Those unaccustomed to the vagaries of cinema during its infancy may struggle with The Phantom Of The Opera's overtly theatrical acting, which in this case seems to be even more exaggerated than your average silent movie (I know I struggled at times with the actors' extravagant body movements and OTT facial expressions, some of which border on the ridiculous); however, no matter how cringe-worthy these exaggerated melodramatic performances might be at times, Rupert Julian's 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera is still a worthwhile effort thanks to loads of breathtaking visuals, a memorable performance from Lon Chaney as 'phantom' Erik, and in the version I saw (the 1929 re-issue, I believe), a rousing orchestral score that perfectly complements the imagery.
Blessed with excellent production values, superb set design and bold lighting, Phantom is a delight to behold, a visual feast that compensates for its cast's often laughable histrionics with several truly iconic moments: beautiful opera star Christina snatches the mask from ghoulish 'phantom' Erik as he plays the organ, revealing his hideously disfigured face; perched high atop a Gothic statue, cape billowing wildly in the wind, Erik watches in silent rage as Christina plans to run away with her lover; his face hidden by a grinning skull mask, Erik pursues Christina through the crowds at a masquerade ball; like Charon ferrying the dead across the river Styx, 'the phantom' guides his boat silently across an underground lake, Christina the unwilling passenger.
Blessed with excellent production values, superb set design and bold lighting, Phantom is a delight to behold, a visual feast that compensates for its cast's often laughable histrionics with several truly iconic moments: beautiful opera star Christina snatches the mask from ghoulish 'phantom' Erik as he plays the organ, revealing his hideously disfigured face; perched high atop a Gothic statue, cape billowing wildly in the wind, Erik watches in silent rage as Christina plans to run away with her lover; his face hidden by a grinning skull mask, Erik pursues Christina through the crowds at a masquerade ball; like Charon ferrying the dead across the river Styx, 'the phantom' guides his boat silently across an underground lake, Christina the unwilling passenger.