Silent Film Adaptation
The Phantom of the Opera: Film Facts
- Debuted in 1925 as a "silent horror film."
- Created in America.
- Directed by Rupert Julian, based on the original novel.
- The score from the opera "Faust" is used for the film's music.
- Universal Studios did not renew the copyright, so the film can be freely downloaded (legally) from the internet.
- Deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress, a copy is preserved in the United States National Film Registry.
The Phantom:
Lon Cheney, and his self-applied make-up.
- Starred Lon Chaney as the Phantom:
- Chaney was given the opportunity to create his own make-up as the Phantom, which became his legacy in film. Chaney "painted his eye sockets black, giving a skull-like impression to them. He also pulled the tip of his nose up and pinned it in place with wire, enlarged his nostrils with black paint, and put a set of jagged false teeth into his mouth to complete the ghastly deformed look of the Phantom."
- When audiences first saw the film, they were said to have screamed or fainted at the scene where Christine pulls the mask away, revealing his face to the audience.
- Chaney's appearance as the Phantom in the film has been the most accurate physical depiction based on the novel.
Differences From the Novel:
- This adaption is considered to be the most accurate and faithful companion to the novel
- Ledoux is no longer the Persian friend of the Phantom; he is now a detective from France.
- The Phantom no longer dies of a broken heart after Christine leaves; he instead is chased and killed by an angry mob.
- Raoul is not the Vicomte; his older brother is, and tries to dissuade him from being interested in Christine.