiences and morality campaigners - Erik had done bad things so there must be punishment, the idea that someone could be redeemed would have flown in Europe but not in the US where everything had to be (like most of the movie, haha) black and white.
@@finncullen thanks for letting me know
I'd love to see a remake of the 1925 film. I'd love to see modern actors re-do some of these lines and wear similar costumes. Not that this movie is bad-it's really good! It's a truly entertaining film and Lon Chaney is amazing. However, it would be cool for a modern audience to see this story as its told here. Maybe the creators could even re-do the deleted footage (the graveyard scene and end with Erik with a broken heart?) :)
As a Phan, I get the idea, but this was so SO as close to the source material.. a "remake" would just seem comical and borderline parody, a mockery of what they accomplished. You'd have to find actors who can recapture the emotions but with sound..
It is a hell of a lot more book accurate than the Boris Karloff Frankenstein
He died of a broken heart like in the book
thanks for the heart
This film is one of my favourite films period and it’s my favourite film adaption minus the crap ending. Even Lon Chaney wanted the original ending and sadly due to the producers and early studio audiences, they demanded the ending changed. I would be happy if they cut the ending. Otherwise, despite that, it’s a gem.
The organ bit at 11:17 had me cackling! That was brilliant!
It was probably my favorite part to film 😂
I would love if it had a more romantic ending such as the book, but I found it really funny the way Eric raise his hand, makes everybody stop with fear in their eyes and than he's like ''nope, you are all idiots''
It was my absolutely first silent movie ever and actually, quite a strong experience. As much I will never be a die-hard fan of silent movies, I do like and admire this one. It's - as you said - almost novel-faithful, except for the what-the-heck ending changed for whatever the reason it was :) Great review as always!!!
appearently it was because the original ending got a poor reception, and audiences thought erik needed to be punished for his crimes so it was changed by order of edward sedgwick
Thank you so much for doing this review. It means the world to me. This is my faverate POTO film and I think it's probably one of the more faithfull re-tellings of the original novel. (Of course it isn't 100% accurate, but it's the most accurate one I've seen). I love you and your channel so much. I have a really messed up mental state and your channel is the perfect place to come to if I need to calm down, so thank you for that. Thank you for being super duper phantastic. Love you so much (nearly as much as Erik - nearly).
I'm always so happy to be able to bring joy to people. It's one of the reasons I started this channel- so that I could share my joy with others. It makes my heart so full that I'm able to be a method of catharsis when you need it.
Have you seen the cartoon? Cause it's like insanely accurate. I've also heard about the big Finnish audio drama, which is supposedly very accurate.
@@juliadietrich3584 I need to look up the Finnish drama! I love Finland and actually started teaching myself the language back in high school. 😂
@@LittleLotteWanders the discord group I mentioned before has like *everything.* Audiobooks, movies, ebooks, stuff like that. And sorry if I seem pushy about that. I just find it really cool, and it seems like something you'd like.
Yaay! I've been waiting for you to review this film!❤️ I love this movie and Mary and Lon really look for me similar to Christine and Phantom, but that Raoul with moustache... I don't want to talk about it. He looks for me almost the same age as Persian.
Omg I know... it's so bad lol. And he looks way to old.
The only way to rate this adaptation is to judge by what the original LA Preview version was; which included the graveyard scene, the novel's sequence of showing Christine's initial abduction as a flashback during the rooftop scene, the Ledoux character indeed being "The Persian", and of course the kiss/heartbreak/death ending. Other tidbits being scenes in which Erik plays the violin behind Christine's mirror during her lessons, and also a random but touching scene of Erik returning to the house on the lake in the gondola after the rooftop scene weeping in full Red Death costume. This version was over three hours long! Another bit written but never filmed was a flashback of Erik in Persia.
If we judge by what this original version would have looked like (Chaney himself favored accuracy to the source material), this is truly a definitive adaptation and the finest to date.
I have never met anyone who gets as hyped about this version of POTO as I do, especially when it comes to Lon Chaney and his performance in this film. I love your channel, you’re relatable and hilarious, and I’m glad to be a subscriber!!! 🌹🌹🌹
The original ending was cut because the test audiences thought erik didn't deserve redemption after all of the people he killed which... Goes against the very meaning of the original book
Lon Chaney's Erik is the only one who actually didn't kill (alongside with Cherik), it was just because he was deformed (I mean, he killed the Count, but it's because he was invading his house just like the original novel, self defense).
