Much like the Beast from The Beauty and the Beast, the Phantom is human at heart and desires happiness—only the Phantom, unlike the Beast, is willing to kill to acquire love. His commitment runs deep. He is aroused by Christine’s simplicity and purity and pleads for her love—for he knows that it is only Christine’s love that shall redeem him.
The film’s only downfall is that it short-changes the audience with an abrupt ending. Most fans would welcome the opportunity to view the original ending that depicts the Phantom dying happily with a kiss from Christine, but that footage is lost forever. Instead, the classic ends in a climactic chase sequence to please the action-hounds in us all.
Even though The Phantom of the Opera is now more commonly known as one of the longest running shows on Broadway - in its roots, it is a horror story for the ages. As a result, whether it’s the 1929 restored version of the same film with vibrant splashes of color you come across, or the original 1925 black-and-white you locate, be sure to skip over all of the other jaded adaptations of the same title (including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s); stick with this model of a monster movie, and reap the benefits. (***1/2 out of ****)
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Great post, Brandon. This film is really magic. It and the silent NOSFERATU (which also has a rushed ending) are really haunting. Who can forget that unmasking scene? The horror! The horror!
Oh, just to note, there is another really great silent film you should see: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. It is just amazing for the warped world it depicts.