I have compiled a list of all the phantom films ever made for phans who have only seen the 2004 version. Or at least the major ones. Philm titles from Wikipedia, but all the info I wrote, and have gathered from research and listening to the Phantom Reviewer. I'll put the links (so its similar to the a/v club. Though you can find them all online, so I'm not really giving you anything hard to find). I just like to make it easier for people, since some seem so lazy to go look for it themselves, or only seem to see Gerard Butler as the ONLY Phantom. I've seen every version on this list, save for the lost philm and Phantom of the Paradise, which I will be getting in Netflix very soon, and the two Chinese philms, which I'm now looking for.
-Das Gespenst im Opernhaus or Das Phantom der Oper (1916): Now a coveted lost film.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1925): One of the most famous adaptations, starring Lon Chaney Sr. and Mary Philbin. Chaney is considered a silent horror icon, and created the celebratory makeup for this adaptation. He also designed makeup for many of his other movies, such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the lost film London After Midnight (which was a modification of the makeup he designed for The Man Who Laughs, a role which would have reunited him with his costar in Phantom, Mary Philbin, if he had taken the part). You can watch the full philm, which is now in the public domain, link, in its entirety. Worth the watch, though once you've seen it online, I'd go find it on dvd, as the quality is much better, and orchestrations are superb, compared to the mediocre online ones.
-Song at Midnight (1937): A Chinese adaptation in which the phantom teaches a young man to sing, rather than a woman, to win back the heart of his beloved. This is the adaptation that first used the disfiguring by acid back story, rather than the 1943 horror remake. Haven't been able to find this one. If anyone has seen it online, please direct me to it!
-Phantom of the Opera (1943): Starring Claude Rains as the titular role, and the recently late Susana Foster as Christine DuBois. During WWII, people wished to escape all the turmoil in their lives at the movies, so the movie was more romanticized, focusing more on the opera, and less on the horror aspect. You can find the video in parts link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1962): Part of the Hammer Horror series, with Herbert Lom and Heather Sears. This version focuses more on horror and thriller aspects than its previous adaptation. It has the phantom scarred by acid once more, and playing the famous Toccota and Fugue in D minor, by Bach, which is a piece readily associated with the Phantom. As far as I know, you can only find this on link.
-Phantom of the Paradise (1974): A rock musical set in the modern era. This film takes on a Faustian undertone, like the Robert Englund version. You can find this on link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1987): An Emerald City cartoon, that is easily described as one of the most faithful to the book, along with the Chaney version. You can find this in parts on link (btw, you don't need to watch part one. It's just a trailer for the film).
-The Phantom of the Opera (1989): The most horrific of all adaptations, this version stars Robert Englund, famous for his Freddie Kruger portrayal, in the title role. This is a favorite among phans, and surprisingly a somewhat faithful adaptation. Find it in parts link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1990): A T.V. mini-series starring Charles Dance and a young Teri Polo. In this, Erik is portrayed as a more sympathetic Phantom. Based on Yeston and Kopit's musical Phantom, which was short lived due to the overwhelming success of the Webber musical. Find this 21 one part mini-series on link.
-The Phantom Lover (1995): A Chinese remake of Song at Midnight. Same basic plot with beautiful cinematography. I haven't been able to find this yet, so if anyone has seen it, please notify!
-Il Fantasma dell'Opera (1998): DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE!!! I cannot stress to you how important it is that you don't watch this train wreck of a philm. A Dario Argento movie, this is universally accepted by all phans as the worst Phantom adaptation of all time. Starring Julian Sands and Argento's daughter, Asia, the only way I can advise you to watch this is with the Phantom Reviewer's hilarious commentary, link on Youtube. Be warned of the horrific wigs and animatronic rats! If you must watch the actual movie, you can find it on link instant cue. I'd advise, not, though.
-Joel Schumacher's The Phantom of the Opera (2004): The film adaptation of Andrew Llyod Webber's musical, this is probably the most well known among phans, though by no means the best. Starring (tone-deaf) Gerard Butler and a young Emmy Rossum. Technically one of the more faithful adaptations, it is still not one of the best. You can find this in any store, or on link. Also on Bluray. You CAN find this on Youtube, but I don't the Really Useless Group on my case. So I won't post the link. It's there though.