My first black cat was Loni.Named for the man of a thousand faces himself, Lon Chaney. Loni was with me for 15 wonderful years
I love this version of POTO, in fact it's my favourite version so far, simply because it's so close to the book... The ending though, ugh. I have always wondered with Eric driving the carriage, where was he going? He wouldn't know his way around because he had been living under the Opera House for years, so what destination did he have in mind? ... I love when after bringing Christine down to his lair the first time, after she goes up the little steps into his home, I love how Eric walks up the stairs after her. It's the best way to walk up stairs, I will die on this hill. I want an excuse to wwlk up steps just like that... I also love all of Lon Chaney's hand gestures in this movie. I like to try to mimic them as I am watching. He communicates so much with a little hand gesture.
Really well done video & review of the film. I think it's great that someone as young as you can appreciate such an old yet timeless film. You clearly have a passion that comes though in this video. Subbed!
Thank you! I'm actually a huge fan of silent films. Phantom, Nosferatu, and Hunchback of Notre Dame are my favorites. I really want to also see The Man Who Laughs!
@@LittleLotteWanders czcams.com/video/L7NdMu4ZvvY/video.html
Here you go lol
Thank you for discussing this classic story. My favorite version of the many interpretations has always been the original book, but movie-wise, Lon Chaney's phantom has been at the top of my list due to keeping many of the original horror elements from the book that other versions more romanticized. There is one thing about the book however that I never liked or accepted, and that was its ending. We'll have to disagree on that, as I have applauded the film makers for realizing the original ending does not give a satisfying conclusion to the horror story they built up. At the end of the day, the story was about someone whose hatred prevents him from knowing other emotions and can't tell the difference between love and obsession. Him dying of a broken heart breaks with the murdering character that was created. I still remember the fear I felt for Christine while reading the moment on the roof when she lost the ring Erik gave her to wear to protect her from the phantom's destructive acts and not knowing what he might do to her as a result. But I'm just a random commenter, my opinion doesn't mean anything. Thank you again for your video and for the links. I look forward to watching more of your reviews thanks to this video!
I agree with you totally. Erik's fate was die for being a psycopath murderer, completely obsessed to Christine. He only could love her as a prisoner, as his property. Poor phantom.
That's not my viewpoint at all on the novel version of Erik. Quite the opposite, actually.
@@LittleLotteWanders It speaks to the brilliance of Leroux's story. Enough pieces of multiple genres, like romance, horror, and mystery are put into place to allow the reader's imagination to decide what the focal points are for them. It's those secrets of writing that separate everyday stories from timeless ones like this :)
@@vidimur1977 He is neither a murderer or a "psychopath" - this term, actually, is an ableist and outdated term for Antisocial Personality Disorder, a disorder that Erik doesn't have. He gets REDEEMED in the novel, and you know what is truly disgusting? Someone thinking that an outcasted mentally unstable ABUSE SURVIVOR like Erik deserved to die like in the 1925s movie, and unvaluing his GENUINE LOVE for Christine, something he showed since the beginning of the story. People like you are the reason why the 1925s PotO's ending was ruined, such a disgrace to the phandom and to Leroux's legacy. Shamless ableism and misunderstood of the original novel.
It's not "an interpretation", you're just disturbingly wrong. "Uwu adaptations romanticizes the book" the book is THE MOST ROMANCTIZED VERSION OF POTO, Erik is a LOVABLE, PASSIONATE *ABUSE SURVIVOR,* who was searching for LOVE and ACCEPTENCE. Of course you didn't like the ending of the novel, because you didn't understand absolutely NOTHING about the story or the character. Erik got redeemed and forgiven, even though he was right during most part of the story. And of course you think Erik's love isn't real... because he is deformed and mentally unstable. That's the reason 😊
Christine felt horror for him because of his FACE, she herself confesses that she would love him back if he was handsome. Erik was betrayed, manipulated and abused his whole life, he is a victim. Yet still, he let Christine go out of LOVE for her. True, your opinion doesn't matter because it's just wrong. You truly believe you are a pure moralist who understand mercy the same way you wished an abuse survivor to die horribly 😂 oh, the hipocrisy...
The random man near the beginning is Simon buquet, Joseph's brother. Why is he there? I dont know. What purpose does he serve? I dont know. Why is he put in the credits and not joseph? I reallllly dont know. But hes there and joseph isnt.
