The Phantom of the Opera (DVD, 2000, Subtitled French)

When I bought this dvd I knew roughly what i would be getting. A film I had seen in childhood and started my lifelong passion for all things to do with the Phantom of the Opera. This is the 1943 version starring Claude Rains and filmed in technicolour - which - in those days - was something to shout about. the original story has been changed almost beyond recognition but once Claude Rains dons the mask, hat and cloak of the phantom you just go back in time. this is a film for people who like to own a piece of movie history. I had seen it on tv and as an adult always wanted to find a copy. The characters are two dimensional. It's Claude Rains who lends creditbality to the tortured character of the Phantom. On the plus side the colours are vibrant and the costumes are well - Hollywood as it's best in the 40's. Nelson Eddy's voice is also a bonus. See the movie but put aside all other adaptions of the story especially if you've seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber "Phantom" on stage or even seen the muscial adapted to film staring Gerard Butler. This was a different era and the world was then at war. it's important to remember that. Audiences wanted to be entertained. villains were villains and heroes were heroes - no place for a shade of grey - just black or white. This film has that old Hollywood studio system film. It has the charm of innocense. One scene in particular is very poignat - the Phantom hears christine singing from underground. she's singing on stage and he is looking up from underground and light falls on his mask. that is timeless. One thing is disappointing - no boat scene. the Phantom abducts Chrstine and takes her to his lair on a boat across the underground lake beneath the Paris Opera House. The scene I consider one of the most romantic of all is totally omitted.

So if you like old movies - this one is a must-have. If you like old movies and am a Phantom of the Opera fan it would be sacreligious not to own this.

The seller didn't deliver so there's nothing that I can say. I wanted to compare this classic version with the newer version of the movie. Perhaps some other time.

I was looking for the Opera version of Phantom of the Opera, this is an amusing version, quite enjoyable, doesn't have the operetic songs, but the story is there. A good family film.

I grew up watching this film, and I always loved it. I was so excited to find it on DVD so my daughter could watch it, too. Claude Rains is such a sympathetic character. You really feel for him as the phantom. It is very sad when he makes the mistake of thinking people are stealing his work. Very sad. The music of the film is gorgeous. It is a movie I could watch over and over and over again.

The first musical version of the "Phantom of the Opera" has it all: the masked madman, the beautiful damsel, the handsome suitors, a wonderful score, the chandelier and the underground sewers - all in flaming Technicolor! A Universal classic, which when seen on a widescreen hdtv coupled with a new Blu-Ray player, is an amazingly colorful film. Highly recommended!