Phantom of the Opera (1925)

We’ve all seen clips of silent films on TV, and unfortunately they are usually shown in the sarcastic light of “look at the funny old movie!” I myself will admit this is the first film of the silent era I’ve actually watched all the way through, and it was admittedly a much different, though thoroughly rewarding experience. Unless one is a film student or a hard-core film buff, many my age and younger tend to dismiss all silent films as being completely antiquated if not straight out boring. As this is a site that reviews horror films of all genres and time periods, I felt it was high time I got off my ass and tracked down some of the real gems of the silent era, and what a better film to start off with than what many consider to be the “greatest” of them all? This 1925 film is generally considered Universal Studio’s first true horror film. Backed by a large budget that helped to create some truly awesome sets, from the Opera House itself to the cavernous basements below it, the film is truly a gothic masterpiece.

Everyone knows the story of the insane yet love-struck Erik, a disfigured phantom that lurks in the Opera House’s long forgotten catacombs, willing to do anything, including murder, those who prevent his beloved Christine from becoming a famous singer. It’s interesting to note the cast’s use of overemphasizing their body and facial movements, which due to the lack of sound helped convey different types of emotions to the viewer. It’s this use of body movement that is truly amazing in legendary actor Lon Chaney’s performance as the tormented Erik. During half the film he wears a mask, forcing him to express all feeling through various gestures with his hands etc, making his performance even more remarkable. Chaney, who is generally considered the world’s first make-up artist, created a truly awesome make-up job for the disfigured Erik, causing many a woman to faint upon its initial release. Films of the silent era tend to be very visual epics, and “Phantom” is no exception. To compensate for the lack of sound effects, the use of shadows and overall atmosphere is key to setting the mood. We get lots of cool shadowy shots of the phantom lurking in the catacombs beneath the Opera House, and it does indeed create an overall spooky vibe.

On a somewhat negative side, I did feel that at about over 90 minutes things did drag on a bit much. There was a bit of a sub-plot involving a secret police man on the trail of Erik, though this angle was not developed very much. And, while it did take awhile to get used to the “no sound” aspect, it wasn’t as bad as I thought, though the orchestral music did tend to bray on my nerves after awhile. All in all though, watching this one was by no means “boring” as many would ignorantly think. It still is a powerful film which has been re-made countless times, put the Universal Horror Series on the map, and showcased the truly talented Lon Chaney in what many consider his greatest performance. “Phantom” is required viewing for the serious horror student.