@11:17 I literally had to pause the video because I couldn’t stop laughing! 😂😂
Great Review !!!!!!……… Chaney could make you cry even just with his hand Gestures....because Both of His Parents Were Born Deaf Mutes and he Lived in A World Of Silence for his Entire Youth. He spoke in Sign Language only until he was 9 years old . Lon Chaney made close to 200 films but unfortunately almost 160 have been lost due to the films being melted down for their Silver ( they were made out of Silver Nitrate Then ). You have tremendous sincerity and enthusiasm for your Review, Lotte....A+++. ......My late Father actually saw most of Chaney’s films way back in the 1920s and his enthusiasm was imparted to me for Lon Chaney. I own the 40 Chaney Films that are available today. I have a couple of GREAT Suggestions for your future Reviews: THE PENALTY, 1920 Starring Lon Chaney...dig this plot: a young boy is hit by a car and an incompetent Doctor amputates both Legs Up to the knees Unnecessarily !…… Chaney is then Shown as an adult but walking on his knees ...NO LEGS AT ALL...no special effects !…… I kid you not...Chaney almost crippled himself in this Movie because of his insistence of tying his legs around his back to make the effect TOTALLY REALISTIC !…… IT WORKS ! Google images Chaney in The Penalty when you have a chance...it is also on CZcams ...THE COMPLETE FILM ! It is THE Very MEANEST role of his career.... BUT.....redemption always lurks in Chaney’s Films... Another must see is Chaney’s unforgettable Role of unrequited Love In “ Laugh, Clown Laugh “ ...it is in a fantastic Turner Dvd Set with Several Chaney Films...your fans will go nuts ! The Film Score was written by a young man that won a Competition for Composers...out of 4000 Entries this fellow won. His name is H. Scott Salinas.....one of the Greatest Silent Movie Scores I’ve ever heard, and Music is my Life ( I’m a Classical Pianist
...Masters Degree from Juilliard etc. ). I wrote to this young Genius a few years ago and I told him how much his Talent impressed me . We stay in touch. I’m sorry if I’ve tired you out, Lotte.....BUT....when I’m started on Chaney, I just don’t Stop ! I am now Subscribing to Your Channel !……and telling all my friends about your Reviews....Have a Great New Year !!!!
Webber and Crawford admitted to watching the Lon Chaney version.
The mask of the red death color scene in “Phantom of the opera“ was actually filmed in technicolor. It wasn’t colorized after the fact.
I think that the best adaptation and the most clever one is Phantom of the Paradis, using Faust as a story plot add a lot of sence to the phantom's myth and changing the time period doesn't denature the story. A movie doesn't need to be 100% faithful to be a good adaptation for me.
What do you think of that movie :) ?
The 1925 silent film is my favorite version of Phantom of the opera which i play around Halloween time!!
I always wished I could see the original ending. I too think I would've liked it better.
You mentioned the lost version from 1916 well that was a German adaptation so it was probably destroyed during WWII
At the end from what I remember reading was what he pretended to have in his hand, was a grenade or some sort of explosive. That's why they all backed off suddenly. He then revealed there was nothing there allowing the phantom to have his final jester moment on the mob before being beaten to death.
I love this film, truly one of the best horror films of the silent era. I wish we were able to see the original ending that was filmed that was actually closer to the book where the Phantom dies of a broken heart after Christine kissed him, but since test audiences didn’t like that ending and thought the Phantom deserved an ending fitting for the terrible things he’s done, it was reshot and we have the ending we know today and really the film is excellent regardless of the original ending being lost now. Who knows, maybe that ending will show up somewhere. Lost footage and films seem to show up every so often, so maybe once the 100th anniversary comes around in a few years we might get some word about a new release of the film like on 4K Blu-Ray and if there’s anything regarding the original ending being found. Lon Chaney was one of the best actors of his time, his dedication with the makeup he applied to himself is astonishing and it’s unfortunate he only did one sound film as I think he could have had a longer career had he not died. All in all, this is a great film and it’s cool to hear you talk about it. Great video!
In the Original ending ,Not only that , Christine also kissed his forehead. Erik dies while playing Wedding march For Christine and Raoul and Raoul catches him. The Mob then buries him in his coffin. 😭😭😭
I showed this film to my class...they hated it 😥
What uncultured swine... ugh. Lol
@@LittleLotteWanders I know right?
The ending definitely ruined it. Also just a small opinion of mine, but I found the mask creepier than his real face.
i love this film. i love erik the character the most. ( i always thought he looked kinda cute without his mask TBH)
Well from what I heard Lon Chaney wanted the movie to be more accurate to the book because much like The Hunchback of Notre Dame he really enjoyed the novel and wanted to make it into a movie but the studio heads at first really didn't like it. But since The Phantom of the opera had romance it's story they agreed and yes as you said last second before the movie was released the studio once again butted heads with Chaney because they wanted more action but Chaney really wanted the movie to be accurate to the book sadly in the end the studio heads got their crappy ending which funny thing no one liked. But they still filmed the original ending which got mixed feelings.
