Horror

Romance

Phantom of the Opera

Universal Pictures

United States of America

English

Nelson Eddy

Susanna Foster

Claude Rains

Edgar Barrier

Leo Carrillo

Jane Farrar

J. Edward Bromberg

Fritz Feld

Frank Puglia

Steven Geray

Barbara Everest

Hume Cronyn

Fritz Leiber

Nicki Andre

Gladys Blake

Elvira Curci

Hans Herbert

Kate Drain Lawson

Miles Mander

Rosina Galli

Walter O. Stahl

Paul Marion

Richard Bartell

Edward Biby

Eumenio Blanco

Stanley Blystone

Beatrice Roberts

Belle Mitchell

James Mitchell

Renee Carson

Wheaton Chambers

Lane Chandler

Edward Clark

James Conaty

Paul Cristo

Jack Deery

William Desmond

Helen Dickson

Ernest Golm

Bella Lewitzky

Hank Mann

Anthony Marlowe

Alphonse Martell

Eric Mayne

Robert Robinson

Victor Romito

John Roy

Muni Seroff

Johnny Walsh

Tudor Williams

Marek Windheim

Arthur Lubin

Samuel Hoffenstein

Hal Mohr

W. Howard Greene

Hans Jacoby

Jack J. Gross

Edward Ward

John B. Goodman

Russell A. Gausman

Ira Webb

Vera West

Jack Pierce

Emily Moore

Charles S. Gould

Bernard B. Brown

Joe Lapis

Tim Baar

John P. Fulton

Russell Lawson

Natalie Kalmus

Arthur Schutt

William Tyroler

Harold Zweifel

Joan Hathaway

Gaston Leroux

Eric Taylor

George Waggner

Russell F. Schoengarth

Alexander Golitzen

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

Phantom of the Opera (1943) - Theatrical Trailer

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Phantom of the Opera

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Nelson Eddy

Susanna Foster

Claude Rains

Edgar Barrier

Leo Carrillo

Jane Farrar

J. Edward Bromberg

Fritz Feld

Frank Puglia

Steven Geray

Box office

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