The Phantom of the Opera - videos, teasers and stills from filming

All videos, teasers and footage from the filming of the film "The Phantom of the Opera"

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Timing: 1:47 (107 min)

7.078/10
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All about film

Video 1

Photo 47

Actors and characters

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) - Original trailer

English

3:10

What's left behind the scenes

This film is the first adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel.
The film's script was rewritten five times, by different screenwriters each time.
This first version of 'The Phantom' has become a cornerstone of cinematic classics, and the credit for this undoubtedly goes to actor Lon Chaney.
Lon Chaney's makeup was not based on a mask, but on his "living" face. It is known that he used some wire frames, inserting them into his nose, placed celluloid discs behind his cheeks to change the shape of his face, and used eye drops to give his eyes the desired expression.
Two endings were filmed for the movie.
Two years after the film's release, sound came to cinema, and silent films were doomed. In 1929, music and some dialogue, as well as screams of horror, were added to the film.
It was intended that Chaney's voice would be heard when the film was dubbed, but in the end, another actor dubbed him. Chaney was not involved in the dubbing and died in the same year.
Since the film was shot in three color formats, for each scene, cinematographer Van Enger set up three different types of lighting. One for Technicolor shooting, another for the black and white version, and a more dramatically effective lighting for promotional photographs.
Approximately 5,000 people were involved in the filming of the movie. In particular, the auditorium at the Opera House was filled with a real, 'live' audience.
Once during filming, Rupert Julian became so frightened by Chaney's performance that he involuntarily gasped.
The film is in the public domain in the United States and has been added to the National Film Registry.
Carl Laemmle purchased the film rights directly from Gaston Leroux after meeting him in 1922.
Mary Philbin, who played Christine, saw Lon Chaney for the first time when his mask was removed—her scream of fright in the film was genuine. A second take was not needed.
A memorable shot of Eric's face was used as one of the photographs of criminals in Sherlock Holmes's rogues' gallery in Igor Maslennikov's film "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson".
In total, the film was reshot twice – the original version, shot by Rupert Julian, was rejected due to constant disagreements with the crew and Chaney himself. The second version of the film was shot by Edward Sedgwick and reworked in a more melodramatic and even comedic key. However, after it was booed by the audience at a test screening, this version was also rejected. The existing version of the film was completed and edited by Maurice Pivar and Louis Weber – who are uncredited – they removed and reworked much of the footage shot by Julian and Sedgwick, but Sedgwick's ending remained.
The Phantom of Chaney's mask is white, made of papier-mâché, covering the entire face up to the upper lip, and a ruffle of fabric is attached below, covering the mouth. When the Phantom speaks, it amusingly sways.
According to publications that appeared during the film's release, it contained 17 minutes of color footage. The staging scenes of "Faust" and the masquerade ball were filmed using an early two-color version of Technicolor. Only the latter has survived to this day. Footage shot in Prizmacolor and the scenes where the Phantom's cloak and the roof of the opera house were painted red using hand-coloring were lost. These scenes were restored only in 1996 using computer technology. The film also extensively used toning in various colors (yellow, blue, green, red).

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