Exactly right! Just more proof that these Hollywood big shots don't actually know what they're doing half the time. Nobody seems to understand "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
@@LittleLotteWanders Yeah it's why so many people are going and making either their own studio or working for new up and coming ones like Powerhouse. I don't work for Hollywood but there are so many people who are well sick of them.
@@FayBelleRose233 I know an independent studio called Infami Entertainment is currently working on a Leroux faithful film. Very excited.
@@LittleLotteWanders Really is it live action or animated?
@@FayBelleRose233 Live 💜
I have seen it in the cinema with an organist and a soprano providing acompaniment.
Stage 28 is the oldest lot still standing to this day I believe. I could be wrong but I don't believe it has been taken down.
I would be SO happy if that's true! I heard it got demolished in recent years.
LittleLotteWanders google stage 28. They do tours and you can still visit the very soundstage where the film was made. The very spot where Lon Chaney once stood
www.thestudiotour.com/wp/studios/universal-studios-hollywood/front-lot/soundstages/stage-28/
Apparently it was demolished in 2014 to make room for a Nintendo theme park? with parts of the soundstage being saved.
7:38 Another black and white movie actor who has some of the best hand gestures is Conrad Veidt.
I agree the ending was not perfect and it would have been the perfect Phantom film if they stuck with the original story of Erik dying of a broken heart and not being beaten and drowned by an angry mob. They also cut a scene in the film where we see Christine kiss Erik.
Phantom of the opera is my favorite musical 😊
Will you ever ever do a review of the phantom of the paradise? Thank you!
Absolutely!
@@LittleLotteWanders Thank you! I love your content by the way, keep it up! :)
I recently watched that movie and definitely liked it
The film ending is much sadder ,that he got killed by Mob. Just shows that even at that time People were stupid and stigmatized such people. The war veterans,that were horribly disfigured went through the same treatment. We can cry that film didn't get the original ending but what about real life? Erik still, committed murders but innocent people suffered too.
It's only after movies like The Elephant Man , Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame , people became less .... monsters (?)
8:35 Well... in the case, if you think what Erik suffered in just fictional and unreal, here's your answer. People *fainting* because of an ugly face. Yep. And he is not even that ugly, i think he is beautiful in his own exotic ways. It's horribly tragic to think that, in this age, people really thought facial (and other part of body) deformity were something demoniac, that THIS IS WHY THE ENDING IS SO BAD. Erik WOULD have his redemption and he would die in a poetic way, but the stupid critics said Erik was a "monster" and he deserved to be "punished"... by the horrible crime of borning ugly lmao. All of this facts makes the Phantom of the Opera such a tragic, human story. I already read a friend's comment, and it's simply beautiful:
"The Phantom of The Opera is, simply, divine. the anguish of a man frightened by comorbidities and contempt of society, make us reflect how cruel human nature is. But love redeems, and even if it does not unite two people in love, it heals, from within, in the soul, these terrible afflictions."
Hi there my name is Everett and I'm visually impaired completely and I tried to find Phantom of the Opera but every version I found didn't have audio and so to me it was just kind of pointless not fitting that you know I don't understand what was going on can somebody please explain to me where I can find one with audio that I can understand what's happening
Thank you! Your words are my feelings exactly about this film. Here are a few things that I've learned about the film: First, I think this film is a missed opportunity and a big slap in the face of Gaston Leroux. Leroux, himself, promoted his book to Carl Laemmle and gave his support and blessing to the film. From what I've read from Wikipedia, filming went through several scene changes, rewrites, and reshoots before they've settled with the final film we know today. And from what I've read, it was grueling. Why so many changes? One reason is that the crew worked under a dictator-like director, who made everyone miserable. But the biggest reason is that the test audiences were never satisfied with the final film even when it completely honored the book.
As for the ending of the film, here's why they changed it: "Because of the preview audience's poor reaction, the studio decided to change the ending to a more exciting one." I also thought I've read somewhere that the audience didn't think Erik was a sympathetic character and felt that he deserved to be punished by the people he terrorized. But I can't find that source. That is why they also changed the Persian's character. They hired a Middle-Eastern man to play the role and dressed him as the Persian because that is what his role was initially. He was the Persian! But when they decided to change his character, they didn't bother to change his costume because they didn't want to waste money on reshoots.
A lady here whose name is, Antonia Carlotta, is related to the Laemmles. She has some very interesting insight into the film's creation and I would recommend anyone interested to click on this link: czcams.com/video/I4-WPbhn2CA/video.html She also has more Phantom-related videos on her channel.
