SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

In this edition of my Fright Fest I travel all the way to Paris to visit the infamous Paris Opera House. That's right, this is my review of the classic 1925 version of the Phantom of The Opera.

The Paris Opera house has famously been host to several mysterious actidents, not to mention it actually sits on top of some catacombs. It is the rich history of the famous Opera House (that actually still stands today) that inspired Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, which has been adapted into many films. In this version, the Opera has been host to many mysterious goings-ons that have been attributed to a Phantom. During a production of Faust, the incidents get more and more grisly. At the center of the mystery is one Christine Daae, who has been tutored by a mysterious figure in the musical arts. Christine finds herself trapped in a love triangle between old childhood friend Raoul and the mysterious Phantom, and her final descision as to who she chooses could hold disasterous consequences.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most highly respected horror films of all time. The film was made in 1925, back when there were no such things as talkies or sound (yes, the film is a silent one, but the music that plays throughout each scene is great). It was filmed in it's entirety at Universal City, California and indeed some of the sets still stand hidden inside soundstages today. In fact, the Opera Theater set is supposedly still haunted by the Phantom to this day.

The film famously stars one of cinema's greatest icons, Lon Cheney, as the mysterious Phantom. Cheney is easily the best actor here, the range he is able to show with only his facial expressions and body movements is amazing. Cheney was known as "The Man Of A Thousand Faces", and it was a title he easily earned. He was essentially the first  make-up artist as he did his own makeup for each film he appeared in. He famously carried his make-up secrets to his grave. His Phantom is superbly built up and teased throughout the first part of the film, much talk is devoted to his character and when he does appear we only see him though shadow. It is only until later that we finally do see him. His unmasking scene is one of the most famous in film history, and the makeup he did for his character is chilling and grotesque. His Phantom is a ghoulish, tortured soul that only wants to be loved, and when he is refused this simple pleasure he goes mad.  Cheney also gets to don the best costume in the film, the Masque of the Red Death, which is a skeletal figure robed in red. Watching Cheney in action is one of the greatest pleasures a film fan can have, I know I couldn't take my eyes off him whenever he was on the screen. Sympathetic and insane, Cheney's Phantom is easily the best incarnation of this classic character put to film

Another fantastic aspect to the film are the atmosphere and sets created here, which are all superb. The Grand Staircase, the Opera Theater, and The Roof are all magnificent and richly detailed....easily rivaling some of the sets we see in film today.  These are some of the best sets you will ever see, it blows me away to think these were built in the 20's. For an old film, the atmosphere is also quite rich as well, managing to be creepy and dark (especially the scenes that take place back stage or in the catacombs, some of my favorite areas).

While the story here does tend to drag it's feet, it is still pretty strong and manages to still hold audience's in it's grasp. The story contains all the classic elements we know and love, and it would appear to stick pretty close to the original source material.  The film gets darker as it progresses onwards, the Phantom growing more and more depraved until the final thrilling climax which starts in the Phantom's lair, proceeds into a fun-house like torture chamber, and ends with a mad chase through the streets of Paris. What more could you possibly ask for? The climax is still chilling and thrilling all these years later, a film fan's wet dream.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the best horror films you will ever see. It still manages to pack a good deal of tense moments and scary parts into its run time despite it's old age. Starring one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen, and complete with magnificent, elaborate and richly detailed sets, this Phantom is easily the best film version of the story you will ever see. Filmed in glorious black-and-white, Phantom of the Opera is still a beautiful treasure to behold that holds up surprisingly well all these years later. Bask in it's glow.

5 Stars- BETTER THAN SEX