Well, there you go! Now you guys have no excuse! If RUG deletes this post hopefully you'll have seen them all by then. If not, pm me, and I'll see if I can direct you to everything.
By for now!
Lon Chaney wants you to watch these philms!
-Das Gespenst im Opernhaus or Das Phantom der Oper (1916): Now a coveted lost film.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1925): One of the most famous adaptations, starring Lon Chaney Sr. and Mary Philbin. Chaney is considered a silent horror icon, and created the celebratory makeup for this adaptation. He also designed makeup for many of his other movies, such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the lost film London After Midnight (which was a modification of the makeup he designed for The Man Who Laughs, a role which would have reunited him with his costar in Phantom, Mary Philbin, if he had taken the part). You can watch the full philm, which is now in the public domain, link, in its entirety. Worth the watch, though once you've seen it online, I'd go find it on dvd, as the quality is much better, and orchestrations are superb, compared to the mediocre online ones.
-Song at Midnight (1937): A Chinese adaptation in which the phantom teaches a young man to sing, rather than a woman, to win back the heart of his beloved. This is the adaptation that first used the disfiguring by acid back story, rather than the 1943 horror remake. Haven't been able to find this one. If anyone has seen it online, please direct me to it!
-Phantom of the Opera (1943): Starring Claude Rains as the titular role, and the recently late Susana Foster as Christine DuBois. During WWII, people wished to escape all the turmoil in their lives at the movies, so the movie was more romanticized, focusing more on the opera, and less on the horror aspect. You can find the video in parts link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1962): Part of the Hammer Horror series, with Herbert Lom and Heather Sears. This version focuses more on horror and thriller aspects than its previous adaptation. It has the phantom scarred by acid once more, and playing the famous Toccota and Fugue in D minor, by Bach, which is a piece readily associated with the Phantom. As far as I know, you can only find this on link.
-Phantom of the Paradise (1974): A rock musical set in the modern era. This film takes on a Faustian undertone, like the Robert Englund version. You can find this on link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1987): An Emerald City cartoon, that is easily described as one of the most faithful to the book, along with the Chaney version. You can find this in parts on link (btw, you don't need to watch part one. It's just a trailer for the film).
-The Phantom of the Opera (1989): The most horrific of all adaptations, this version stars Robert Englund, famous for his Freddie Kruger portrayal, in the title role. This is a favorite among phans, and surprisingly a somewhat faithful adaptation. Find it in parts link.
-The Phantom of the Opera (1990): A T.V. mini-series starring Charles Dance and a young Teri Polo. In this, Erik is portrayed as a more sympathetic Phantom. Based on Yeston and Kopit's musical Phantom, which was short lived due to the overwhelming success of the Webber musical. Find this 21 one part mini-series on link.
-The Phantom Lover (1995): A Chinese remake of Song at Midnight. Same basic plot with beautiful cinematography. I haven't been able to find this yet, so if anyone has seen it, please notify!
-Il Fantasma dell'Opera (1998): DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE!!! I cannot stress to you how important it is that you don't watch this train wreck of a philm. A Dario Argento movie, this is universally accepted by all phans as the worst Phantom adaptation of all time. Starring Julian Sands and Argento's daughter, Asia, the only way I can advise you to watch this is with the Phantom Reviewer's hilarious commentary, link on Youtube. Be warned of the horrific wigs and animatronic rats! If you must watch the actual movie, you can find it on link instant cue. I'd advise, not, though.
-Joel Schumacher's The Phantom of the Opera (2004): The film adaptation of Andrew Llyod Webber's musical, this is probably the most well known among phans, though by no means the best. Starring (tone-deaf) Gerard Butler and a young Emmy Rossum. Technically one of the more faithful adaptations, it is still not one of the best. You can find this in any store, or on link. Also on Bluray. You CAN find this on Youtube, but I don't the Really Useless Group on my case. So I won't post the link. It's there though.
Well, there you go! Now you guys have no excuse! If RUG deletes this post hopefully you'll have seen them all by then. If not, pm me, and I'll see if I can direct you to everything.
By for now!