First you say it's lost, then you say it's restored by recovering fragments, and then you say there are two separate cuts of the film released in separate years. Please make up your mind!!!!!!
If you listen to the video I explain what's lost. The original cut is. Someone found fragments of it and pieced together into what we have now. It's not the complete film. And yes, another version was released in 1929 where the footage was restored and voice dubbing was added, and they did mix around some of the scenes.
However, aside from the reshot ending I would still say the restored print that survived is pretty close if not identical to the original 1925 theatrical cut. (New cuts and other lost films are being found almost every other year, like Metropolis 1927)
At some point you should do a review of the 1943 remake starring Claude Rains. I personally like it because of Rains performance in it
Great review! Can't wait to check it out.
I just agree so much with you!! This movie is so, so excellent, but the ending is so... man, why? If it wasn't because of this ending, poor unhappy Erik would never be wrongly associated with monsters. Also, the Daroga is there and everything, but he is white and he's not Erik's friend anymore. It bores me so much! But, besides this, is a completely masterpiece.
Also, any Chaney's Erik dialog: 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ PERFECT SWEET HE NEVER MISSES
Oh I agree with all of it. It would have been one of the greatest phantom movies, if only there wouldn't have done that kind of ending. It was so wrong.
But otherwise, it would have been one of the best.
❤️❤️🌹🌹
The 1925 version with the Gaylord Carter score is the best. Too many times this film version has been put out with sub-par scores that don't fit the creepy theme. Also, the ending in the 1925 version is perfect. The ending from the book was cheesy and ridiculous and too out there.
My guy, the Leroux ending is what gives the entire moral of the story. Otherwise it’s just a run of the mill horror story. All of the symbolism during the climax is highly important and why the story is still so revered.
@@LittleLotteWanders Gotta disagree with you there. It actually is a run-of-the-mill horror story wrapped up in the delusional love fantasies of a homicidal maniac. In that way, the ending of the 1925 fit. Each succeeding take on the story, all the way up to ALW's Broadway hit adding its own take, with that one choosing to emphasize true love (Christine/Raoul) over fantasized love (Phantom/Christine).
New subscriber, yeah the ending is a bit tacked on, a bit cliché really. But I think its a classic. I've never read the book but if they made a remake in France that follows the source material perfect, I believe it could top the original, which is very difficult to do sometimes.
It's sad that we may never know how the true sequences went in the original. But I've found a version here that I enjoyed the most and it made the most sense out of all the versions I've seen. Check it out! czcams.com/video/WN0T2S4q9so/video.html🥰
I love your review. This is one of my all-time favorites! You mentioned that ending sequence. I am not sure which sequence I would have preferred. I kinda wish they would have found some way to incorporate the original ending, but the writer, Ray Bradbury, gave an explanation for the symbolism of the “grenade” in the hands illusion. Posting that segment here for you from: “Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces” which premiered on TCM in 2000. Loved this documentary and it is a must-see! It may be on CZcams.
czcams.com/video/02q_QyJ-XG0/video.html
Great film ... literally watching the film as I watch this review... shout-out to Lord blood-rah
Ilove you somuch miss you
Silent films are hilarious... Even when they're not supposed to be.
The ending confused me 2
9.5 out of 10
Blame 1925 audiences for the ending. The original ending of Erik being redeemed by Christine's kiss and dying at the organ was not well received. Audiences didn't want to see him be redeemed, they wanted him to pay for his crimes. Thus we got the ending we know today with the chase by the mob. 1925 audiences, it's your fault we don't have the perfect Leroux-accurate movie that we should have gotten! Uncultured swines!
Also the movie was originally going to have the Persian even the actor who played him was born in the middle east (specifically Armenia)
Hello there, I just watched this one and I enjoyed it a lot. First silent film and Phantom movie I’ve ever seen. Though I gotta say, the first time I heard about this character was through an old English cartoon (I must have been around 7), link below in case you want to review it 😅 I just rewatched that (I’m now 31) and it is pretty silly but I’m happy to learn where the references came from. You have a cool channel btw 👍🏼
czcams.com/video/4glGhG8rFXc/video.html
Girl your lash I want to help you out
I knowwww it kept coming off, it makes me cringe so bad 😂😂
@@LittleLotteWanders I'm surprised that you didn't mention that Raoul was reasonably likable in this movie mostly because of simple changes such as him and Christine already being in love at the start of the movie, his reaction to hearing the "angel" in Christine's room seemingly being confusion rather than anger and leaving out most of the worst things he did in the book